According to Konstantin Krylov, a pediatric dentist and orthodontist, an incorrect bite in children can be linked to curvature of the spine. Krylov notes that bite issues often reflect broader growth patterns in the jaw, neck, and spine, and they should be watched together rather than treated in isolation.
From the early days of life, several factors can influence how a bite forms. Mistakes in breastfeeding, the habitual use of pacifiers, and other influences may predispose a child to a developing malocclusion, the expert explains. Early feeding practices can shape how the tongue rests and how the jaw joints form, which in turn affects facial growth and dental alignment over time.
Many children subsequently develop problems with nasal breathing. When the tongue does not stay pressed against the palate in its normal position, it tends to slide downward, which can aggravate orthodontic issues. This subtle shift in tongue posture changes the way the mouth and throat behave during rest and sleep, contributing to shifts in dental alignment.
Breathing plays a critical role. Air moves through the nose, travels down the oropharynx, and finally reaches the lungs. If a child cannot breathe properly because of allergic rhinitis or adenoidal inflammation, the body adapts. The tone of the tongue decreases and the muscles around the jaw and face relax, allowing the mouth to part slightly at rest.
When the tongue drops, the airway in the oropharynx can become more easily blocked. In response, the body may adopt a protective mechanism of forward head extension to open the airway more fully, a pattern sometimes described as computer neck. In this position, the head sits a touch forward to enable deeper breathing during activity and rest.
That forward posture alters the entire musculoskeletal system. The weight of the head places load on the cervical spine, and greater forward bending tends to create imbalance. To compensate, the chest may show altered curves, the lower back muscles stay tense, and the abdominal muscles can relax, leading toward a noticeable S shaped posture in a child.
It is important to note that an incorrect tongue position is not the sole reason for malocclusion. Yet any factor that narrows the airway tends to trigger changes across the entire musculoskeletal system. Early observations by Krylov emphasize the strong link between breathing patterns and jaw development, underscoring the need for a comprehensive approach to child health and dental care.
For this reason, monitoring a child’s health from infancy is essential. A bite pattern is not guaranteed to be inherited; a child may simply carry a genetic predisposition. If there are no provoking factors, the bite may not progress toward malocclusion, underscoring the role of environment and habits in facial growth.
Dietary topics arise as well, including which foods stain teeth the most, though the primary focus remains on breathing, tongue posture, and overall facial development in children.