Ask Dr. Dau: What’s so bad about biting my nails?

Most times when our patients at Dau Orthodontics get their braces on, they know it's about time to part with some unhealthy habits, including biting their nails. Fingernail biting and chewing on lips and pencils can be very damaging to the enamel on your teeth also changes how you are biting down on a day to day basis. Nail biting can be harmful to your braces and cause you to break brackets, hence delaying your treatment with Dr. Steven Dau. Kicking that habit can be the best thing you can do for yourself - and your teeth!

Also, hard candies and mints can damage your teeth, as well as give you cavities - the pure sugar can get crunched into your teeth and linger there for a long time. Dr. Dau will tell you avoiding these foods is the best thing you can do during your treatment.

If you feel the need to chew, try some sugar-free mint gum, which you can also chew with braces as long as it is sugar-free.

Hope this helps! If you have any questions, go ahead and ask on our Facebook page or during your next visit with Dr. Dau! Happy Friday!