Ask Drs. Morrow, Lai, & Edwards: 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 Drs. Morrow, Lai, & Edwards 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.

• 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. Morrow, Lai, & Edwards or visit the article for tips on how to break a nail biting habit.

Good luck!
Your friends at Drs. Morrow, Lai, & Edwards

Toothbrush Trivia, from Drs. Morrow, Lai, and Edwards

People have been brushing their teeth for thousands of years! In fact, the first “toothbrush” was created around 3000BC! Ancient civilizations used a thin twig with a frayed edge to rub against their teeth for cleaning.

The first toothbrush with bristles – similar to today’s toothbrushes – was invented in 1498 in China. Brushes were made out of bone or bamboo with bristles made from the hairs on the back of a hog’s neck.

It wasn’t until 1938 that the first nylon bristle toothbrush was introduced and people quickly became aware of practicing good oral hygiene.

Here are some other interesting facts about your toothbrush (and toothpaste):

• Most people are said to use blue toothbrushes over any other color
• The first toothpaste was used in 500 BC in China and India
• On average, children smile about 400 times per day
• Your toothbrush should be replaced every two months
• The first known toothpaste was used in 1780, Crest was introduced in the US in 1955 and Colgate in 1873

Drs. Morrow, Lai, and Edwards, protecting your child from cavities this Halloween

As Halloween is only two weeks away, Drs. Morrow, Lai, and Edwards know that there will soon be many tricks and treats! While this festive holiday is full of costumes and fun community activities, it can also be a harmful time for the teeth of young trick-or-treaters in our Tulsa, OK neighborhoods.

With all of the sugary, sticky, and chewy treats that are often shared with trick-or-treaters, it is important that you take the necessary steps to prevent cavities this Halloween.

Be sure to visit our understanding cavities blog to learn more about cavities, and how they can be avoided by good oral hygiene habits. Don't hesitate to ask Drs. Morrow, Lai, and Edwards or our staff for more information about cavities and your oral health during your next visit.

What do you love about Morrow, Lai, and Edwards Pediatric Dentistry?

From your very first visit to Drs. Morrow, Lai, and Edwards, our doctors and team strive to provide superior treatment in a pleasant, friendly atmosphere. We thought we’d ask you, our wonderful patients: Have you or has your child been especially impressed by the work of Drs. Morrow, Lai, and Edwards? Did our 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 our office for years, we’d love to hear your feedback. You can write a review on our Google Places page. Or, you can tell us by posting on our Facebook page or by giving us a call!

Thank you,

-Drs. Morrow, Lai, and Edwards

10 Dos and Don’ts of Facebook for parents, from Drs. Morrow, Lai, and Edwards

Many parents tend to sign up for Facebook accounts and ‘friend’ their kids, often as a way to keep an eye on their online activities. But then what? Many parents in this digital age are still lost when it comes to monitoring their kids online.

Last fall, parenting author Vicki Courtney wrote a helpful post on the things parents should and shouldn’t do while surfing through their kids’ Facebook profiles. Drs. Morrow, Lai, and Edwards and our team thought you might benefit from reading Vicki’s interesting piece.

Here are “Top Ten Facebook No-Nos for Parents,” designed specifically for those moms and dads who aren’t sure whether they’ve crossed the line in monitoring their kids’ presence online.

We hope you find this article informational. Please let us know what you think!