Why Is Nail Biting Bad for You?

Nail biting is a considered a bad habit brought about by nervousness, and borders on compulsive behavior. Although no major risks arise from biting your nails, this habit could produce some side effects, and could be underlying some other psychological problem.

Habit

• Nail biting is the act of biting your fingernails compulsively, and is considered a nervous and bad habit due to anxiety.

Causes

• Nail biting is recognized as a result of nervousness, stress, hunger or boredom, all of which are products of anxiety. This habit falls into oral fixation, and can be a sign of obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Risks

• Nail biting can increase the risk of infection around the nail bed (the area underneath the nail) and/or warts around the nail bed. This habit can also increase the risk of spreading cold-causing bacteria between the nails and mouth, cuticle bleeding, nail deformation, and even dental problems, such as infections to your gums.

Treatment

• Curing nail biting could be a matter of finding the willpower to stop. One trick to help in this battle is by putting a rubber band around your wrist, or tying a string around your fingers to remind you about your commitment to not bite your nails. Another is to put band-aids around all your fingertips to prevent you from biting them.

Products

• You can prevent nail biting by applying nail polish or anti-nail biting creams, like Control-It!, which make your nails taste bitter. If nail biting is caused by anxiety, ask a doctor if certain anti-depressants for nail biting, like fluoxetine and setraline, are right for you.