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For the Sake of Your Teeth: Why You Should Think Twice Before Biting Your Nails

11 June 2018 by Jeff Rivera

Nail biting seems so harmless and not a single soul that engages in the act ever thinks that the habit has any side effects. Studies, though, beg to differ. Research findings published in the journal Dentistry suggest that people who bite their nails or clench their teeth are at a greater risk of succumbing to bruxism. Bruxism refers to a condition characterized by severe grinding of teeth and often leads to facial pain, headache, tooth sensitivity and tooth loss. Read on to discover more about the effects of nail-biting on teeth and how you can stop the habit.

How Biting Your Nails Destroys Your Teeth

If you are a seriously determined chewer, here are a few complications that can make you think twice about chomping on your nails:

• Temporomandibular Joint Disorder – Also known as TMJ, temporomandibular joint disorder is a condition defined by discomfort in the jaw as well as popping or locking of the jaw. The discomfort can also be accompanied by ear and facial pains. When you chew your nails, stress is exerted on the jaws. And if the chewing prolongs, pressure on the jaw leads to pain in the muscles that regulate jaw movement.
•  Chipped Teeth – Fingernails are made of hard compounds, which means that you are often needed to bite hard to cut the nails. While you are at it, your upper teeth smack into the lower teeth with a force. Doing so repeatedly eventually wears off the enamel leaving you with chipped teeth that require cosmetic dental care.

How You Can Stop the Act

Lads who are addicted to nail biting don't find it easy to ditch the habit. With a good plan in place, however, you shouldn't struggle that much. Here are tactics that can effectively help you stop biting your nails:

• Opt for a Bitter Nail Polish –  It is time you start applying a nail polish that not only looks good on you but one that also tastes awful or bitter when it comes into contact with your tongue. Just one bite of a nail layered with a bitter-tasting polish will make you think twice the next time you feel like chewing your nails. Topcoats and polishes that are infused with spicy or bitter compounds can easily be found in salons and beauty shops.
• Wear a Mouthguard – If you are a dedicated nail-biter, you may have to consider wearing a mouthguard. Be aware, though, that a mouthguard can affect your speech – you might speak with a slight lisp. But this can't be as socially embarrassing as biting your nails.  
• Focus on One Finger at a Time – Perhaps the idea of stopping the act of biting all your nails at the same time isn't so appealing to you. If so, focus on one finger at a time. This week, you can promise yourself not to chew the thumbnail, next week the index, the week after that the middle finger and so forth. The order doesn't really matter as long as you are getting the job done.

By sticking to these methods, and with a little bit of commitment, you will stop feasting on your nails within no time. 

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