Nine Reasons Why Biting Nails Can Seriously Harm Your Health

Nail biting usually occurs when a person is suffering from

stress, anxiety, or nervousness. Such feelings trigger the

person to automatically chew on the nails to attain calmness.

Now, is it the only way to calm yourself, or is their any

alternative solutions? Of course there are. And before we

answer that, here are the horrifying facts that will explain

why you should stop biting your nails.

1. Your nails are full of germs.

No matter how many times you wash your hands, germs

will still live under your fingernails. Because among all

other body parts, your hands, meaning your fingers which

have nails, come into contact with surfaces of all types.

The thing is, your fingers may stay clean, but your nails

aren’t. So when you are biting your nails, you are also

biting on the earthly bacteria, germs, yeast, etc. Yum!

2. You are transferring the bacteria into your mouth.

So what happens after chewing on your delicious germs

and bacteria? You are carting them from your nails to your

mouth. Once they are inside your mouth, they will

eventually enter your digestive system. In 2007, a group of

Turkish scientists experimented on 59 people, combined of

nail biters and non-nail biters, to see whether they

transport bacteria to the mouth. After swabbing each

person’s saliva, the results were quite alarming. 76%

actually transported E. coli, and similar germs, compared

to 26.5% of non biters. E.coli is responsible for diarrhea

and vomiting.

3. In extreme case, you can end up with oral STIs.

It is not only commuting E.coli and other bacteria, in

extreme cases, you may end up with oral STIs. If you are a

nail biter, and one fine day you notice herpes, or blisters

on your lips, don’t fret. They are the results of your nail

bacteria that you have successfully transferred to your

mouth.

4. From bacteria in your mouth to dental damage.

When you are constantly gnawing down your nails, your

teeth are clicking together. This results in tooth fracture,

tooth chips, and in rare cases, tooth loss.

5. For biters who wear braces, brace yourself!

Those of you who wear braces, you are risking yourself

into tooth resorption, meaning your body cells are

reabsorbing its own cells, and tissues. There is also a

possibility that your braces might break down which

would force you to undergo expensive and potentially

painful dental treatment.

6. You’ll end up having stinky breath.

Stinky breath occurs due to bacteria in your mouth and

saliva. When you are continuously biting your nails and

transferring different bacteria, they are prone to

permanently stay inside your mouth. This leads to stinky

breath, which, no matter how many times you wash your

mouth with fresheners, the foul breath will never go away.

7. You may have pus in your fingernails.

What happens when you bite your nails? You leave the

nail bed exposed. Bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus,

can enter the open pores and build pus around the nails,

causing nail abnormality. This pus is a horrible business. It

can be cured through pills, or has to be drained out

through surgery.

8. Polish your nails, but don’t eat them!

Nails look beautiful with nail polishes. But if you are prone

to eat them, then stop using them. Because polishes

contain harmful chemicals, and some varnishes contain

formaldehyde, the chemical that is used to embalm dead

bodies. If this information isn’t enough scary to put you

off, then I don’t know what is.

9. In the end, your nails will never grow back to normal.

Nails are formed on nail beds, and never-ending biting will

eventually ruin your nail bed. Your once long nails will

gradually shorten, and at one point, will no longer grow

any further. The nail’s surface will tear off as well, looking

awful, and embarrassing for you to publicly show off.

So, how can you ever stop?

Now, you know what harm you are doing to yourself

through this horrendous activity. Previously, I have

mentioned that there are solutions to stop biting nails.

Well, first of all, try to stay relaxed and avoid too much

stress and frustration. If you can’t, or not allowed to, then

indulge yourself to physical exercise/activities that releases

stress. You can go for manicures. That will make you feel

guilty of spoiling your beautifully trimmed, polished nails.

Put some nail polish and imagine the harm you are doing

by biting into the varnishes.

And if you really want to chew on something then try

sugar-free chewing gum. They might help you! Just stay

away from biting your beautiful nails because when you

do that it shows how anxious you stay all day. In public

places with people around, it might not be a pretty sight.

Source: Life Hack