Family and Cosmetic Dentist - Livonia
31574 Schoolcraft Road
Livonia, MI 48150
(734) 425-4530
Dr. Joboulian's Blog
Posts for tag: Nail Biting
Nail biting is a common habit among up to 50 percent of children, and a smaller, but still significant, percentage of adults. While the cosmetic disadvantages of nail biting are obvious, there are some other more serious repercussions of this habit that could affect everything from your nails to your teeth to the spread of bacteria in other parts of your body.
According to the Academy of General Dentistry, nail biting can cause a variety of unpleasant, and potentially expensive, dental problems:
- Your teeth aren't intended to withstand the constant pressure of nail biting, and as such, the edges of your front teeth can chip or get worn down, or the enamel of your front teeth can crack. The constant chewing can cause fracture lines, which, if the damage becomes severe, can lead to the need for composite restorations to rebuild the enamel, or even crowns on your front teeth.
- Infections and fungus can spread from other body parts to the mouth, and vice-versa. Bacteria in your mouth can infect the nail bed, and even your entire finger. In the worst cases, the bacteria can even find its way into your bloodstream.
- Nail biters who wear braces have an additional risk, as, over time, nail biting can lead to the shortening of their tooth roots. Because their teeth are already withstanding the pressure of being moved by braces, the added force of constant nail biting could cause the roots of their teeth to shorten, and, in severe cases, even fall out.
So, what's the cure for nail biting? It varies from person to person, with some remedies focusing on behavioral changes and others on physical barriers to nail biting. Sometimes children, and especially teens, bite their nails more when they are having problems at school or with friends. Talk to your child's teacher about any new stresses at school that might have triggered a nervous reaction. In the meantime, here are some tips that you may want to consider in order to discourage the nail biting habit:
- Make a conscious effort to take care of your nails by having professional manicures, or simply keeping nails neatly trimmed and filed and, if desired, wearing nail polish.
- Paint a bitter-tasting liquid, pharmaceutically manufactured to discourage nail biting, on your nails. Be sure to re-apply after every time you wash your hands.
- Distract yourself by squeezing a stress ball or silly putty when you find yourself wanting to bite your nails. Or try keeping an elastic band around your wrist and snapping it every time you feel the need for a nibble, in order to encourage a negative response to the habit.
Regardless of whether you bite your nails in times of stress or excitement, or simply when you're bored, the bottom line is that nail biting is not a pretty habit. In fact, in addition to the dental and bacterial repercussions, long-term nail biting can permanently affect normal nail growth and cause deformed nails. Talk to your doctor about why you or your child may have started nail biting in the first place, and ask for suggestions on how to break the habit before it leads to anything more than just unsightly nails.
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