It is not just a matter of children, a high percentage of adults continue to bite their nails and this bad habit can harm their health. It is also known as onychophagy and it is estimated that between 45% and 60% of young people suffer from it.
This custom has always been frowned upon in the eyes of society, broadly speaking it is an unsightly act, however, it has been classified as a nervous disorder that affects health.
It is a practice that mitigates the effects of anxiety and that in one way or another causes a false sense of relaxation. It is an unconscious and automatic act that in the long run is very difficult to stop performing. In most cases, nail biting is exceeded among the ages 11 and 13, an age when children stop being such children and find themselves in other social environments.
Nail biting is harmful
If this behavior is not corrected, over time it can have consequences in other parts of the body. On the nails are deposited microtrauma that alter what is under these, if they are bitten for a long time, the natural growth of the nail is hindered, small lesions, inflammations and pain are created.
On the other hand, dental health is also compromised. Nail biting can lead to tooth decay Without us realizing.
Other parts of the body are also affected by this habit, for example, cases have been seen in which the intestine had infections, parasites, bacterial infections. By putting your hands to your mouth, it is much easier to catch viral diseases, fungi, or infections in the mouth.
Hand hygiene is always in the spotlight and if you have a bad habit of nibbling your nails, it is a ballot enhancer for infect the body with bacteria.
Attention to the cuticle
The cuticle that covers our nail has a very important role, the protects from possible injury and dangerous outside pathogens. When it deteriorates, we endanger our health, wounds can form that if not healed well cause more serious infections or the appearance of fungi.
Nail biting in adulthood is a bad vice that is very costly to remove. A habit that cannot be overcome without willpower. You have to look for good reasons to quit, and endanger our health it should be one of them.