Nail biting can be a hard habit to break — but if you don’t, your dental health might suffer much more than your manicure.
According to the Academy of General Dentistry, children or adults who
bite their nails could crack, chip or wear down their front teeth from
the stress caused by biting. And, those who wear braces put their teeth
at even greater risk for root resorption (a shortening of the roots) or
tooth loss, since braces already put increased pressure on the teeth.
A study in the journal General Dentistry also reported that patients who
bite their fingernails, chew on pencils or clench their teeth might be
at a greater risk for bruxism — unintentional grinding or clenching that
can cause facial pain, headaches, tooth sensitivity, recessed gums and
tooth loss.
The signs of bruxism include: flat looking tips of the teeth; tooth
enamel that is worn off, causing extreme sensitivity; popping or
clicking of the jaw; and indentations of the tongue.
Other dental health risks for nail biters can include sore, torn or
damaged gum tissue caused by jagged, sharp fingernail edges and the
spread of bacteria from other body parts to the mouth and from the mouth
to the nail bed or bloodstream.
Patients might find that wearing a mouth guard can deter nail biting and
help prevent further damage to teeth. Some dentists can also help
patients use therapy techniques, like learning how to rest the tongue
upward with teeth apart and lips shut to avoid tooth damage.
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Dentist Mosman Mosman Dentist
