Have you ever noticed anyone biting their nails? Nail-biting, called onychophagia, is recognized as an abnormal oral behavior and grooming issue. Chronic, uncontrollable nail-biting causes damage to fingernails and surrounding tissues.
Why Do People Bite Nails?
Many factors contribute to this behavior. Stress, fear, social embarrassment, guilt, or a sense of pleasure can all contribute to biting oneself. Nail-biting starts early and gets worse as you grow up. Although this behavior might persist until adulthood, it typically diminishes as people grow older and often ceases entirely by late adolescence or early adulthood.
Health Risks
Nail-biting can cause weak nails, rough skin, infections, pain in the mouth, or broken teeth. People who eat fingernail bites might get stomach or gut diseases too. Biting fingernails or cuticles frequently exposes us to harmful germs like bacteria and viruses that could enter our bodies through tiny cuts, raising the chance of getting sick internally or in our digestive system.
Measures to Stop Nail-Biting
Bitter substances applied to fingernails might help minor nail biters, though they’re rarely effective for those with severe, obsessive nail-biting. Wearing gloves, mittens, socks, or using bite-plate devices can make barrier methods more effective.
Therapies
CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) or ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) can assist in recognizing and controlling repetitive thoughts or emotional triggers causing nail-biting behavior. Specific treatment called Habit Reversal Training (HRT) helps recognize triggers, choose alternative actions like fist-clenching or squeezing a stress ball, and gain social backing. HRT significantly improves behavior issues quickly. Combining cognitive-behavioral methods for long-lasting outcomes typically works best.
Can you suggest any methods that might assist in breaking this habit?
Identify your triggers and replace nail-biting with healthier habits like chewing gum or using a stress ball. Reward progress and practice stress-management techniques to break the cycle.
Firstly, they should always trim their nails so that they can’t bite them. secondly, they should always keep their mouth and hands either one in busy state. using fidget cubes or stress balls can reduce anxiety or stress. chewing gums can also help a lot.
More than just a bad habit, Nail-biting affects nearly 30% of people. Beyond chipped nails, it can lead to serious infections, including skin around the nails or even life-threatening conditions like sepsis. Bacteria like E. coli and salmonella can transfer from your fingernails to your mouth, causing stomach issues and more. On top of that, it’s linked to dental damage like tooth misalignment, enamel erosion, and jaw pain.
I think inlcuding some mindfulness practices can help. This will make them more aware of their habits and may improve gradually. Trimming the nails is also a solution, but in long-term it is best to give up on that habit.
Though often dismissed as a minor habit, chronic nail biting can silently damage oral health, nails, and even increase the risk of infections — a reminder that small habits can have big health consequences.