Feasting on your fingernails causes problems to your dental health more than just your manicure. According to the Dental Clinic in Dubai, a person who bites their nails will spend thousands to repair the dental damage caused by this bad habit.
Psychiatrists are yet to decide if this nail biting habit is attributed to an obsessive compulsive disorder or a harmless bad habit, but the Dentist in Dubai agrees that the habit of biting one’s nails, often called onychophagia, can harm both the teeth and a person’s overall health as well.
Most people have nails that are rugged and resilient to damage, and gnawing at them can cause the teeth to chip. The tooth’s enamel can also get fractured if it’s under frequent stress by chewing on tough items like finger nails.
Some people claim that constant nail biting, especially when they were young has now caused their teeth to shift and move, leaving them with an overbite or with gaps between the teeth. This seems unlikely for anyone but the most obsessive nail biter, or someone who has already had damaged or fragile teeth. Also, if the nail biting ritual goes beyond just chomping on them and includes inserting the nails in between the teeth or thumb sucking, this should be stopped immediately as it can cause lots of harm to the tooth structure.
Nail biting is a really bad habit, and if you are wearing braces, then this puts additional stress on the teeth that is already in a compromised position and it can make the root weak as well as ruin the intended outcome of the orthodontic treatment.
Most people who bite their nails do not have any visible dental damage, but this does not mean that they have anything to worry about. The most common health problem encountered by nail biters is caused by transporting bacteria from the hands to the mouth. The majority of the bacteria living in the hands are often, found under the nails.
Also, biting nails can lean to gum infections, bad breath, and generally compromised dental health. And since, the mouth is the gateway to the body, filling it toxic microorganisms is not a good idea.
Nail biters tend to damage their cuticles too. Since nail cuticles are intended to keep moisture and germs out of the body, removing or shredding them can have implications on a person’s overall health as well.
Biting your nails can cause problems with the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), which connects the jawbone to the skull. Symptoms of TMJ disorder include pain in the ear or jaw, pain or difficulty in chewing, clicking sounds when the jaw is moved and problems in fully opening or closing the mouth.
Children too love to bite their nails apart from adults. Therefore, in order to break this bad habit and have a killer Hollywood Smile in Dubai here are a few tips that you should follow,
- Keep the nails short and filed.
- Get regular manicures, and consider wearing artificial nails.
- When the urge to bite the nails come up focus on some other activity.
- Rub some bitter tasting clear nail polish
