But not everyone loves the nail-biting habit in real life. Beyond how unsightly the results of gnawing on your nails looks, there are significant health hazards to the practice.
FOUR REASONS TO STOP
First and foremost, the nail-biting habit will expose the nail-biter to a host of germs. Think of everything touched during the course of a day, from toilets to doorknobs, and it will provide a glimpse into the potential germs that can be accumulated under the nails.
Here are some pretty good reasons to stop gnawing.
1. Nail biting is actually a way to ingest all the crud that accumulates under fingernails, which provides a roadmap on where the human owner has been in the recent past. It’s one of the reasons why coroners and police detectives solve cases by closely examining what’s under the fingernails. The collected crud and dirt are twice as dirty as the fingers, and are a perfect spot for bacteria to breed. That can be readily transferred to the mouth and into the body, which is why frequent hand washing is always the hallmark of sanitary practices.
2. For women, nail biting offers another issue – many polishes are toxic and contain chemicals approved only for topical application. By ingesting them, nail biters are feasting on a toxic horde that may interfere with health and fertility.