Braces and Nail Biting - Break the Habit

If you are going to be getting braces or are already wearing braces than there is a bit you should know about nail biting.   Nail biting can be harmful to your braces and cause you to break brackets, hence delaying your treatment.  The forward thrust of your lower jaw to make the bite on the nail is not good for your treatment either.

With that said, some orthodontist will say that biting your nails will not affect your braces treatment at all.  Depending on the patients bite will determine if the nail biting will mess with the brackets.

Breaking the nail biting habit is usually not as easy as it seems as many people bite their nails unconsciously.  People that get manicures are less likely to bite there nails, however motivation is usually the best way to break the habit of biting your nails.

Some patients will report that they are physically unable to bite there nails any longer while wearing braces.  The teeth just won’t line up and allow for it.  As your teeth and bite changes, this is a common occurrence and leads to many breaking the habit of biting nails.  After a couple years of braces, the patients have lost the urge to bite the nails and generally don’t go back to nail biting.

Whether you have braces or are getting braces, breaking the habit of nail biting is a good choice.   You may find that simply having the braces on will break you habit physically, and you will find that it is healthier not to bite your nails and possibly have them professionally trimmed at least once a month or do it yourself.