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Also known as onchophagia, the habit of nail biting is one of the so-called “nervous habits” that can be triggered by stress, excitement, or boredom. Approximately half of all kids between the ages of ten and 18 have been nail biters at one time or another. Experts say that about 30 percent of children and 15 percent of adults are nail biters, however most people stop chewing their nails by the time they turn 30.

Here are four dental and general reasons to stop biting your nails:

1. It’s unsanitary: Your nails harbor bacteria and germs, and are almost twice as dirty as fingers. What’s more, swallowing dirty nails can lead to stomach problems.

2. It wears down your teeth: Gnawing your nails can put added stress on your pearly whites, which can lead to crooked teeth.

3. It can delay your orthodontic treatment: For those of our patients wearing braces, nail biting puts additional pressure on teeth and weakens roots.

4. It can cost you, literally: It has been estimated that up to $4,000 in extra dental bills can build up over a lifetime.

Dr. Mark Guevarra and our team recommend the following to kick your nail biting habit:

• Keep your nails trimmed short; you’ll have less of a nail to bite.
• Coat your nails with a bitter-tasting nail polish.
• Ask us about obtaining a mouthguard, which can help prevent nail biting.
• Put a rubber band around your wrist and snap it whenever you get the urge to gnaw on your nails.
• Think about when and why you chew your nails. Whether you are nervous or just bored, understanding the triggers can help you find a solution and stop the habit.
• If you can’t stop, behavioral therapy may be an effective option to stop nail biting. Ask Dr. Mark Guevarra and our team for a recommendation.

Most parents know that routine dental care should begin during their child’s toddler years. And many assume they must wait until their child has all of his or her permanent teeth to visit Dr. Mark Guevarra for an initial orthodontic consultation.

The ideal age for an orthodontic evaluation is age seven. At that age, your child will have a mixture of adult and baby teeth for Dr. Mark Guevarra and our team at Iowa Orthodontic Solutions to make a determination about whether any problems are present. Typically the first molars have come in by the time your child turns seven, giving us an opportunity to check for malocclusion, also known as “bad bite.” Also, by the time your child reaches the age of seven, the incisors have begun to come in, and problems such as crowding, deep bites, and open bites can be detected.

When Dr. Mark Guevarra and our team perform an evaluation on your child at an early age, you get one of two positive outcomes. Although treatment usually will not begin until one to five years after the initial evaluation, it’s still helpful in determining whether your child has any problems with the jaw and teeth early when they are still easy to treat. Earlier treatment can also cost less to correct a potential problem than delayed treatment.

Early evaluation, of course, may signal a need for early treatment. For some children, early treatment can prevent physical and emotional trauma. Aside from spurring years of harmful teasing, misaligned teeth are also prone to injury and are detrimental to good oral hygiene.

If your child is approaching age seven, or has already surpassed his or her seventh birthday, it is time to schedule an appointment for an initial examination at Iowa Orthodontic Solutions.

The dog days of summer are upon us, and what better time for Dr. Mark Guevarra and our team to ask our patients about their summer!

Whether you visited our nation’s capital, went on a camping trip, or just stayed in Iowa and relaxed, we want to know how you’re all spending your summer! Please feel free to share your summer plans and experiences with us below or on our Facebook page as summer rolls on!

Each summer Ankeny hosts a huge celebration put together by a dedicated group of volunteers dedicating many hours to make this an event worth visiting. The celebration is known as Ankeny SummerFest.

Annual Event
The celebration begins with the carnival, the leisure garden sponsored by the JC’s and a band in the evening.
The parade is held on Saturday morning. The Parade route is approximately 2.7 miles long and viewing the entire parade takes about 2 hours.
There are events going on throughout the dates from the Sweet 16 contest (Miss 16), bands, dance competitions, volleyball tournaments, softball tournaments and much more. Iowa Orthodontic Solutions, Ankeny office is the main sponsor for the Miss 16 Contest on July 11!
The carnival will start Thursday night and will again offer the popular “Sneak-a-Peak” rides at a reduced rate. Discounted rides will also be offered on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. The festival will have many events during the long weekend including games, dances, softball tournament, a talent show, musical shows, booths, concessions and the fireworks finale on Sunday night.
The celebration closes with one of the areas biggest and best displays of fireworks. This stunning ending to the event is well worth staying around for and enjoying.
2014 Miss Sixteen Contest
Featuring three categories
Miss Community
Miss Photogenic
Miss Scholastic
This information was obtained from iowabeautiful.com