Do you have any nervous habit? For example, do you bite your nails or know anyone who bites their nails? While this may not seem like a serious problem, would you be surprised to learn that biting your nails can actually lead to a number of serious problems? In fact, chewing your nails could actually hurt your teeth.
In reality, by chewing your nails, you could wear down your teeth unevenly. If this happens, you could actually start grinding your teeth, which can ultimately lead to tooth loss. Nail biting can also chip or crack your teeth. Furthermore, would you be surprised to hear that chewing your nails can even affect your overall health? You see, your oral health and the health of your body are connected and your nails are one of the dirtiest parts of your hand. In other words, by chewing your nails, you could be introducing bad germs and bacteria to your mouth, which can impact your oral health. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to stop biting your nails.
However, would you be surprised to learn that chewing gum is another habit that could damage your pearly whites, especially if you use gum with sugar in it? Similarly, chewing gum could make teeth grinding worse. Conversely, there are a few benefits to chewing gum. You see, saliva flow can carry plaque and bacteria away from your teeth, and chewing gum can actually promote saliva flow.
To learn more about the care you can receive from our team, or to learn more about biting your nails in Madison, New Jersey, please don’t hesitate to give Family Dentistry a call at 973-360-9800. Our dentist, Dr. Monila Reheman, and our team will be happy to address any of your questions. We’re excited to receive your call.
