For many years, I have not been able to grow my nails. I tend to bite them on occasion, probably as a means to curb my nervousness or indecisiveness. I never really gave it a second thought, until I did some research and found out that nail biting is a common habit in children, teenagers and adults and even has a scientific name - onychophagia.
What is so evil about nail biting? Excessive biting is painful. The skin can be red, raw, and infected. Also, it is a great way for bacteria to pass from your fingernails to your mouth. Lots of dirt and bacteria tend to accumulate under nails and are easily ingested when the nails are chewed, which could cause infections and diseases. And lets be honest, nails that are ravaged and bitten badly do not look attractive. Nail biters may have a low self-esteem and this can limit interaction with other people, employability and date-ability.
What can be done to stop nail biting? The most common remedy for nail biters (apart from reprimands from friends and parents) is to paint your nails with a special nail polish which tastes sour and bitter on contact with the mouth. This is known to discourage the habit, unless you get used to and actually enjoy the foul tasting polish. If that doesn’t work, you may need to distract your hands by taking up a hobby – it could be gardening, cleaning up, knitting, exercising etc. Another technique would be to fit artificial nails over your real nails so you can’t reach your real nails to bite! Or else, you can keep a pair of gloves at home and wear them when needed. Be proud of your growing nails - show off your progress to family and friends and get much-needed encouragement and praise.
