Do you bite your fingernails to distract you from boredom? Stop it right there!
People always overlook the role of fingernails on your body but it has a huge responsibility. They protect fingertips and it serves as a tool to pick up tiny things like loose threads and be a scratchier to itches.
By biting them, people are breaking the skin of fingers and it can bring germs to the openings in your skin.
Still not convinced? Here are five reasons as to why biting fingernails would be dangerous for you.
1. Disease-Causing Bacteria
When you bite your nails, bacteria coming from your mouth could easily transfer to the rest of your body and it can lead to various infections. More likely, your fingernails may actually be twice as dirty as your fingers making them the prime point of infectious organisms.
2. Nail Infections
Beware nail biters! You’re more prone to paronychia, a skin infection that occurs around your nails. When you chew your nails, other microorganisms like bacteria and yeast can enter through tiny tears or abrasions that can lead to swelling, redness, and pus around your nail. This condition can lead to be drained surgically.
3. Warts Due to HPV Infections
Warts on your fingers caused by human papillomavirus or HPV are common on chronic nail biters. If condition gets worse, these warts can easily spread to the mouth and lips.
4. Dental Problems
It can be a problem to dentists too! Biting your nail can interfere with proper dental occlusion as your teeth may shift out of proper position. It can result to your teeth to misshapen, wear down prematurely, and weaken if you continue biting your nails.
5. Impaired Quality of Life
A 2016 study shows that people who bite their nails on a daily basis have lesser quality of life than those who do not. Trying to resist nail biting and suffering due to nail biting or nail-eating behavior during tension can also negatively influenced quality of life.
Meanwhile, here are some tips to stop biting your nails:
- Keep a journal to identify your nail-biting triggers, such as boredom or tension
- Wrap your fingertips with Band-Aids
- Keep your nails trimmed short or manicured
- Keep your hands busy with other activities, such as knitting and writing
- Put an unpleasant tasting substance on your fingertips like vinegar, hot sauce, or commercially available bitter-tasting options
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