An open bite — where front teeth don't touch when back teeth are together — is often linked to childhood habits like thumb-sucking. Here's what causes it and how Invisalign treats it in adults.
An open bite is a gap between the upper and lower front teeth that remains even when the back teeth are fully together. It's commonly caused by prolonged thumb-sucking or pacifier use in childhood, or an ongoing tongue-thrust swallowing pattern that continues to push teeth apart even in adulthood.
Why Addressing the Root Habit Matters
If an active tongue-thrust habit is still present, correcting the open bite with aligners alone without addressing the habit can lead to relapse after treatment. As part of your assessment, we check for signs of an ongoing tongue-thrust pattern and, where needed, can refer for myofunctional therapy alongside your Invisalign treatment.