If you bite your nails, I would like to ask if you whether you have ever considered the other negative effects, apart from the obvious, and would like to stop biting fingernails? By the obvious, I mean that you have no nails to speak of, may bite your finger-tips leading to red and sore finger-tips that all-in-all result in not very pretty hands!

You may not be surprised to know that you can easily deform your nails, but there are a series of other effects that people don’t always think about and which can carry several negative effects on your fingers and general health. Here are just a few reasons to 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 sub-consciously chewing away. This absent minded biting frequently occurs when people are stressed or anxious and can also be a sign of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). If appropriate and you seek medical treatment for anxiety or OCD then this may help you stop biting your fingernails.

If anxiety is a problem for you then it 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 trust by now you are aware of the consequences and know 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), get help.

If you are just a basic habitual biter, 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.

Tags: Health and Well Being, manicure, quit nail biting, stop biting fingernails, stop biting nails