Nails

I discovered some years ago that, when I clip my nails, I clench my teeth quite tightly just as I squeeze down the clippers on each nail. This was not to my liking, mostly due to the fact that I felt it probably wasn’t very good for my teeth, their alignment, or my jaw and head. So, I worked to make a positive change. To this day, when I clip my nails, I intentionally open my jaw, though with my lips closed, every time I clip my nails. I usually press my tongue very gently against my top teeth and the roof of my mouth – more like I rest it against the teeth than press it, and push against the roof of my mouth – and pull my lower jaw back just a bit to make sure it doesn’t casually clamp closed on me. My tongue is, is that position, actively preventing my lower jaw from closing. I still end up tightening the muscles around my jaw while I cut the nails, but it isn’t as intense as when left unattended while cutting, and I don’t have to worry about messing with my teeth over time.

But I do feel slightly crazy every time I have to do this. Does anyone else have to do something like this? Or, rather, doesn’t anyone else unconsciously and automatically clench his or her teeth while clipping nails? I don’t know if I’ll ever remember to ask anyone, but I certainly hope others have gone through this oddity, too. I’m very curious as to how and why it would have developed in the first place…

Post-a-day 2024