Does biting your nails damage your teeth?

Let’s talk about nail biting – that habit that many of us pick up in our toddler days and some of us just can’t seem to shake off into adulthood. 

Why do people bite their nails? 

The tendency to bite your nails is a common childhood habit similar to thumb sucking or finger sucking. That’s because babies have natural rooting and sucking reflexes that encourage them to latch and breastfeed. 

A lot of babies start sucking their thumbs in the womb! Thumb sucking is a healthy habit; it makes babies feel secure and helps them sleep. Over time thumb sucking can turn into finger sucking and eventually nail biting. 

Kids may start biting their nails as a response to stress or anxiety, or simply out of boredom. It generally begins in toddlers but can trickle into teen years and adulthood if proper measures aren’t taken to correct the habit. 

Effects of nail biting on teeth and overall health 

While nail biting may seem harmless, it can actually harm child’s dental health as well as his or her overall health! 

•Exposure to bacteria: When you bite your nails, all of the bacteria that was behind your nails is now in your mouth. This allows viruses to pass through your body and cause infections. 

•Effects on teeth: Exerting pressure on the teeth and jaws by biting your nails can cause teeth to move out of place, leading to malocclusion (misalignment) or dental wear. This can require orthodontic treatment to correct. 

All in all, yes, nail biting can damage your little one’s teeth and impact their future dental development. It’s important that you work with your little one to kick this habit before their teen years. 

Your Saraswati Dental College team is here to help! 

We are proud to be well-known pediatric dental experts in Saraswati Dental College and Hospital. We are here to help you and your child adjust to their new world of dentist visits in any way that we can. If you think it would be helpful to introduce your child to our team before their appointment, please let us know and we are happy to make that happen. You and your child are in great hands with our trusted team and don’t hesitate to reach out to us with any questions. If you’re ready to schedule your child’s visit, let’s get started!