Do you worry that your children will develop protruding teeth? This may be something that runs in the family to a certain extent and you want to avoid a repetition if possible. What's the cause of this condition and what can you do to try and avoid it happening in your child?

What's at Stake

Protruding teeth can turn into a nightmare for a child as he or she develops and goes through adolescence. If they stick out then they can become more prone to damage or injury, especially when playing the rougher type of contact sport at school. Frequently, the upper teeth will wear more unevenly compared to the others, which will affect the look of the smile. Also, other children can make fun and this could lead to depression, anxiety or self-esteem problems.

Breaking Habits

A child can develop this condition purely due to bad habits from the time that they were babies. It's common practice to use a "dummy" to pacify the child, especially when the baby teeth are breaking through. This is not a long-term solution to anything and if the child gets used to sucking the dummy for a long period of time it can actually push the developing teeth outward.

Children also tend to suck their thumbs, and this can also put a lot of pressure on the upper teeth. Parents should do everything they can to break the child of this habit, before protruding teeth develop. One way to deter a child from sucking on their thumb is to paint the thumbnail with a bitter but not harmful coating. The action will not be as satisfying to the child from that point on.

Parents do need to be careful when trying to break their child of any bad habits and this is especially the case here. Praise should be given when they are not engaging in a bad habit, but harsh words or discipline may have the opposite effect and cause them to want their "dummy" or thumb even more.

Genetic Causes

It is of course possible that protruding teeth will develop due to genetics. Sometimes the upper and lower jaw are not of equal size, or teeth may develop that are too large for the mouth of the child. If they do not have the right amount of space to break into, then they will start to push in the incorrect direction.

How to Treat

These issues can be treated by your dentist in association with a specialist if needed. Often, they can be corrected by either filing existing teeth or using braces to encourage growth in the right direction.