Modern orthodontics has made extraordinary progress in aligning teeth, yet one fundamental question remains:
Why are teeth crooked in the first place?
Prevention begins by recognising that form and function are inseparable. The way a child breathes, chews, swallows, and holds their posture directly affects how their face grows. Subtle environmental factors—from diet texture to breathing patterns—can influence the shape and balance of the jaws, and therefore the position of the teeth.
Dr Mike Mew advocates for early intervention—the most minimum intervention, at the earliest interval and the cheapest cost. Guiding growth before problems become fixed is the most natural and sustainable way to achieve harmony of the face, airway, and bite. This philosophy is explored in The Cause and Cure of Malocclusion by Professor John Mew, a landmark book that encourages clinicians and parents to look beyond teeth to the causes of underdevelopment.
The airway has become a central focus for many progressive clinicians.
Across medicine and dentistry, an increasing number of practitioners are recognising the link between facial development and breathing disorders such as snoring and sleep apnoea. When the jaws grow well, the airway tends to be open and efficient; when they do not, a host of health issues can follow.
This shift has brought together orthodontists, ENT specialists, myofunctional therapists, paediatricians, and sleep physicians into a growing interdisciplinary community.
Though not yet mainstream (and facing resistance in the UK) these practitioners share a common belief: a face that does not grow well is unlikely to work well.
By considering the face as part of a functional system rather than an isolated aesthetic structure, holistic orthodontic care seeks to nurture growth instead of simply correcting alignment.
It’s a philosophy rooted in prevention—helping children develop naturally so that they may avoid invasive treatments later in life.
Dr Mew’s goal is to make this approach practical, evidence-based, and accessible. His work supports parents and professionals alike in recognising early signs of imbalance and understanding how environment and posture shape development. In doing so, he hopes to contribute to a future where malocclusion is not merely treated early, but largely prevented.
