Stop Nail Biting To Protect Teeth and Health
by Dr. Stephen J. Parr D.D.S.
Read Stop Nail Biting To Protect Teeth and Health by Dr. Stephen J. Parr D.D.S. to learn more about Grove Smiles® Dentistry and our Dentistry office in Coconut Grove, FL.
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WHETHER IT’S DONE consciously or subconsciously, nail biting habits affect people of all ages, and normally begins at a very young age. About 30% of kids from age 7-10 bite their nails, and 45% of teenagers have this habit which they take into adulthood.
Now on the surface, nail biting may not seem like a big deal. However, fairly severe consequences can result in both oral and overall health problems.
How Nail Biting Can Effect Your Teeth?
Besides causing painful fingers, nail biting can effect your your teeth in ways that you may have not imagined. Here are the top four ways that your nail biting could be effecting the health of your teeth.
1. Nail biting can crack, chip and wear down teeth. Your front teeth are lot different from your back teeth in terms of functionality. They aren’t designed for gnawing or chewing.
2. Nail biting can shift tooth alignment and damage existing dental work.
3. Nail biting risks gum tissue damage. Bitten nail pieces can easily tear into your gum tissue increasing the risk of gum disease and eventual tooth loss.
4. Nail biting can be expensive. The Academy of General Dentistry estimates that nail biters incur an additional $4,000 in future dental repairs.
How Nail Biting Can Effect Your Health?
Think about the most germ-concentrated areas of your body—your mouth and hands. You can imagine what happens when those two areas are in constant contact. And when there are even tiny, tiny breaks in the skin, germs get a “get out of jail free” card to your bloodstream. Disgusting.
Easy Kick The Habit Tips
So you know that the nail-biting has to go. But how do you help you quit?
- Keep your nails looking nice. It will help motivate you to leave them alone.
- Point it out (nicely), if you see a friend or loved one chewing their nails. Sometimes people do not even notice when they are doing it.
- Find the trigger(s). See whether nail biting is a product of boredom, anxiety, etc. and find other ways to deal with those situations.
- Treat the nails. There are many awful tasting products—designed for this purpose—that you can put on your nails to really deter this habit.
Other Helpful Quitting Tips To Add?
Do you struggle with biting your nails? Does someone you love bite his or her nails? We hope the content of this post has helped. Let us know at Grove Smiles Dentistry in Coconut Grove, FL if there is anything else our team can do to help, or if you have other questions.
Do YOU have any tips for quitting? Share them below or connect with us on our Facebook page. We’re always excited to hear from you!
For Your Health,
Dr. Stephen J. Parr D.D.S.
