Lack of vitamin B12 and iron deficiency can cause anemia and lead you to feel cold.
See your doctor if you have any of these symptoms:
- discoloration (dark streaks, white streaks, or changes in nail color)
- changes in nail shape (curling or clubbing)
- changes in nail thickness (thickening or thinning)
- nails that become brittle.
- nails that are pitted.
- bleeding around nails.
- swelling or redness around nails.
Here are some tips that you can use to help strengthen your nails in no time.
- Take a biotin supplement.
- Minimize exposure to water.
- Stay hydrated.
- Pay attention to your diet.
- Be careful about the products you use.
- Avoid using gel or acrylic nails, if possible.
- Give your nails a break from polish.
Anemia is a condition where your body lacks enough hemoglobin, a protein that carries oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body. While fatigue is the leading sign of anemia, this condition can also show itself through brittle or spoon-shaped nails — called koilonychia.
If the nails are mostly white with darker rims, this can indicate liver problems, such as hepatitis. In this image, you can see the fingers are also jaundiced, another sign of liver trouble.
Brittle nails occur for a variety of reasons. They may be a normal sign of aging or the result of polishing your nails too frequently. When the weather is cold, brittle nails may result from dryness. Weak nails also can be signs of a health issue, such as hypothyroidism or anemia.
Brittle or spoon-shaped fingernails
A much less common symptom of iron deficiency is brittle or spoon-shaped fingernails. This condition is called koilonychia ( 20 ). Usually, the first sign is brittle nails that chip and crack easily.Thyroid diseases such as hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism may cause brittle nails or splitting of the nail bed from the nail plate (onycholysis). Severe illness or surgery may cause horizontal depressions in the nails Beau lines.
Your toenails tell a lot about your overall health. A fungal infection often causes thickened yellow toenails. Thick, yellow nails also can be a sign of an underlying disease, including lymphedema (swelling related to the lymphatic system), lung problems, psoriasis, or rheumatoid arthritis.
Vitamin B12 plays a role in iron absorption, as well as the development of red blood cells. Both iron and B12 are necessary for keeping nails strong and healthy. A deficiency in vitamin B12 can result in entirely blue nails, bluish-black pigments with wavy longitudinal dark streaks and brownish pigmentation ( 5 , 6 ).
Most vitamin deficiencies are due to either inadequate dietary intake or malabsorption. Vitamin D, which can be obtained through sun exposure, is one of the few exceptions. Lack of these nutrients may affect the nail, the nail bed, or both and may present on physical exam or with biopsy.
And, keratin production depends on vitamins A and B12, iron, zinc and the B-vitamin biotin, she adds. Eating foods rich in these vitamins or taking supplements help ensure you're getting enough, and might improve ridges in fingernails. Zinc and biotin supplements especially help improve nail health.
Drugs that can cause onycholysis and photo-onycholysis include:
- Psoralens (photochemotherapy or PUVA)
- Doxycycline.
- Thiazide diuretics.
- Oral contraceptives.
- Fluoroquinolone antibiotics.
- Taxanes.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- Captopril.
There are several options available for those who need free or low-cost dental treatment. For instance, your dentist may refer you to a community clinic that offers dental treatment for a low fee, or a nearby dental school where you can be treated for free or at a low cost by students in training.
Tooth decay can occur when acid is produced from plaque, which builds up on your teeth. If plaque is allowed to build up, it can lead to further problems, such as dental caries (holes in the teeth), gum disease or dental abscesses, which are collections of pus at the end of the teeth or in the gums.
A calcium deficiency, also called hypocalcemia, can also increase your risk of tooth decay and general tooth brittleness. The average adult should consume a large percentage of calcium a day to ward off calcium deficiency.
Do's and Don'ts of How to Prevent a Chipped Tooth
- Do Reduce Your Sugar Content.
- Do Limit Acidic Food and Beverages.
- Don't Chew Ice or Hard Candy.
- Don't Open Items With Your Teeth.
- Do Get Treatment for Your Acid Reflux.
- Do Get Treatment for Teeth Grinding or Clenching.
- Do Get Enough Vitamins and Minerals.
Causes of chipped teethbiting down on hard substances, like ice or hard candy. falls or car accidents. playing contact sports without a mouth guard. grinding your teeth when you sleep.
It might be tempting to ignore and leave a broken tooth untreated, but it's wise if you don't. Leaving a broken tooth untreated can lead to tooth decay, tooth sensitivity, and ultimately, tooth loss.
- Overview. Minerals such as calcium and phosphate help make up tooth enamel, along with bone and dentin.
- Use fluoride toothpaste. Not just any toothpaste will work against demineralization.
- Chew sugarless gum.
- Consume fruit and fruit juices in moderation.
- Get more calcium and vitamins.
- Consider probiotics.
Make sure to let them know, your tooth is cracked in half. A broken tooth is not something you should put off. It could get worse and become infected. The infection would start in the tooth's pulp and then spread to the gum and the bone beneath your tooth.
15 Ways to Naturally Strengthen Teeth
- Oil Pulling.
- Don't Snack.
- Eat Mineral Rich Foods.
- Remove refined sugar from your diet.
- Remove grains from your diet.
- Clean your tongue.
- Eat foods high in fat soluble vitamins.
- Improve digestion for absorption.
