If you’re a nail-biter, you might find yourself often worrying about your damaged fingernails. But your hands aren’t the only body parts that are affected by this compulsive behaviour. Nail-biting leads to a handful of oral health issues as well.

Tooth erosion

Dental erosion happens when the surface of a tooth wears away. In most cases, erosion is caused by acids that pass through your mouth. However, the friction from nail-biting can chafe the enamel bit by bit. Over time, your nails might scrape away and totally erode the enamel—the outer protective layer of your teeth.

Cracking and chipping

Aside from tooth erosion, the frequent friction between your nails and enamel can also lead to cracking and chipping. Cracked and chipped teeth don’t just ruin your aesthetic. It can also cause pain and higher tooth sensitivity, especially when the tooth’s nerve endings are exposed.

Root resorption

Nail-biters with wire braces are more vulnerable to this condition, which may result in a dental emergency. As a defence mechanism, the body breaks down and reabsorbs the roots, causing teeth to fall out. 

The body goes through a similar process (in baby teeth) when the permanent teeth are growing. But when root resorption happens to permanent teeth, your body cannot replace them. This is an ugly, messy, and rapid process that can cause most of your teeth to fall out in just a few months.

Tooth gaps and malocclusion

Biting your nails does not only damage every single tooth. The constant force can also displace your teeth and gradually move them away from their proper places. The movement can lead to tooth gaps and bite issues or malocclusions.

Bruxism

The risk of developing bruxism or chronic teeth-grinding may increase due to nail-biting. Bruxism, in turn, causes headaches, tooth soreness, and a wide range of oral health problems. Contrary to popular belief, bruxism doesn’t only manifest you’re asleep. If you unconsciously clench and gnash your teeth when you’re awake, you may have awake bruxism.

Gingivitis

Our hands are always in contact with surfaces and things that aren’t completely clean. Even if the naked eye can’t see them, dirt and germs get trapped beneath our fingernails. And frequent handwashing is not enough to get rid of them. So, when we bite and chew on our fingernails, the dirt and germs are transferred into the mouth, which can cause gum disease or gingivitis. While regular dental cleaning can reduce the risk of gingivitis, biting your nails still makes you more vulnerable to this condition.

How can you break your nail-biting habit?

Stopping your nail-biting habit helps you prevent all the above dental issues. At the same time, we understand that breaking a long-term habit is never easy. Hopefully, the following tips can help you:

  • Trimming your nails often would leave you little to nothing to bite.
  • Painting your nails with a nail polish that tastes awful.
  • Getting regular manicures can motivate you to maintain your nails’ aesthetic.
  • Seeking other, harmless ways to fidget, like getting fidget toys, stress balls, or silly putty.
  • Learning what triggers your nail-biting, so you can plan ahead and avoid them.
  • Stopping the habit at a gradual pace. Like avoiding the biting of one fingernail at a time and adding more until all nails are off-limits.

Final thoughts

Nail-biting is a tough habit to kick that may have more serious consequences than many think. However, it is not impossible to stop—especially with oral health as your motivation. While biting your nails might seem comforting in certain moments, the issues it may cause down the line will not be worth the trouble.

Edmonton Smiles is rooting for you in your journey towards your best smile. We have the best cosmetic dentist in Edmonton, offering emergency dental, restorative, and preventive services. From booking to billing, we strive to give you comfort in each step. Book an appointment with us today!

Posted in Dental News & Advice