Surely you have already seen someone with their hands over their mouth, performing what some call “bite your nails“. The practice is very common — especially in people who suffer from anxiety.
According to a 2016 study, published in the journal PubMed.com, this habit is present in more than 30% of the world's population. However, the habit can be quite harmful to health, especially for teeth.
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According to dentist Dr. José Todescan Junior, this practice, also called onychophagia, negatively affects the dental arch, in addition to causing several other oral problems.
According to the expert, the habit can lead to significant tooth wear. This is because biting your teeth creates pressure on the dental arch, leading to weakening of their enamel.
Thus, the habit can cause cracks or small fissures in these components, which can, in the long term, become serious: anyone who has this habit can even lose a tooth.
(Image: disclosure)
Furthermore, biting your nails can cause the individual's dental arch to dislocate. This makes the intervention of a specialist necessary so that the problems can be taken care of.
In addition to the damages highlighted, biting your nails can also cause harm, such as tooth sensitivity, as the wear of the enamel leaves the dental arch unprotected.
This is also considered unhygienic because of the impurities that can accumulate under the nails. When a person does not wash under them correctly, excess dirt and microorganisms can lead to different types of illnesses.
Therefore, if you have this habit, it is recommended that you seek help from a professional to stop the practice and avoid serious damage.
