How Nail Biting Can Ruin Your Health and Life

Children may develop nasty habits such as thumb sucking, hair twirling, teeth grinding, nose picking, object biting, compulsive scratching, head banging, self-biting, body rocking, whirling, skin picking and even nail biting. For many, these habit disorders can be outgrown, with the help of parents, teachers or guardians, or even through their own will. There are a few, however, who seem to keep such habits, voluntarily or involuntarily, even during the adult years.

One of the most common habit disorder in adults is nail biting. A person who has this problem usually bites or chews on his or her fingernails whenever they are bored, stressed, anxious, or in a very tense environment. According to statistics, nail biting is fairly common in children and adolescents. However, 5% of them may retain the habit throughout adulthood.

Possible Causes Of Nail Biting

There are many schools of thoughts when it comes to the underlying causes of stereotypic movement disorder, which includes nail biting. Some experts believe that the most common triggers are stress, depression and boredom.

Other probable reasons behind nail biting and other habit disorders include drug use (particularly amphetamines and cocaine), major psychiatric disorders, brain diseases, mental retardation, and sensory deprivation (such as deafness or blindness). In Freudian theory, nail biting is seen as a sign of oral fixation.

Nail Biting Symptoms

It is but normal for children to display some degree of nail biting, thumb sucking and other disorders. Everyone did some nose picking and hair twirling during childhood years. However, when a habit becomes persistent and extreme, parents, friends and family should start intervening.

Aside from having very short fingernails, other signs that may suggest that one is into nail biting include:

1. Oral herpes
2. Paronychia (nail infection that affects soft tissues surrounding the nails)
3. Herpetic whitlos (lesions on fingers or thumb due to herpes simplex virus)
4. Apical root resorption
5. Damaged dentition
6. Gingivitis
7. Fractures or cracks to incisors
8. Warts around the nail bed
9. Nail fungus

Side-effects Of Nail Biting

Aside from embarrassment that you get from nail biting and having not-so pretty nails and fingers, there are a lot more negative, and potentially dangerous, side effects to biting your nails incessantly.

1. Mouth Infections

People who bite their nails usually do not wash their hands before biting. Thus, there is a high probability of getting bacteria and other harmful microbes inside the mount. Acute or chronic infection to the mouth, lips or gums is very likely to happen. Did you know that there are about 2,000 types of skin infections that were discovered in nail salons? Just imagine how prone you are to bacteria and diseases because of this habit disorder.

2. Orthodontic Problems

Nails are hard and quite difficult to chew. If you get into the habit of biting your nails, it is not impossible for you to damage your teeth, particularly your incisors. This habit may even affect your bite and the appearance of your teeth. Aside from having not-so-pretty hands, you could also have cracked and broken front teeth. This is not a sight to behold, especially in front of romantic mates.

3. Inability To Make Use of Hands

Let's face it if your hand is always on your mouth, it would be difficult for you to perform tasks properly. In extreme cases, nail biting can really prevent a person from performing even mundane and ordinary tasks given to them.

4. Nail Infections

Nail biting can cause your nails and nail beds to weaken. Bacteria and fungi could enter these small cracks and lesions on your nails made by your persistent biting. Although some types of nail infections are easy to manage, others like nail fungus can be very hard to get rid of.

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