Tongue, breathing and habitsQuestion before treatment

Can braces straighten my teeth without correcting an incorrect tongue position?

Answered byDr Ivelina Ivanova-Koycheva, Orthodontist (MSc)Master's degrees in orthodontics in Rome and in aligner treatment in Turin, international lecturerPublished on 12 November 2026

Braces and aligners apply force to the teeth in order to move them, but this force is weaker than the tongue's. If the tongue constantly works against them, the orthodontic problem may not be fully corrected. In some cases we still manage to finish with well-aligned teeth, but if the tongue keeps applying the wrong pressure after treatment ends, the result relapses.

This answer is for general information. Your own case needs an examination by an orthodontist.