Why are You Biting Your Nails and How to Curb the Nail-Biting Habit?

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Jessica Parker

Does it happen to you that you are nervous or anxious and in no time you notice you have a bitten nail? Or do you have a habit of biting your nails out of boredom or just out of anxious fiddling? Don’t worry, you are not alone. Many people have a habit of repetitive behaviors like shaking their legs, fidgeting with their fingers, twirling their hair, or biting their nails.

Why are You Biting Your Nails

If you’re one of the many people who can’t help but constantly nibble on their nails, you already know that it’s an extremely tough habit to kick, especially since most of the time you’re doing it without realizing it. Now that you are here, let us help you curb your bad nail-biting habit by making you understand the reasons why you bite them and the consequences of the same. Follow the tips to help you kick off the habit gradually.

Why Do You Bite Your Nails?

Nail biting, clinically known as onychophagia, is a habit usually triggered by some emotional distress or formed in childhood and carried into adulthood. In clinical terms, nail biting is a type of BFRB (body-focused repetitive behavior) which refers to any repetitive self-grooming behaviors that damage the hair, skin, or nails.

But in simple terms, it is a behavior usually triggered by stress, anxiety, boredom, or even genetics. The behavior generally begins in childhood and adolescence and becomes a habit by the time you reach adulthood. At times, it becomes a natural way of the body as a stress response wherein you may engage in this behavior because you’re feeling underwhelmed, bored, or under-stimulated.

Reasons For Nail Biting

Well, there are no specific reasons to pinpoint as the cause of developing the habit. But, as we talked about above, certain factors can trigger or increase the likelihood of you chewing on your fingernails.

1) Boredom

Depending on your personality, you may have the habit of keeping your hands busy every time you are free, bored, or even hungry. Behaviors like nail biting, hair twirling, and knuckle cracking can be caused by these reasons.

2) Stress or Anxiety

The behavior may be triggered by some form of psychological component like anxiety, tension, fear, stress, etc. Ever noticed yourself doing any such fidgeting while watching a horror movie, before a crucial exam, or at a blind date?

3) Genes

Weird as it sounds, but a parent’s nail-biting habit may be genetically transferred to their child. And this is quite possible even before the child is born. So, stop right away! How? Read on to understand.

Is Nail Biting Unhealthy?

Is Nail Biting Unhealthy

There is no one-word answer to whether it is unhealthy to bite your nails or if it causes any harmful consequences. But it depends on how often you do it. Well, there are generally no short-term effects if you nibble your fingernails once in a blue moon. However, the long-term consequences can be problematic if your nail-biting habit is chronic or compulsive.

If you are a long-term nail biter or have been into the bad habit since you were a child or a teen, you might have:

1) chipped or bitten nails,

2) notched or wonky teeth,

3) oral infections,

4) distorted nail bed, or

5) inflamed gums.

Health Risks Associated with Nail-Biting Habit

Health Risks Associated with Nail-Biting Habit

Though the above signs might not seem to be severe, there are certain health risks when it comes to being a habitual nail-biter.

1) If you happen to bite your nails too deep or cut the surrounding skin, it may cause raw or open skin leading to exposure to harmful bacteria present in the mouth. This may lead to fungal or bacterial skin infections. Sometimes, if the infection becomes severe, it may lead to permanent nail disfiguration.

2) Putting your fingers and nails in the mouth is also a major cleanliness issue. In the post-COVID era, we all know our hands and nailbeds are breeding grounds for germs. Eventually, biting your nails can cause these germs to enter your mouth leading to ulcers, oral infections, and even fungal buildup.

Health Risks Associated with Nail-Biting Habit

 

Nail Biting Habit

3) Besides infections, there are long-term risks of permanent damage and deformities, especially if the habit is since childhood. In extreme cases, you may see damage in your teeth structure and even jaws.

4) Nail biting is also dangerous if you happen to chew your fingernails below the nail bed around the cuticle. It can lead to structural changes in your natural nail growth and cause skin concerns.

5) Besides, it has been observed that nail biters are prone to flu and colds because of the bacterial transfer to the face and mouth from beneath the nails.

How to Curb Your Nail-Biting Habit? Tips to Help

How to Curb Your Nail-Biting Habit

You should necessarily curb all your bad habits including nail biting and here are some dermat recommended tips for the same.

1) Identify the triggers

Look for physical and psychological. Understand whether your habit is triggered by any physical hangnails or due to anxiety. Try figuring out what causes you to bite your nails. Acceptance will solve half of the problem.

2) Cut them short

No matter how much you love long-ass nails, form a habit of cutting and filing your natural nails to a shorter length. If your teeth can’t grab onto the nail, biting it will be less satisfying.

3) Get manicures done

Indulge in the habit of DIY manicures or getting them done regularly from professional salons. Once you start spending money on maintaining your nails, you will avoid harming them intentionally. The manicurist might also apply nail polish so you won’t want to pick on your nails to prevent spoiling the look.

4) Cover them up

If you still can’t control your urge to chew on your fingernails, try covering the surface of your natural nails with some product. You may opt for acrylic nail enhancements, press-on nails, gel manicures, or even bitter-tasting nail polishes. Anything that suits your personality and lifestyle will work for you. Just having a layer of an unbreakable product will prevent your mouth from reaching your natural nails ultimately curbing your nail-biting habit gradually.

5) Address underlying emotions

When you learn to identify your triggers, you will be able to figure out whether the underlying cause of this habit is physical or emotional. If you are going through any stress or anxiety, try other healthy coping strategies. Keeping your hands busy elsewhere while dealing with such emotions can feel easier if you’re actively recognizing them beforehand.

6) Take it slow

Curbing any bad habit isn’t an overnight process and so is nail-biting. Don’t rush it by pushing yourself for things. Take it gradually one nail at a time, and see what is the best strategy you can adopt.

FAQs

1) What happens when you stop biting your nails?

If you have a long-term or chronic nail-biting habit, you will see that it affects your nails and mouth. So when you are successful in curbing the habit, you will give your skin, nails, teeth, and even gums a chance and time to heal. And gradually you’ll see the damage getting repaired.

2) How long does it take to curb your nail-biting habit?

There is no fixed duration to this. But as we all know, any habit takes at least 21 days to form or curb. So don’t expect any magic to happen overnight! Once you start acknowledging the problem and try some strategies to overcome it, you will gradually see results and improvements sooner or later.

3) Can nails recover from chronic biting?

It isn’t impossible but it takes time. You need to accept that it is an extremely slow process and you’ll need patience and practice. Recovery means the condition of your nails will improve but you can’t expect them to grow long and strong. This is because years of chronic biting may have caused the nail bed to shrink and the nail plates to become thin.

Wrap-Up

Remember, breaking the nail-biting habit is a journey that requires patience and perseverance. Understanding the reasons is the first step towards overcoming the problem. Whether it’s anxiety, boredom, or a learned behavior, there are effective strategies to help you kick the habit. From keeping your nails trimmed and using certain products to practicing stress-reducing techniques, there’s a solution that’s right for you. By implementing these tips and techniques, you can take control of your nail-biting habit and enjoy healthier, more beautiful nails!

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Jessica Parker

Get ready to unleash your inner nail art aficionado! I'm here to guide you through the world of trendy designs, helping you elevate your style game one fabulous nail at a time. Let's embark on this journey together and make your nail dreams a reality! 💅✨

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