Nail biting is an incredibly common habit that can cause more damage than it does to the appearance of your nails. It is important to understand how nail biting affects your teeth so that your teeth can stay in good condition. There are many other habits that can also harm the health of your teeth. Eliminating these habits can help reduce tooth sensitivity and protect your teeth.
Nail biting can cause significant damage to teeth. Understanding how nail biting affects your teeth can give you the motivation you need to stop biting your nails completely. Here are just a few of the ways nail biting can affect the condition of your teeth.
Causes Bruxism
When you bite your nails, you usually grit your teeth. This can create an educated response that occurs when experiencing stressful emotions. Even if you consciously try to avoid chewing your nails, you could be grinding your teeth and still hurting them.
Cracking and Wear
When you chew your nails, you are actually forcing your teeth to break this hard substance. This accelerates the wear of your teeth and can even cause teeth to crack. Cracked teeth often lead to a significant amount of pain and increased problems.
Weakens the Roots
The roots of your teeth are what help anchor your teeth to your gums. Biting your nails can cause the teeth to move and weaken these roots. This can cause numerous problems, especially when it comes to successful orthodontic treatment.
Spreading Bacteria
Depending on how often you wash your hands, bacteria may have accumulated under your nails. When you bite your nails, you are allowing these bacteria to seep into your mouth. This can lead to a higher infection rate and also cause oral diseases to spread more quickly through the mouth.
You Damage Your Gums
Biting your nails can cause them to have jagged, sharp edges. This can cause the surface of the gums to scratch. Combined with the excess bacteria on the nails, it can cause infections and serious damage to the gums.
Tips to Stop Nail Biting
It is very important to stop nail biting. This will not only improve the appearance of your nails, but will also help prevent damage to your teeth. Here are some ways to help stop habitual nail biting and maintain the health of your smile:
Identify Your Triggers
Avoiding your triggers can help you significantly reduce the amount of time you spend biting your nails. To avoid your triggers, you must first determine what is causing you to bite your nails. Understanding whether you are doing this out of boredom or anxiety can help you eliminate the problems that are causing you to bite.
Get a Manicure
Spending money on a manicure will greatly eliminate the possibility of biting your nails. If you’ve spent your money on the look of your nails, you’ll be much less likely to do anything that could damage that look. It will just feel like a waste of money.
You Can Apply Bitter Nail Polish
Many types of nail polish have been produced specially for those who try to break the habit of nail biting. When you cover your nails with this bitter nail polish, you will be much less inclined to eat it.
Find Alternatives
Biting your nails is often a coping mechanism to help you deal with stress and even boredom. Finding alternative measures can reduce the amount of time you spend biting your nails. This can be done with simple tools such as fidget spinners or stress balls, or with more substantial alternatives. For example, you may want to start practicing yoga or visiting a therapist.
Chew Gum
Chewing gum regularly can be a much better alternative to biting your nails. Not only can biting nails damage teeth, but chewing gum can also benefit dental health. Make sure the gum is sugar-free to prevent it from accelerating smile damage.
