Do you gnaw on your nails like a beaver trying to chop down a tree? Whether your nail biting is done out of anxiety or boredom, a bad habit of nail biting can be a serious problem for your smile. All of that repetitive chewing on a hard, non-food object, day in and day out, will grind your teeth down, making them smaller – almost child-like. This connection may seem like common sense, but science backs the nail biting/teeth grinding theory up.

Teeth Grinding when Nervous

Bruxism (teeth grinding) is a condition that often happens at night, and for many years, there has been no definitive cause or link. Many people have felt certain that a connection between nerves and bruxism was obvious, but recent research looks at the type of anxiety which occurs in people who are highly uncomfortable at parties, starting new jobs, going to a new school, or any type of social situation. According to researchers at Tel Aviv University, chronic teeth grinding and social anxiety most certainly go hand-in-hand, and biting nails is one side effect of this phenomena. Research will be published in the Journal of Oral Rehabilitation.

Prevent Grinding and Nail Biting

Teeth grinding not only causes tooth wear which can be unsightly, but another physical dental issue – fractures. Dr. Ephraim Winocur of the Department of Oral Rehabilitation at TAU’s School of Dental Medicine was the supervisor of the research which was conducted by TAU doctoral student Roi Skopski in collaboration with researchers at Geha Mental Health Center in Petah Tikva, Israel. Dr. Winocour pointed out that while social anxiety is not a dental issue in and of itself, it is certainly one with a serious cosmetic dental side effect. In addition to the aesthetic issues you can incur from nail biting and teeth grinding, bruxism can cause chronic jaw pain and potentially lead to temporomandibular joint inflammation. The study showed that 42.1% of volunteer with social phobia exhibited bruxism symptoms. Common preventive measures might include meditation, yoga, relaxation, ample nightly sleep, and in some cases, medication.

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Dr. Brent Engelberg and his highly-skilled team proudly serve patients and their families from Arlington Heights, IL, and all surrounding communities, including; Northbrook, Deerfield, Highland Park, Wilmette, Winnetka, Glencoe, Vernon Hills, Lincolnshire, Libertyville, Skokie, Evanston, Palatine, Schaumburg, Elk Grove Village, Rolling Meadows, and the Northern and Northwest Chicago Suburbs. To learn more, schedule a consultation online, or call our office today at 847-259-8030.