![nail biting]()
What do you do when you are nervous? Most people end up biting nails as they believe it helps in relieving stress. However, the point here is that nail biting can have serious effects on your health. Dr Pradip Shah, Consultant Physician, Fortis Hospital Mulund, explains what can happen when you bite your nails.
![intestinal-worms]()
Intestinal worms: Yes, when you bite your nails, there is a high chance that the dirt stuck in the nails can enter your body through the mouth and this can lead to intestinal worms. So stop biting your nails to lower your risk of intestinal worms.
![]()
Bleeding: It goes without saying that if you keep on biting nails, you might end up eating the skin and cuticle present beneath the nails, which ultimately leads to bleeding.
![skin infection]()
Skin infection: Not many people know that people who bite nails are at risk of paronychia, which is a skin infection that affects the area around the nails. It leads to swelling, redness and formation of pus around the nail.
![warts]()
Warts: Believe it or not, warts on fingers can be easily spread to lips and mouth, when you bite your nails. So beware if you have warts on your fingers as it is caused by HPV (Human papillomavirus).
![bacterial infections]()
Bacterial infections: According to a 2007 study [1], people who bite their nails have more bacteria in their mouth than those who don't. The participants were tested for E. coli, Enterobacter aerogenes, Enterobacter cloacae and Enterobacter gergoviae.
![deformed nails]()
Nail deformation: It is a no-brainer that people who chew their nails often have deformed nails. Although it is temporary, in some cases, it can lead to permanent damage.
![bad breath]()
Bad breath: The more you bite your nails, the more is the chances of bacteria harbouring in your mouth and the more your risk of suffering from bad breath.
![nail paint]()
Toxicity: If you are a woman and use nail polish to paint your nails, then the chances of loading your body with toxic chemicals from nail pain is more when you bite your nails. So think twice, before nail biting.
References:
[1] Baydaş B, Uslu H, Yavuz I, Ceylan I, Dağsuyu IM. Effect of a chronic nail-biting habit on the oral carriage of Enterobacteriaceae. Oral Microbiol Immunol. 2007 Feb;22(1):1-4. PubMed PMID: 17241163.
Image Source: Shutterstock
Read this in Hindi.