Compulsive Nail Biting And Oral Health

Compulsive nail biting causes more than just aesthetic problems on your hands. It also leads to consequences for your oral hygiene.

The habit of putting your fingers in your mouth is usually an unconscious act. Many times it is an indicator of an emotional conflict or is an imitated behavior. This problem can affect people of all ages and is more common in childhood and adolescence. In some people, however, it continues into adulthood.

This habit, although it may seem harmless, can harm the mouth. Read on to find out how.

What is nail biting?

Nail biting is a compulsive and unconscious behavior in which the person takes his hands in his mouth and bites in the area at the end of the fingers.

Although the term refers to the nails specifically, it also refers to nipping at the surrounding soft tissue, i.e. the skin around the nails.

Another way to refer to the disorder is with the name trichotillomania. In fact, this word refers to a somewhat more serious disorder, which includes pulling the nails out and even swallowing them. It has to do with psychiatric conditions such as OCD, depression or body dysmorphic disorder.

The origins of nail biting have been related to stress. When a person is faced with recurring situations of anxiety that they cannot resolve, it works like de-stressing agents.

There is also a hypothesis about patient persistence in the oral stages of psychological development. This would explain the tendency to put things in their mouths, including their nails.

General health problems caused by nail biting

Nail biting has specific consequences for oral health, which we will analyze later.

But first we take a look at what happens in other body systems when there is this compulsive act. This is in addition to the associated psychiatric conditions that may be present which have their own signs and symptoms.

At the digestive level, ingesting the pieces of nail that come off by biting can change how the stomach processes food. It is possible that the production of stomach acid increases and that there is dyspepsia or in other words non-specific discomfort in the upper part of the stomach.

If we continue to talk about the digestive tract, we see the consequences in the small intestine. Nail biting can facilitate the penetration of parasites that will settle and cause symptoms in relation to each species.

Nail fungus is another consequence. This is a fungal infection of the nails. Since they are damaged and in constant contact with the mouth and increase their ambient humidity, fungi will have a favorable environment to settle in.

It is worth mentioning that nail fungus is difficult to treat and requires long-term treatment with varnish and continuous use of medication. Therefore, it is a disease that should be detected early.

In the same ball hole as nail fungus, the soft tissue surrounding the hard part of the fingers can also become infected, which is called paronychion or nail root inflammation. The very act of repeatedly biting in the area helps the microorganisms to enter the subcutaneous cellular tissue.

The consequences of compulsive nail biting on oral hygiene

While the digestive system, the nails themselves and the skin of the fingers are the most affected areas, compulsive nail biting also leads to undeniable consequences for oral health. Both the teeth and the rest of the structures in the oral cavity are receptive.

Let us keep in mind that the hands are always in contact with foreign substances and pathogens. We use these extremities to interact with the world around us daily.

With our hands we touch viruses, bacteria, parasites and dirt, which we then get in our mouths when we bite our nails. But that’s not all. There is also mechanical stress on the surfaces of the tooth elements that can wear the enamel down and even make the gums inflamed.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the consequences of nail biting on oral health that can be prevented by reducing the habit.

1. Compulsive nail bite wears teeth

One of the consequences of nail biting for oral health is wear and tear of tooth enamel. This happens due to the friction of the nails against the teeth and the rubbing of the teeth against each other.

As a result, the nail is damaged when bitten. Then the teeth in the upper mouth follow their mechanical load with the teeth in the lower mouth. This leads to repeated microtrauma.

Microtrauma will be microfractures and in extreme cases culminate in actual fractures of the surface of the teeth. Although there may not be a fracture as such, there will be continuous and premature wear.

The middle incisors of the upper mouth are the most affected due to their position and exposure to the habit. This is more evident in people who suffer from nail biting due to stress and anxiety as they usually also experience bruxism (teething).

2. Compulsive nail biting increases your risk of cavities

Cavities are a common disease of the mouth. Their presence is explained by poor hygiene and oral care, resulting in bacterial colonization, which is responsible for the fermentation of carbohydrates in the diet.

This conversion produces acids that demineralize the tooth. So what would be the consequence of nail biting in this case? It turns out that the bacteria on fingers and nails increase the colonization of the oral cavity.

The more bacteria there are, the greater the fermentation and the more acids can demineralize the tooth’s hard tissue. Therefore, the risk of gaps increases.

Halitosis

Halitosis is the technical name for bad breath. Its causes are various, but the most common are related to poor oral hygiene and bacterial colonization. Therefore , one of the consequences of nail biting is a bad odor inside the mouth.

As we said earlier, this coercion can be part of major psychiatric disorders where general hygiene is affected. A depressed person, for example, will tend not to take care of his appearance and may not brush his teeth as often as they should.

Bacteria transported from the teeth to the mouth by nail biting contribute to the substrate of halitosis. The hands are in contact with several external means that facilitate the penetration of microorganisms.

4. Compulsive nail biting can lead to infections in the mouth

The mouth has a flora of healthy microorganisms. Thus, some bacteria normally live in the oral cavity and do not cause disease.

Vigorous contact with hands and unknown pathogens alter this balance. We have already mentioned that gaps occur as a consequence of this penetration of bacteria, but other infections are possible; also due to viruses and fungi. For example, herpes labialis can be contracted by direct contact with the virus.

Halitosis, which we have already talked about, is not always an isolated sign. Sometimes it is an expression of an ongoing infection caused by bacterial overgrowth. It is worth mentioning periodontitis here as a serious consequence of nail biting.

At the same time, some mouth ulcers are related to the colonization of microorganisms. These are very painful and self-limiting wounds that disappear in about a week.

5. Temporomandibular disorders

The temporomandibular joint suffers from nail biting as the constant mechanical load of chewing is able to alter the function of the jaw. This will cause pain when chewing food, and abnormal jaw movements.

If we add bruxism due to generalized stress, then the risk of joint dysfunction increases. Some patients begin with earache as a manifestation of the disorder because the structures sit close together.

There is evidence that bad habits cause temporomandibular disorders, so it is not strange to associate nail biting with this consequence for oral health. The problem is that it is not only difficult to remove the repeated action by biting nails. It is also difficult to correct a dysfunction of this joint.

How to avoid the consequences of compulsive nail biting on oral health?

If we want to avoid the consequences of compulsive nail biting on oral hygiene, we need to take some measures to reduce this bad habit. These can range from psychological treatment to natural remedies to reduce the urge to bite.

When there is a notorious change that affects the quality of life, or that causes physical ailments like the ones we mentioned, it is a good idea to seek psychological treatment from a professional. The psychologist will use different techniques according to the approach.

A condition of anxiety, depression or stress that may be the cause of compulsive nail biting will also be treated. But each case is unique and the methods will be individualized according to the situation.

At the same time, the patient can perform techniques at home to reduce their desire to bite nails. Meditation, yoga, deep breathing or any method that aims to control stress is welcome.

In the market you can buy nail polishes that give the nail an unpleasant taste. This is done to stop the habit of biting nails. There are also artificial nails with the same function.

As for dental care, the first recommendation is to make a consultation. Health professionals will be able to confirm whether injuries are already present, and resolve it, as well as recommend ways to prevent the habit. If deemed necessary, they refer to a psychologist.

Compulsive nail biting has health consequences

Nail biting seems to be a minor problem when the consequences are not fully understood. However, the ultimate effect it has on the teeth, digestive system and skin should not be underestimated.

If you or someone close to you regularly bites your nails, we recommend that you start with a consultation. It can be at a dentist, a psychologist or a doctor. There may be a background to stress or anxiety that can be addressed with proper treatment.