What's so bad about nail biting?

We’ve all heard that biting your nails is an awful habit, but you many wonder- really- what’s so bad about it? Recently, our team at Pearland Pediatric Dentistry found an interesting article that discusses how biting your nails affect your teeth and oral health.

Nail biting, also known as Onychophagia, is a common habit among various age groups, including primarily children, teens and young adults. Nail biting is generally triggered by stress and most often decreases with age. That being said, nail biting is unsanitary, unattractive, as well as unhealthy for your teeth!

Here’s why:

• It’s unsanitary. Your nails are dirty, almost twice as dirty as your fingers! Hence, biting your nails is just asking for germs and bacteria.
• No good things come to your teeth. Nail biting causes your teeth to constantly be chewing, which is not good for them. This excessive motion wears your teeth down faster than a non-nail biter’s and puts a large amount of stress on your front teeth- contributing to teeth misalignment.
• Braces don’t love it either. Braces already put pressure on teeth, nail biting ads unnecessary pressure, further stressing your teeth and weakening their roots.
• It can be costly. Nail biting can result in up to $4,000 in additional dental bills over one lifetime, according to the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD). Yikes!

What can you do about it?

Now that you know how harmful nail biting can be, it’s time to take action to break your nail biting habit. Try to be conscious of your fingernails and to keep them looking good- this will help you resist the temptation. Ask Dr. Clark or visit the article for tips on how to break a nail biting habit.

Good luck!

Your friends at Pearland Pediatric Dentistry

More happy smiles at Pearland Pediatric Dentistry!

Drs. Clark and Reddy love getting patient reviews from happy moms, dads and kids. And lately, Pearland Pediatric Dentistry, serving Shadow Creek Ranch, Pearland, Alvin and surrounding communities around Houston, has been getting some pretty great patient testimonials! We thought we'd share some with you today! Happy Monday!

"How safe Madeline feels when she's there. She loves all of the attention the staff offers her." ~ Maria N.

"She is warm and very friendly. Both of my children trusted her immediately." ~ Connie P.

"Knowledgeable ,skilled , approachable, willing to help my daughter." ~ Naomi O.

"The front office is very friendly and they understand my insurance needs and work effectively with the insurance company. Dr. Clark is good and takes time to answer questions and make the parents/patient feel relaxed." ~ Alyssa D.

"My child loves going there. They are so nice and encouraging to all the kids they see. The dentist can be a scary place for some, but they do the best they can to make the process as comfortable as possible." ~ Hailey O.

Please feel free to contribute your own thoughts about our office!

Congratulations to the winner of our monthly patient drawing, Ms. Kaila W.!

Congratulations, Kaila! From the entire team at Pearland Pediatric Dentistry!!

What do you love about Pearland Pediatric Dentistry?

From your very first visit to Pearland Pediatric Dentistry, Drs. Clark and Reddy, as well as our dedicated team strive to provide superior dental treatment in a pleasant, friendly atmosphere. Our mission statement is to provide the highest quality pediatric dental care and dental education to our patients and their families in a safe, comfortable, compassionate, kid-friendly environment.

This morning, we thought we’d ask you, our wonderful patients: Have you been especially impressed by Drs. Clark or Reddy? Did our amiable team go out of their way to make your day? Are you in love with your new smile?

Whether you’ve just come in for a consultation or your family has been visiting Pearland Pediatric Dentistry for years, we’d love to hear your feedback. Or, you can tell us by giving us a call!

A little bit about Pearland Pediatric Dentistry...

Thank you for your interest in our office. We are committed to providing your child with the highest quality of dental care. Our goal is to make every patient’s visit pleasant and educational. Pearland Pediatric Dentistry is based on preventive care.

Our entire team strives to teach good oral care that will enable your child to have a beautiful smile that lasts a lifetime. Establishing lasting relationships with our patient families, based upon mutual trust and open communication, is very important to us. Drs. Clark and Reddy feel confident that you will find Pearland Pediatric Dentistry kid-friendly and able to meet the dental needs of your child.

We look forward to seeing you soon. Pearland Pediatric Dentistry’s mission statement is to provide the highest quality pediatric dental care and dental education to our patients and their families in a safe, comfortable, compassionate, kid-friendly environment.

If you have any questions pediatric dentistry or about your child's treatment with Drs. Clark or Reddy, please feel free to give us a call.