People of all ages chew on their nails, even kids. In fact, some studies report that about half of children between the ages of 10 and 18 chew on their fingernails occasionally. However, this common habit isn’t entirely harmless. Overaggressive or frequent nail-biting when the teeth and mouth are developing early in life can lead to long-term complications. Here’s how your child’s nail-biting habits can impact their long-term oral health, and what you can do to protect their precious smile from permanent damage.
What Are the Consequences of Nail-Biting?
The protective shell of enamel that covers the teeth is the strongest material in the human body, but it can be worn down. Occasional fingernail chewing won’t dramatically erode the enamel, but frequent or aggressive biting will. Nail-biting can cause:
- Sensitive or weakened teeth: As the enamel is worn away, teeth naturally become sensitive and more prone to damage.
- Chipped or cracked teeth: A combination of thinner enamel plus the extra force on the teeth that comes with nail-biting can easily chip or crack teeth.
- Infection in the gums: Nail-biting introduces a variety of new bacteria and germs into the mouth, which can infect the gums.
- Early loss of baby teeth: Prolonged extra pressure on baby teeth can cause them to lose their grip and fall out prematurely, which in turn influences the development of permanent teeth.
- Crooked permanent teeth: Permanent teeth are stronger than baby teeth, but nail-biting can cause them to come in crookedly or feel loose.
- Nightly teeth grinding (bruxism): Studies show that unconsciously chewing on hard objects like your fingernails (or ice or pen caps) increases risk of teeth grinding in sleep (bruxism).
How to Help Your Child Stop Biting Their Nails
Typically, nonnutritive habits like nail-biting naturally go away on their own as children grow up. Nail-biting specifically can last well into adolescence and early adulthood in some cases. Your pediatric dentist will monitor your child’s oral development as you bring them in for their biannual checkups and let you know if nail-biting is impacting how their smile is growing. They can work with you to implement trusted methods to help your little one break this habit, such as:
- Identifying what triggers nail-biting: Like thumb-sucking, nail-biting can be a response to stress or fear. Try to determine what is causing your child to bite their nails and take steps to resolve that issue first.
- Giving them different outlets: When you see your son or daughter chewing on their nails, encourage them to draw, write, be active, or play with a toy that occupies their hands instead.
- Use over-the-counter solutions: There are store-bought products and nail polishes that make fingernails taste displeasing, which can help your child stop biting them.
For more personalized guidance, don’t be shy to talk to your child’s primary care doctor or pediatric dentist. They’ll be happy to help your child curb this habit to keep their smile happy and healthy for many years to come.
About the Practice
Village Pediatric Dentistry has been serving the growing smiles of Cumming and the surrounding communities of North Georgia since 2012. Their talented team of board-certified pediatric dentists offer a range of specialized treatments to ensure your little one’s oral health and development stay on track, including dental sealants, fluoride treatments, sports mouthguards, teething information, and assistance in managing nonnutritive habits. If you are concerned about your child’s nail-biting, don’t hesitate to contact them via their website or at (678) 456-5572.