Parents of children who bite their nails should take heed to correct their children's unhealthy habits. Anxious nibbling of one's nails is bad for both fingernails and teeth. This is the reason why our dental care professionals have a clear and firm stand to say no to nail biting.
Experts have linked nail biting to teeth grinding, clenching, jaw problems, facial pain, sensitive teeth, and other issues in one’s dental health. So if you (and/or your child) gets the urge to chew, distract yourself for a minute or two and see if the feeling goes away. But if that does not work, try buying a bitter-tasting polish that is designed to deter you from putting your nails anywhere near your mouth.
Nail biting is more than just a habit because it can have adverse effects on your overall health. It also has effects on your teeth as nail biting can lead to teeth shifting out of place and potential breaks in tooth enamel. It can also wear down teeth as it puts added stress on your pearly whites which can eventually lead to crooked teeth.
Since nail biting is one way to relieve stress, finding another way that does not involve gnawing a part of your body could be useful. Also, you can make your teeth even stronger by doing preventative dental care measures on a regular basis. Having stronger teeth will make them less likely to get damaged easily when you bite your nails.
For more details, contact Oyster Point Dentistry.
