Do you bite your nails, then I would like to ask if you have ever considered the other negatives and would like to stop biting fingernails once and for all? Obvious effects of nail biting of course mean that you have no nails to speak of and that you may bite your finger-tips as well. This may lead to red and sore fingers which are not that attractive!
OK, so you know you can easily deform your nails, but do you realise there are other side effects that people don’t always think about? These can carry a range of negative consequences on your general health and here are just a few reasons why you should stop biting your fingernails.
Earlier it was mentioned that if you have red, sore finger-tips that this can also lead to minor or severe bleeding from the cuticles. Such aggressive habitual chewing can lead to some bad infections in the nail bed itself and also in the mouth. In turn, virus and infections in the mouth can radically affect your teeth and gums and lead to more visits to the dentist that you would like.
Remember that transference of infection occurs between the fingers and mouth while you are busy absent mindedly chewing away. This absent minded biting frequently occurs when people are stressed or anxious and may also be a sign of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Getting medical treatment for anxiety or OCD may help you stop biting your fingernails.
Perhaps anxiety is a problem for you. In which case, the anxiety will only be heightened by your knowledge that nail biting is socially unacceptable, making you think about it more and making a greater conscious effort not to bite your nails in public. This is of course a cycle that must be broken and you will certainly need medication and perhaps therapy to stop it.
I’m assuming you know by now that you should stop biting your fingernails. I suggest you first try and identify the reason why you engage in this type of behaviour. When you have done that, if there a medical reason (e.g. OCD or anxiety), then get help.
It is likely that you don’t have any particular reason to bite your nails other than to satisfy a habit. If so, there are several methods available to you to try. Not all will work for you, and it may take some time (and money) to find the best method for you personally to stop biting your fingernails, just don’t give up.
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