Ava Monroe
Nail biting, or onychophagia, is a common habit, especially among children, with 25-35% biting their nails. While occasional nail biting is unlikely to change the way your nails grow, chronic nail biting can cause irreversible damage to the nail bed and may cause your nails to grow back in a different shape. It can also lead to several other complications, including shortening of the nail plate, gum inflammation, damage to teeth, and jaw pain. If you're looking to quit nail biting, there are several strategies you can try, such as keeping your nails trimmed short, applying bitter-tasting nail polish, and finding alternative behaviours to replace nail biting.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Prevalence | About 30% of children between 7 and 10 years old and 45% of teenagers bite their nails. Prevalence decreases in adults. |
| Causes | Nail biting is associated with anxiety, ADHD, and other psychiatric disorders. It may also be influenced by genetics, as the habit tends to run in families. |
| Effects | Nail biting can lead to broken skin on the cuticle, microbial and viral infections, and stomach problems if the bitten-off nails are swallowed. It can also cause teeth chipping, wear and tear, crowding, and rotation. |
| Treatment | Treatments include bitter-tasting nail polish, dental deterrent devices, behavioral therapy, habit reversal training, and pharmacological treatments. |
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What You'll Learn
Chronic nail biting can cause irreversible damage to the nail bed
Chronic nail biting, or onychophagia, is a common habit, with up to 30% of the population doing it. It can be an unconscious habit or an intentional activity that relieves tension and provides relief. However, chronic nail biting can have several negative consequences, including irreversible damage to the nail bed.
The nail plate, or the actual fingernail, lies on top of the nail bed, which is the pink-colored tissue containing blood vessels and nerves. When you bite your nails, you expose the nail bed underneath. Once exposed, the nail bed keratinizes, meaning it no longer adheres to the nail plate. This can lead to irreversible shortening of the nail plate as the new nail grows in. In addition, the exposed nail bed is susceptible to infection. Bacteria and viruses can be transmitted from the mouth to the fingers, causing infections such as paronychia and warts around and under the fingernails.
Chronic nail biting can also cause partial or complete loss of the nail plate. This can result in uneven nails and ragged cuticles, changing the shape of the nails and the appearance of the fingers. In some cases, the nail can detach from the nail bed and fall off. Additionally, nail biting can create tiny cracks in the nails or cuts in the skin, providing an entry point for bacteria and increasing the risk of infection.
To prevent irreversible damage to the nail bed, it is important to break the nail-biting habit. This can be challenging, but several strategies can help. Keeping nails clean, trimmed, and filed short can reduce the urge to bite them. Investing in a professional manicure or using bitter-tasting nail polish can also deter nail biting. Wearing gloves or bandaging fingers can make it more difficult to bite nails. Finding alternative behaviors, such as squeezing a stress ball or chewing gum, can also help replace the habit. If difficulty persists, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) can address the psychological aspects of nail biting.
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Bacterial infections can occur from biting nails
Biting your nails can cause bacterial infections in your fingers and mouth. Paronychia, a bacterial nail infection, occurs when bacteria get under the skin around the nail, often through cuts in the cuticle and the nail fold. Staphylococcus aureus bacteria cause staph infections, which are the most common cause of infectious paronychia. Other bacteria, such as Streptococcus pyogenes, can also cause the infection. Symptoms of paronychia include abnormal nail growth, ridges or waves in the nail, discolouration, dryness, and brittleness. In some cases, the nail can detach from the nail bed and fall off. Paronychia can be treated with antibiotics and usually does not cause serious health problems. However, chronic paronychia can last for six weeks or longer and affect multiple fingers or toes simultaneously.
Additionally, nail biting can introduce bacteria from the fingers into the mouth, leading to gum inflammation (gingivitis) or abscesses, pockets of pus around the teeth. Repeatedly swallowing bitten nails can also cause stomach or intestinal infections.
To prevent bacterial infections from nail biting, it is essential to maintain good nail hygiene. Keeping nails clean and trimmed can reduce the risk of infection and the urge to bite them. If you have difficulty quitting nail biting, there are several strategies you can try, such as wearing gloves or bandaging your fingers to make nail biting more difficult, identifying triggers and replacement behaviours, and seeking cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) or acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) to address the psychological aspects of the habit.
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Teeth can be damaged from nail biting
Biting your nails can have several negative consequences for your teeth. Firstly, it can chip or wear down your teeth. Nails are made of a hardened version of keratin, a tough substance that requires a significant amount of force to break through. This force can cause teeth to crack or chip, leading to pain and escalated dental issues.
Nail biting can also lead to teeth grinding, or bruxism, which can cause further oral health problems, including headaches and jaw soreness. The friction of teeth grinding against nails can wear away the protective enamel, leaving teeth vulnerable to decay and further damage. Additionally, the dirt and germs on fingernails can transfer to the mouth, leading to gum disease and other infections.
Nail biting can also result in teeth crowding and rotation, as it may lead to a shifting of the teeth and a weakening of the roots that anchor them to the gums. This movement of teeth can cause malocclusion, an abnormality in the alignment of the upper and lower teeth, resulting in gaps or crowding.
To prevent damage to teeth, it is essential to break the nail-biting habit. This can be achieved through various strategies, such as keeping nails trimmed and short, using bitter-tasting nail polish, and finding alternative ways to manage stress or boredom, such as chewing gum or squeezing a stress ball. Seeking professional help from a dentist or therapist may also be beneficial in addressing the habit and mitigating any damage to teeth and oral health.
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Jaw pain and stiffness can be caused by nail biting
Chronic nail biting can cause irreversible damage to the nail bed and may cause your nails to grow back in a different shape. However, a more pressing concern for nail biters is the potential damage to their teeth and jaw. Biting your nails can chip or wear down your teeth, and may also cause teeth crowding and rotation.
Stress-induced behaviours, such as nail biting, can cause TMJ jaw problems. When stressed, your jaw muscles can tighten, reducing blood flow and oxygen delivery. Over time, this lack of blood flow can lead to jaw muscle soreness, spasms, pain, and fatigue. This can then result in reduced jaw motion and a changed bite. As the jaw muscles continue to malfunction, the jaw joints can become unstable, leading to clicking, popping, and even lockjaw. Additionally, the upper neck muscles may tense up, causing stiffness and pain in the jaw muscles, and potentially resulting in headaches.
If you are experiencing jaw pain and stiffness due to nail biting, there are several treatment options available. These include:
- Drugs to relieve pain and reduce swelling and inflammation.
- Splints to reposition the jaw, ligaments, and muscles into better alignment.
- Surgery to correct jaw abnormalities.
- Stress management techniques such as meditation, deep breathing, and progressive muscle relaxation.
- Stretching or massaging the jaw muscles.
- Applying heat or cold to the muscles to relieve inflammation and pain.
To prevent jaw pain and stiffness caused by nail biting, it is important to address the underlying habit. This may involve finding replacement behaviours, such as squeezing a stress ball, playing with a fidget toy, or chewing gum. Keeping nails trimmed and maintaining nail hygiene can also help reduce the urge to bite them. In more difficult cases, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) can be combined with habit-reversal training to address the psychological aspects of nail biting.
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Strategies to stop biting nails
Biting your nails can be an unconscious habit or an intentional activity to relieve tension. It is often associated with anxiety, boredom, inactivity, and stress. Nail biting can cause several complications, including dental issues, jaw problems, and infections. It can also result in permanent changes to the shape of your nails and the nail bed.
Identify your triggers: Recognize the physical and emotional triggers that lead you to bite your nails. Are there specific situations, feelings, or thoughts that trigger the behavior? By understanding your triggers, you can develop strategies to avoid or cope with these situations more effectively.
Practice habit reversal: Once you've identified your triggers, work on replacing nail-biting with a healthier behavior. For example, you could try occupying your hands with something else, such as squeezing a stress ball, doodling, knitting, or chewing gum.
Take a gradual approach: Instead of going cold turkey, try to stop biting your nails gradually. Start by choosing one nail, such as your thumb, and commit to not biting it. Once you've successfully broken the habit for that nail, move on to another finger or an entire hand. Gradually work towards eliminating nail-biting for all your nails.
Keep your nails trimmed and maintained: Keeping your nails short and well-maintained can reduce the urge to bite them. Regularly trim and file your nails to prevent rough edges that might tempt you to bite them. You can also apply a bitter-tasting nail polish to deter nail-biting.
Invest in nail care and manicures: Having nicely painted or manicured nails may incentivize you to avoid biting them. Consider investing in professional manicures or creating a self-care routine at home to take care of your nails.
Seek professional help if needed: If you're having difficulty quitting nail-biting on your own, consider speaking to a medical professional or mental health provider. They can provide additional strategies, support, and guidance to help you break the habit.
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Frequently asked questions
Chronic nail biting can cause irreversible damage to the nail bed and may cause nails to grow back in a different shape. In rare cases, fingernails may become severely deformed after years of nail biting due to the destruction of the nail bed.
Here are some ways to stop biting nails:
- Identify triggers and develop a plan to avoid or address them.
- Keep nails trimmed short, making them less tempting to bite.
- Apply bitter-tasting nail polish to nails.
- Keep your hands busy with crafts like knitting and doodling, or squeeze a squishy stress ball.
- Wear gloves or bandage fingers to make biting nails more difficult.
Nail biting can lead to several complications, including:
- Shortening of the nail plate and partial or complete loss of the nail bed.
- Infection of the oral cavity, including gum inflammation and abscesses.
- Damage to teeth, including chipping, misalignment, and rotation.
- Jaw pain and stiffness.
- Skin and nail infections.
