Nail biting affect your mouth: Nail biting is a common habit that many people want to break. One reason is that it can damage the appearance of your nails. But another reason to quit is that it can spread harmful germs from your fingers to your mouth. This can increase your risk of getting sick with a cold or other infection. Children are especially vulnerable to these germs because they have weaker immune systems and may not always wash their hands as well as they should.
Realise How Biting Your Nails Affects Your Mouth
If you’re someone who bites your nails, you may be putting your oral health at risk. This habit can put a lot of pressure on your teeth, which can cause them to become damaged over time. In addition to this, nail biting has been linked to several oral health problems, such as gum disease and tooth decay. The following are a few ways in which nail biting affect your mouth:
Damage to the teeth: Biting your nails can put excessive pressure on your teeth, leading to chipping, cracking, or wearing down of the enamel. This can result in tooth sensitivity, pain, and the need for dental repairs.
Injuries to the gums: Nails can have sharp edges or hangnails that can accidentally injure the delicate gum tissue while biting. This can cause gum bleeding, swelling, and potential infections.
Risk of bacterial infection: Our hands come into contact with various surfaces throughout the day, including dirt, germs, and bacteria. By biting your nails, you introduce these microorganisms into your mouth, increasing the risk of bacterial infections, such as paronychia, which affects the skin around the nails.
Spread of oral herpes: If you have oral herpes (cold sores), biting your nails can cause the virus to spread from the fingers to the mouth or vice versa. This can lead to additional outbreaks or the development of herpetic whitlow, a painful infection of the finger.
Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) issues: Frequent nail biting can strain the jaw muscles and temporomandibular joint, which connects the jawbone to the skull. This can lead to jaw pain, stiffness, and potential TMJ disorders.
Tips to stop biting nails that affect your mouth
To prevent the negative effects of nail biting, it is recommended to locate alternative approaches to handle tension or break the practice. Below are some suggestions to assist you to quit biting your nails
Identify triggers: If you want to stop biting your nails, it’s important to identify triggers that make you more likely to do so. These could include stress, boredom, or anxiety. Once you’ve recognized your triggers, you can develop strategies to avoid or cope with them effectively.
Keep your nails trimmed: By regularly trimming and shaping your nails, you can reduce the urge to bite them. This can be particularly helpful if you are struggling with nail biting due to stress, boredom, or anxiety. It’s important to identify your triggers and develop coping strategies that work for you.
Find alternative behaviors: Replace the habit of nail-biting with a healthier alternative. For example, you could try chewing gum, squeezing a stress ball, or fidgeting with a small object like a worry stone or a pen.
Maintain good oral hygiene: Brushing your teeth regularly, using mouthwash, and keeping your nails clean can help deter nail biting. The taste of toothpaste or the cleanliness of your nails can act as a deterrent.
Apply bitter-tasting nail polish: You can find special nail polishes designed to discourage nail biting. These polishes have a bitter taste that reminds you to avoid biting your nails.
