Are you a habitual nail biter? If you cannot help but chew on your fingernails, your dentist has a few important, enamel-saving reasons to stop. Katz Family Dentistry provides cosmetic dentistry services to patients who fall sick or damage their teeth due to nail biting. You can avoid an extra trip to the dentist by discovering the top reasons why it is important to stop chewing your nails. 

Dentist’s 3 Reasons to Never Bite Your Nails 

1. Chipped Teeth 

While your teeth are made of strong enamel, fingernails are also exceptionally rigid, consisting of hard keratin proteins. This means that your fingernails can easily wreak havoc on any tooth. As you periodically bite down on your nails, enamel can slowly fracture and chip away, causing a dental emergency. The best way to avoid chipped teeth is to avoid nail biting altogether. 

2. Bruxism 

Nail biting may also make you more susceptible to bruxism, an unintentional but frequent grinding and clenching of the jaw that can cause headaches, receding gums, and tooth damage. Avoid excess trips to the family dentist and pressure on your teeth, jaw, and gums by keeping nail biting at a minimum. 

3. Infections 

Even if you cut your nails regularly, they are too sharp to put into your mouth. Just one slip of a nail can cause your gums to break and bleed. If your hands are dirty, an open wound can quickly turn into a bacterial infection or cause painful inflammation from conditions such as gingivitis. Keep harmful bacteria from entering your mouth and bloodstream by stopping nail biting. 

With comprehensive family and cosmetic dentistry services, you can keep your mouth and teeth healthy. To make an appointment with an expert dentist devoted to patient-focused care, call Katz Family Dentistry in Webster, NY, at (585) 671-2340. For more information about their services and treatments, visit their website.