When Sarah Guidry’s son, Kale, started complaining about a strange pain in his gums, she decided to investigate. Using a flashlight, she took a closer look inside his mouth and noticed that his gums were inflamed. But what she discovered next left her shocked.
Embedded in Kale’s gums was a fingernail. Yes, you read that right. It turns out that Kale, like many people, had a habit of biting his nails. But what he didn’t realize was that the bits of his chewed nails were actually getting stuck in his mouth, causing him immense pain.
After plucking out the fingernail with a pair of tweezers, Sarah found more. In fact, she managed to remove a total of 32 pieces of fingernails from Kale’s gums. This bizarre and alarming situation prompted Sarah to share her story on Facebook as a warning to other parents about the dangers of nail biting.
Nail biting is a common habit that many people engage in due to stress, anxiety, or perfectionism. While a little bit of nail biting may not be harmful, when it becomes an obsessive and injurious habit, it can lead to serious consequences, as Kale’s story demonstrates.
According to Kale’s dentist, the reason the fingernail bits were getting lodged in his gums was because he would push them up towards the roof of his mouth, causing them to pierce the skin and create a pocket between his baby teeth and permanent teeth. The pain Kale experienced was a result of this.
Sarah’s Facebook post quickly gained attention, with over a quarter million people sharing her message. Parents around the world were shocked to learn about the potential dangers of nail biting and how it can lead to severe pain and complications.
This incident serves as a reminder to parents to address nail biting habits in their children early on. By doing so, they can prevent their children from developing similar issues with nail clippings becoming lodged in their gums.
If you know someone who bites their nails, share this story with them to raise awareness about the potential consequences. Let’s help others avoid going through the same ordeal as Kale.
