Ask Pediatric Dental Partners: 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 Pediatric Dental Partners found an interesting article that discusses how biting your nails affect your teeth and oral health.

Nail biting, or Onychophagia, is a common habit that is generally triggered by stress, often decreasing 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. If you have braces, nail biting ads unnecessary pressure and further stresses your teeth and weakens 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 Drs. Crawford, Wallace, Backofen and Chidlow or visit this article for tips on how to break a nail biting habit.

Good luck!

Your friends at Pediatric Dental Partners

Pediatric Dental Partners learns to paint the fleur de lis!

Our team at Pediatric Dental Partners in Shreveport and Bossier City, LA recently enjoyed a lovely evening at Painting with a Twist. Together, we learned how to paint the fleur de lis through step by step painting instructions. We had a wonderful time! Our private party was made up of about 23 staff members and friends, which were primarily from the Shreveport, LA office.

To see the complete photo album from Painting with a Twist, be sure to check out our Facebook page! Let us know what you think of our fleur de lis artwork!

-Pediatric Dental Partners

Thumb-Sucking & Your Child’s Teeth, from Pediatric Dental Partners

Lots of you have asked Drs. Crawford, Wallace, Backofen, and Chidlow about whether it’s healthy for children to suck thumbs (or, less frequently, fingers). If you’ve got a thumb-sucker in the house, you are not alone. Research tells us that between 75% and 95% of infants suck their thumbs.

Is this anything to worry about? In most cases, probably not. Sucking is a natural reflex for an infant, and can provide security and contentment as well as relaxation for your little one. It’s a habit that most kids grow out of between the ages of two and four.

However, if your child keeps sucking after he’s gotten his permanent teeth, it’s time to take a closer look. If your child sucks his thumb aggressively, putting pressure on the inside of his mouth or his teeth, it could cause problems with tooth alignment and proper mouth growth. If you’re worried, give us a call and we will help assess the situation, and provide tips for how to help your child break the habit.

Ask Pediatric Dental Partners: Is sedation dentistry right for my child?

While Drs. Crawford, Wallace, Backofen, and Chidlow, serving Bossier City and Shreveport, LA strive to offer a comfortable experience for all our patients, we realize that fear or anxiety while visiting the dentist can affect a lot of kids anyway. For patients who need extra comfort and relaxation during their dental visit, we are pleased to offer sedation dentistry.

Do you feel nervous or stressed about your upcoming dental treatment? Well you’re not alone; in fact, almost 30 percent of the population experiences "dental phobia" when faced with visiting the dentist!

The reasons for patients' fear of the dentist can be numerous, but are usually due to a traumatic experience during their childhood. This overwhelming anxiety can cause one to avoid modern dental care, resulting in poor oral hygiene and possible mouth-related issues such as gum disease.

Your child can benefit from sedation dentistry if he or she experiences one or more of the following:

* High fear of dental care
* Complex dental problems
* Traumatic dental experiences
* Fear of needles and shots
* Trouble getting numb
* Sensitive teeth

If your child suffers from dental phobia, sedation dentistry may be the answer. Please give us a call for more info about sedation dentistry, and we'll be more than happy to answer your questions.