How nail biting affects your oral health, from Benson Orthodontics

We’ve all heard that biting your nails is an awful habit, but you many wonder- really- what’s so bad about it? Recently, our team at Benson Orthodontics found an interesting article in the Huffington Post on about how biting your nails affect your teeth and oral health. Today, Dr. Benson and our team would discuss some of the key topics that were presented in the article.

Firstly, let’s get the facts straight. Technically, nail biting is called Onychophagia, and is a very widespread habit among many age groups. Nail biting is generally triggered by stress and most often decreases with age. That being said, nail biting is unsanitary, unattractive, unhealthy for your teeth, and expensive!

Here’s why:

• It’s unsanitary- Your nails are dirty, almost twice as dirty as your fingers! Hence, biting your nails is just asking for germs and bacteria.
• No good things come to your teeth- Nail biting causes your teeth to constantly be chewing, which is not good for them. This excessive motion wears your teeth down faster than a non-nail biter’s and puts a large amount of stress on your front teeth- contributing to teeth misalignment.
• Braces don’t love it either- Braces already put pressure on teeth, nail biting ads unnecessary pressure, further stressing your teeth and weakening their roots.
• It can be costly- Nail biting can result in up to $4,000 in additional dental bills over one lifetime, according to the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD). Yikes!

What can you do about it?

Now that you know how harmful nail biting can be, it’s time to take action to break your nail biting habit. Try to be conscious of your fingernails and to keep them looking good- this will help you resist the temptation. Ask Dr. Benson or visit this article for tips on how to break a nail biting habit.