An open bite is a lack of contact between some teeth when the arches close. Treatment depends on diagnosis. A sucking habit, tongue function and a skeletal component are not managed in the same way.
Recognising the situation without diagnosing it yourself
An anterior open bite concerns the incisor region: a vertical gap remains visible on closure. The practitioner examines how the teeth meet and determines the dental and functional factors to consider. A smile photograph does not always show actual closure.
Prepare for the appointment with simple observations: how long the gap has been noticed, any sucking habit, difficulty biting or discomfort. Specify previous treatments. This information guides discussion without replacing examination.
Thumb, pacifier and tongue: distinguish their roles
Prolonged sucking is associated with anterior open bite. This does not mean it explains every open bite or that stopping always closes it. Review of sucking habits.
The tongue is part of assessment, but swallowing between the teeth does not prove it created the gap. The theoretical paper by Proffit on dental equilibrium distinguishes resting pressures from adaptations in swallowing.
To address a habit, see the thumb-sucking guide and the guide to pacifiers. Avoid imposing exercises that push against the teeth to try to close an open bite.
What do we know about myofunctional retraining?
A pilot trial in 22 children reports improvements in tongue parameters. Its small sample and limited follow-up do not establish that retraining will correct every open bite.
A systematic review highlights the scarcity of robust studies of this approach alongside orthodontics. Effects from a supervised programme cannot be transferred to simply wearing a standard appliance.
The right goal is one the professional can explain and monitor: which function to work on, with which exercises, how to check performance and when to reassess. This approach is more than placing the tongue higher.
Treatment built around assessment
A Cochrane review of open-bite treatments in children finds insufficient data for general recommendations from the included trials. This uncertainty calls for individual decisions with explanations of goals and limitations.
During discussion, clarify the options considered and why they are chosen: observation, habit support, functional care, orthodontic treatment or another specialist opinion. These are not treatments to try by yourself.
Also ask how stability will be assessed and what follow-up is planned after the active phase. A photograph showing closure at one point does not, alone, establish how it lasts over time.
The role of a standard appliance
The Myoforce tongue retraining appliance is listed at €50. It does not promise open-bite closure or replace a prescribed orthodontic appliance. Show its product page to the professional if you want to know whether this type of support is relevant to your approach.
Our guide to the functional trainer explains why other appliances' results cannot automatically be attributed to Myoforce.
Common questions
Does an open bite close after stopping pacifier use?
Favourable change is possible in some young children, but it is not guaranteed. Dental checks establish what is actually happening.
Can tongue exercises replace orthodontics?
The cited reviews do not establish this. Retraining may be discussed for a specific functional goal within ongoing care.
Should you buy an appliance to try it?
First clarify the problem and goal. An unsupervised trial cannot establish whether the device suits the observed open bite.
Sources and review
Guide reviewed on 1 October 2026 by Dr Vladimir Khourda. The references below concern the topics studied; they do not establish the results of a MyoForce product.