While your fingernails may look clean, they can harbor dangerous bacteria such as E. coli and salmonella. Nail-biting and infection can go hand-in-hand because you transmit these bacteria from the fingers to the mouth and gut, where they can cause severe gastrointestinal disorders.

Habitual nail biters can also develop paronychia, a nasty infection of the fingertips that leads to redness, swelling, and pus and requires surgically draining from the nail bed.

In addition: According to the American Dental Association, nail biting can chip or crack teeth. They can also increase the risk of root resorption and tooth loss for people who have braces.

Also, nail biters are more likely to develop bruxism, the unintentional act of grinding the teeth, which can cause headaches, facial pain, recessed gums, tooth sensitivity, and even tooth loss.

Question: Do you really need to take kids to the dentist every six months?

Reply: Not necessarily, it is advised that kids and adults see their dentist at least twice a year. However, sometime people depending on their dental health has to see a dentist more then just a twice a year and on rear occasion a person may only really have to see a dentist once a year.

Postmenopausal women with periodontal disease are more likely to develop breast cancer, according to research published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention. Those with a history of smoking are particularly affected.  After a mean follow-up time of 6.7 years, 2,124 women were diagnosed with breast cancer. The researchers found that among all women, the risk of breast cancer was 14% higher in those who had periodontal disease.