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Q: My daughter bites her fingernails incessantly. Can the habit
have dental repercussions?
A: Nail-biting is a habit that has no up side. In addition to the
stubby, unsightly condition it creates with fingers, the habit also
can cause oral health problems. That's because any activity that
involves using the teeth in an unnatural way for an extended period
increases the likelihood of injury to the temporomandibular joint,
the joint in front of either ear, where the jaws converge. You'll
hear that joint referred to as the TMJ. Over time, the clenching
action of biting one's nails will stretch the jaw muscles. That stretching
will create an imbalance in the TMJ and that can lead to pain.
If your daughter has developed this habit at a very young age,
she may also be heading for a situation in which the pressure of
the biting can create a gap between her front teeth. And, the type
of individual who develops a nail-biting habit is often the type
of person who is prone to picking at her gums. Some dentists and
physicians recommend coating nails and fingers with an unpleasant
tasting—but
non-toxic -- lotion or pepper to discourage the habit. Talk with
your dentist about strategies for getting your daughter to drop her
habit. Otherwise, future treatment may be needed either to straighten
teeth or address the TMJ problem.
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