Can biting my nails affect my teeth

                                                                                                    

As with many habits, nail biting can be a hard habit to break. Some kids start this very young and continue into adulthood, and some people start only as an adult. Often it is the consequence of nerves, stress or anxiety. Not only is the habit problematic for the hands and nails it can also pose a problem for the teeth and mouth. Our hands harbour numerous bacteria as we touch things throughout the day…money, handrails, steering wheel, elevator buttons etc. If we are constantly putting our hands in our mouth we are more susceptible to catching viruses and bacterial infections. At innovation Dental in Vaughan we have seen many patients come into the office with worn, chipped or broken teeth from biting their nails. More surprisingly we often find slivers of nails embedded in the gum tissue or damage to the tissues from sharp or jagged nail edges. The habit can also lead to pain in the jaw joint or popping noises… or actually move teeth overtime.

It is best to try to stop the habit as soon as possible before there is some permanent damage. Some suggestions we have are:

- to wear a guard during the day as a deterrent

- try the bad tasting nail polish, often found in regular drug stores

- keep your nails short and manicured

- keep your hands busy with a stress ball or doodling

- do some research on the bacteria that live under your nails… it just may turn you off completely! 

                                                    

Visit us at www.innovationdrivedental.com to see if we can help