Plenty of common habits can make you look older. Smoking, drinking or sun exposure are all well-known for ageing your skin and adding years to your face, but there’s one other habit that millions of Brits are guilty of that experts says is also ageing them.
While it might not damage your skin as much, this habit will cause harm to your mouth and teeth causing your smile to look older. Your smile and your teeth is one of the first things people notice about you, so it’s important to make sure it is looking its best. And Dr Tony Taunk, a dentist at Implant Perfection, is urging people to ditch this habit before it’s too late.
He said: “Lots of people bite their nails and it’s an incredibly common habit, but many of them won’t realise the long-term damage it can do. The pressure of biting down on the nail can damage the front teeth, wearing down its enamel and leading to misalignment and gaps over time.”
Biting your nails is also linked to teeth grinding, which can lead to headaches and issues with your jaw. Dr Taunk said: “Another natural effect of getting older is our teeth tend to get more discoloured thanks to years of enamel thinning and more exposure of dentin, the yellowish tissue that’s at the core of teeth. Nail biting can certainly accelerate enamel damage, leading to a smile that looks older than it is.”
Also known as onychophagia, nail biting is often linked with a lack of impulse control and many people who bite their nails are unaware they are doing it.
Stress is considered one of the most significant causes of nail biting, and alongside the aesthetic issues it can also make you sick.
Dr Taunk said: “Aside from the appearance aspect, biting our nails can also lead to serious illnesses and, of course, long-term damage to the nail. Bacteria gets transferred from the fingertips and nails to the mouth, and this heightens the risk of issues such as stomach bugs, colds and salmonella.”
He added: “Our smiles are one of the key features people notice about us, and even the smallest issue can make a difference to our appearance.
“Nail biting can accelerate enamel damage, natural wear and tear and receding gums, so it’s certainly an everyday habit that can make us look older.”
