Buck Teeth Causes
Tongue Thrusting
The AAPD describes tongue thrusting as "an abnormal tongue position and deviation from the normal swallowing pattern." If the tongue is thrust against the teeth for short spurts at a time it probably won't affect the teeth's positioning. However, if the tongue consistently rests against the front teeth, the habit may result in an open bite or protruding incisors.
Thumb Sucking
Thumb sucking is another cause of buck teeth, says the American Dental Association. The force of the sucking may affect the mouth, teeth and palate alignment. Sometimes children grow out of the habit around the age of 2 to 4 years old. If they don't, parents may be able to deter the behavior. For example, parents can praise their little one if they go awhile without sucking. Thumb sucking may also be a response to anxiety, so parents can try their best to soothe their child to eliminate the child's need to put their thumb in their mouth.
Natural Alignment
Sometimes, protruding teeth happen naturally and that's what causes buck teeth. An overbite may be hereditary. In this case, there's nothing parents can do to prevent buck teeth. But what they can do is schedule a visit with an orthodontist if it looks like your child's jaw and permanent teeth are crooked. The American Association of Orthodontists suggests that kids visit the orthodontist by the time they're 7 years old. An orthodontist will most likely be able to determine what your child's bite will look like. After this first consultation appointment, the orthodontist can formulate a treatment plan to correct the bite and get ready for braces that would be applied between age 8 and 14.