Dental expert Dr. Nicole Mackie gives tips on how to stop biting your nails
When it comes to dental and oral health, you know to brush and floss your teeth a couple times a day and visit your dentist regularly. However, what not to do isn’t discussed as much—and some of the advice is surprising.
For example, one major habit many dentists advise against is biting your nails. While it may seem harmless, it can hurt your teeth and overall health in more ways than you might realize.
People bite their nails for many understandable reasons, whether they involve anxiety, boredom or something else. When it feels second nature, how do you stop?
One tip is to paint your nails. This can work in a variety of ways. “The taste of it isn’t pleasant, and neither is the thought of all the germs transferring to your mouth,” says Dr. Nicole Mackie, DDS, MS, FACP, a prosthodontist, aesthetic injector and owner of Dr. Nicole Mackie Dental Implant Specialty Center. “Plus, who likes messing up their cute nails?” (Point taken!)
Not into painted nails? Another option she shares is trimming your nails. “There’s nothing to bite if they’re trimmed,” she says. Or, you can try clear nail polish if you just don’t want color.
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