Why Nail Biting is Bad for You
Warning: This could get really gross. If you are a nail biter, I want you to think about this…….where were your hands just before you stuck that finger in your mouth?
There are germs under your fingernails! So every time you bite your nails, the germs enter your mouth. Think about all the germy stuff you touch throughout the day, like your baby sister’s diaper, your sweaty socks, handling raw meat, or touching restroom doorknobs, and you won’t believe the bacteria on cash money! Do you really want to ingest that mess and become sick? You could wash your hands every few minutes in hot soapy water and scrub under your nails with a nail brush, but for most nail biters, that would just be an after-thought. Too late!
Besides the germ factor, nail-biting can cause bleeding and irritation and can then increase your risk for infections in and around your nail bed. The same goes for your mouth, especially if germs get into any irritated areas of your mouth or gums.
Long-term nail biting can also result in deformed looking nails and nails that stop growing properly.