Russians explained the nature of the habit of gnawing on pens and pencils
The habit of chewing pens, pencils, and other objects can be a sign of burnout and lead to tooth damage. Psychologists and dentists assessed the risks. All the details are in the Izvestia article.
Causes of bad habits
Psychologist Natalia Kucheryavaya explained that the habit of gnawing on pen caps or pencils is often an automatic ritual to relieve tension. According to her, the brain uses this action as a quick way to calm down in moments of anxiety, fatigue, or mental overload. Such behavior may conceal chronic stress, suppressed emotions, and the need to regain a sense of control.
The specialist noted that such oral habits are often formed in childhood as a way of physical relaxation. Adults return to this model when the nervous system is depleted.
"When the nervous system is depleted, the old ways of self-regulation return or intensify. The habit of gnawing on objects can become stronger precisely during periods of chronic stress and lack of sleep," warns Curly.
Effects on dental health
Anna Manuylova, a dentist at the Attribute clinic, said that constant biting of hard objects creates a dangerous mechanical load on the teeth. This leads to microcracks, chips and gradual wear of the enamel. The greatest threats are metal caps, hard plastic, nails and ice, which can cause a pinpoint blow to the tooth.
Regular chewing of pens and pencils is also fraught with the development of hypersensitivity. If the enamel becomes thinner, the teeth begin to react acutely to cold, hot or sour. In dentistry, this is often referred to as dental hypersensitivity or hyperesthesia.
"The most risky are very hard objects: metal caps, hard plastic, nails, lids, ice, seeds in shells, nuts in shells and any things with sharp edges. The danger is not only in the load on the enamel, but also in the fact that the object can give a pinpoint blow to the tooth and cause chipping," Manuilova said.
Methods of dealing with the problem
The psychologist stated that with every impulse to bring a hand with a pen to his mouth, a person should pause and ask himself a question about current feelings. According to her, even such a short awareness helps to weaken the automatic reflex.
In addition, an effective way to work with a habit may be to replace the action with a safer one, such as using an anti-stress toy. In addition, the specialist recommends that you monitor situations in which you most often feel like chewing on a pen, and pay attention to your sleep schedule.
If the habit becomes obsessive and leads to damage to the skin or teeth, Curly advises contacting a psychologist, since such behavior may conceal a deeper anxiety that requires study.
The dentist, in turn, advises using sugar-free chewing gum or special silicone accessories. When the first signs of damage appear, such as tooth roughness, pain when biting or injury to the mucous membrane, you should immediately consult a doctor to prevent the cracks from deepening.
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