Conditions / Open bite
Open bite
A bite where the upper and lower front teeth don’t meet when the back teeth are closed. Often shaped by tongue posture, thumb or finger habits, or chronic mouth breathing during growth.
Reviewed by Gina Sabbak, RDH · Myofunctional Therapist, Louisville KY. Last reviewed . Educational content — not a substitute for in-person evaluation.
What it is
An anterior open bite is a vertical gap between the upper and lower front teeth when the jaw is closed normally. It can be dental, skeletal, or both, and is often shaped during childhood by habits and tongue posture.
Tongue thrust, prolonged thumb or pacifier use, and chronic mouth breathing are common contributors in growing children. In adults, open bite can persist after orthodontics when the underlying muscle pattern hasn’t been addressed.
Common signs
- Visible gap between upper and lower front teeth when back teeth touch
- Difficulty biting into foods like sandwiches, apples, or pizza
- Speech affected, especially on s, z, t, d sounds
- Tongue visible between the teeth at rest or during swallow
- Mouth breathing or low tongue posture
How myofunctional therapy may help
Educational, not diagnostic. Outcomes vary; results are not guaranteed.
Retrain tongue posture so the tongue rests up against the palate instead of pressing forward between the teeth.
Establish a mature swallow pattern that doesn’t push against the front teeth.
Coordinate with your orthodontist or dentist when braces, aligners, or other treatment are planned or in progress.
What to expect
A typical program runs 4–6 months for adults; 6–9 months for children, depending on growth and habit history.
Habits that drive open bite are usually addressed first; structural correction is coordinated with your dental team.
Keep learning
Related reading
- Mouth breathing in children: why it matters
Educational article (~5 min read).
- Customized Exercise Programs
How this service supports this condition.
- All conditions we work with
The full set of myofunctional patterns we support.
- How we may help
Overview of the assessment and program structure.
Common questions about open bite
- What causes an open bite?
- An anterior open bite is a vertical gap between the upper and lower front teeth when the back teeth touch. Causes include prolonged thumb or pacifier use, chronic mouth breathing, low tongue posture, tongue thrust during swallow, and skeletal growth patterns. In children, habits are the most common contributor. In adults, open bite is often the result of long-standing habits that were not addressed during growth.
- Can an open bite be corrected without surgery?
- For mild to moderate cases — especially those driven by habits and tongue posture — orthodontic treatment combined with myofunctional therapy can close or substantially reduce an open bite without surgery. For skeletal cases with significant jaw discrepancy, surgery may be the most predictable option. A thorough evaluation with an orthodontist and a myofunctional assessment together is the best way to find out.
- Does myofunctional therapy help close an open bite?
- Myofunctional therapy addresses the muscle and habit drivers of open bite — tongue posture, tongue thrust, and habits like thumb or pacifier use. Therapy on its own does not move teeth. The most predictable results come from therapy combined with orthodontic treatment, with myofunctional therapy starting before or alongside orthodontics and continuing through retention. See our Pre- and Post-Orthodontic Support (/services#pre-post-orthodontic) service.
Open references
Where the illustrations come from
The anatomical illustrations on this page are drawn from openly licensed educational sources. We attribute them in the caption; the canonical sources are linked here for anyone who wants to verify or use them.