Nail Biting | Fairhope Dentist

Nail Biting: The Affect It Has On Your Teeth

• Biting your nails can be a hard habit to break. If you don’t break this habit, your dental health may suffer much more than your manicure! According to the Academy of General Dentistry, children or adults that bite their nails can crack, chip, or wear down the front teeth from all the stress of biting. If braces are worn, the teeth are even at a greater risk for root resorption (shortening of the roots) or tooth loss. Braces put increased pressure on the teeth.There was a study published in the Journal of General Dentistry that said patients who bite their fingernails, chew on pencils or clench their teeth may be more at risk for bruxism (grinding or clenching that causes facial pain, headaches, tooth sensitivity, tooth loss, and recessed gums). Some signs of bruxism can include flat-looking tips on the teeth, enamel that has been worn off, extreme sensitivity, indents on the tongue, and popping or clicking of the jaw. Find a Dentist Near Fairhope, AL to learn more information on how Nail Biting damages your teeth. You can also read more on this topic, like how gums can become inflamed by visiting the national library of medicine. 
  

  Some other dental health risks for someone who bites their nails include:

• sore, torn, or damaged gum tissue.  This happens because of jagged sharp fingernail edges.
• Bacteria also can spread from other body parts into the mouth and then from the mouth to the nail bed or bloodstream.Wearing a mouthguard can help with nail biting and prevent further damage to the teeth. Dentists can also give some therapy techniques like learning to rest the tongue upward with the teeth apart and lips shut to avoid any tooth damage.Down by the Bay.