So what is it?
Onychophagia—an arguably, unnecessarily complicated way of saying nail biting.
Onychophagia—an arguably, unnecessarily complicated way of saying nail biting.
If you’re a nail biter or ever have
been one, you probably remember your mother snapping, “That’s a disgusting
habit!” Well, she was right. Nails are full
of bacteria, more so than your hands. In fact, the bacteria that nails harbor
make them almost twice as germy as fingers alone. Think of that next time you
have the urge to chomp down!
What about the issues this habit
may cause your teeth, though? Constantly chewing on nails can wear teeth down
overtime, causing them to become weak or crooked. This is especially harmful
for those with braces. Nail biting puts extra stress and pressure on teeth and
weakens roots, prolonging the time you will need to wear braces.
Still not convinced? Consider this.
People who bite their nails were found to have to spend $4,000 more on dental
health care overtime. Yikes! Love shopping? Think of how many cool things you
could buy with $4,000 instead of using that money to fix an easily preventable
problem.
How can you kick the habit? Don’t
worry. We have some tips to get you to keep your nails away from your teeth so
that you can be back on your way to a perfect smile!
- Wear a coat of nail polish or two to discourage you from biting. This isn’t limited to girls. A couple of coats of clear polish is invisible but won’t taste good if you take a bite, guys!
- Since nail biting often occurs due to stress, try other methods to help you relax. Yoga, meditating, or even a nice hot bath can go a long way.
- Keep your nails trimmed short. Notice that we didn’t suggest you do this by biting them! Use a nail clipper to regularly trim your nails and get rid of the temptation that comes with longer nails.
- Remember—biting your nails isn’t worth the money that will eventually have to be spent on tooth repair!
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