Why You Need To Stop Biting Your Nails

It’s no secret that biting your nails is a frowned-upon habit. It’s weird and kinda gross to do in company and it makes you look a little less ladylike.

No matter how innocuous you think nail biting it is, the consequences can actually be pretty bad. So, just in case the reasons above aren’t enough to get you to quit gnawing at your nails, we’ve come up with a few more.

YOU COULD GET SICK

Take a minute to think about all the dirt and grime that’s trapped under your nails. Now imagine eating that. That’s essentially what you’re doing every time you bite your nails, and every speck of dirt that enters your body makes you that much more susceptible to illness.

YOU COULD GET AN INFECTION

Picking at your nails and cuticles can cause the skin on your fingertips to become red, raw and swollen. Not only is that really painful and uncomfortable, but it can lead to a nasty infection. Ew, no thanks!

YOU COULD DAMAGE YOUR TEETH

And here you thought you were only damaging your claws! Chomping down on your nails can wear down your teeth and enamel overtime, shift your teeth around and even lead to chips and breaks. Fun fact: it can also affect your jaw and cause jaw pain and headaches.

SO HOW DO I STOP BITING?

You could wrap plasters over each of your fingertips to stop you from accessing those precious nails. Or you could do something a little more socially acceptable and use a nail formula that coats your nails in something so foul-tasting that you won’t want to put your nails anywhere near your mouth. Try Revitanail Stop Bite & Protect. Not only does it taste incredibly unpleasant, but it cares for your nails, too.

You could also give false nails, like Fing’rs Ultimate French Manicure nails, a go. They’ll create a barrier between your teeth and nails and give you sleek, shiny nails – possibly for the first time in your life!

Do you bite your nails? What tips do you have for nail biters?

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64 Member Comments

Simonja 11 Apr 2018 5:27 PM

I have noticed when I'm extremely stressed for long periods of time my nails seem to get shorter. Instead of stopping at 'one' I have the need to make them all the same length. Generally I have nice, cared for, natural, longish nails but when something stresses me to the extreme.....it's like for a week or two, addiction phase.

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itslinda 5 Apr 2016 10:20 AM

great article

Yohanna 11 Dec 2015 5:11 PM

My friend does it. it does not make her sick hahahah...but only problem with nail bitters (beside their stress issues) is the nail growth. Even after stopping it takes a while for them to start growing properly...

Dynamite89 17 Oct 2014 10:29 AM

Hate admitting I am. Iv quit and relapsed so many times. Every time I have them long I love it and don't understand why I ever chewed them off, all it takes is a little stress for me and I can chew of months of growing in no time at all. Im in biting mode again :( best method for me to start growing again is to have fake nails on. But I cant seem to permanently stop for good!

clearcrystalwater 13 Oct 2014 5:14 AM

my sister used to bite her nails a lot. I had other habits!

Petal 7 Oct 2014 9:38 PM

I have lots of frustration and distress due to ill health, and I sometimes take it out on my nails. However, I can resist the temptation for a few weeks. I might have to buy that Revitanail product!

Shop A Everyday 4 Oct 2014 12:17 PM

Oh these reasons should stop everyone biting!!

Michelle240 2 Oct 2014 4:40 AM

Nail Biting is certainly not a good look!

Elunia 24 Sep 2014 11:00 AM

I don't really understand nail biting but it must start from a young age or by a rough edge that they just want to get rid of?

Platinum Ms 24 Sep 2014 1:58 AM

I didn't realize how bad this habit could be opened my eyes but it all makes sense. I was not a big nail biter but grew out of it.

Marza 23 Sep 2014 7:19 AM

me, me. hate my bad habit

Jessica712 23 Sep 2014 5:33 AM

I dont bite my nails.

Elefante 23 Sep 2014 3:43 AM

I personally dont but alot of gfs i have do! Would love to find them an answer to stopping!

Evanescencessy 23 Sep 2014 3:28 AM

I'm not a nail biter but I do know of a few people who are. It looks painful to me.

Seezora 23 Sep 2014 2:50 AM

Nope, I'm not a nail biter. I bit mine when I was 5, made my finger bleed so much that it grossed me out (I have always hated the sight of blood), that I never bit them again.

Temporary Princess 23 Sep 2014 2:49 AM

I'm glad I don't have this issue!

Lawliet 23 Sep 2014 1:08 AM

I remember watching a show were surgeons pulled a great big hairball/cyst thing from a woman stomach which was made up entirely of eaten hair and fingernails...ick!

Chickybabe1 22 Sep 2014 3:48 PM

Fortunately I've never been a nail biter.

JessD_ 22 Sep 2014 3:18 PM

Thankfully I learned to stop biting my nails!

Ssajwani 22 Sep 2014 1:41 PM

I don't bite my nails

Ellelily 22 Sep 2014 10:23 AM

My mum used to hit any one of us on the back of the head, if she thought we were biting our nails. And it worked as non of us ever did.

MsSparkles 22 Sep 2014 6:40 AM

I used to bite my nails.... So badly - Until I kept reminding myself what nasties lie under my nails and they're NOT what I want in my mouth... Eeeeek.

Anitas Artistry 22 Sep 2014 4:51 AM

I'm so lucky I'm not a nail biter.

Kassalee 22 Sep 2014 3:42 AM

I was a chronic nail biter as a kid and nothing would stop me. Not that horrid stuff you bought back then to paint your nails with, or my granma's promise of a pretty nail polish if I stopped biting them. Definitely a nervous habit - even chewed the end of pencils and pens!

What eventually stopped me was willpower and vanity - at the age of 16, I was learning to play the organ and my music teacher (who was my age) was pretty hot and I stopped!

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