The bad habit of biting nails, both in adults and children, is called onychophagia. It can also happen that people who suffer from this disorder bite the skin, specifically, the one around the nails and they can get slightly injured.
There are different opinions about onychophagia, some consider it just a bad habit that can be eliminated with force of will, while others think that it is an urge that cannot be controlled so easily.
If you are one of those people who bite their nails or have close friends who do and want to know more about it, in the following FastlyHealarticle you will find all the information about onychophagia: causes and treatment .
Table of Contents
Onychophagia: causes
Among the most common causes of onychophagia are two increasingly popular factors today, since our lifestyle tends to generate stress and anxiety. Naturally, an escape route is needed when you are going through moments of nerves, and to calm them, people perform different actions such as smoking, chewing gum or biting their nails. By withholding this act to release tension , onychophagia becomes a habit and can be difficult to change.
Another reason for onychophagia, mainly in children, is by imitation because their attitudes are closely related to those of the adults in their environment, so those who have parents who bite their nails are likely to the little one also takes this attitude.
Likewise, onychophagia has as very frequent causes various psychosomatic factors . Although there are numerous factors of this type, the most common include emotional imbalances:
- Have low self-esteem
- Having undergone drastic changes in life
- Be a person who lives with anger and frustration.
Consequences of nail biting
Although onychophagia does not represent as such a serious problem in the health of those who suffer from it, it is possible to present some unpleasant circumstances as a result of this bad habit, especially:
- Infections: over time, damage to the cuticle appears that can be deep and generate infections in the nail or the skin around it, since there are numerous bacteria in the mouth that come into direct contact with the damaged area.
- Deformations: due to constant and repetitive movement, deformations in the arch, palate and teeth can be generated, so that children and adolescents can undergo such great changes that they will need to consult a dentist.
- Gum injuries: constantly biting the nails, which are a fairly hard material for the gums, can cause injuries such as inflammation or the well-known gingivitis .
- Aesthetics: this is one of the less important consequences of onychophagia, but aesthetics, due to deformed nails or worn skin around them, can especially affect adolescents.
Onychophagia: treatment
There are numerous treatments and options to help people with onychophagia, however, the choice will depend on the severity of the disorder and the individual patient. Some of them respond to a simple manicure treatment and the topical application of various substances to eliminate the behavior little by little.
As it is a bad habit, it is possible to replace it with a positive one. For example, taking care of your nails and getting a manicure for aesthetics so as not to abuse them, however, you can also opt for various behavior modification techniques or methods to release anxiety and tension, such as stress balls.
Likewise, there are several natural options such as drinking passionflower , chewing ginger or sugar-free gum, using garlic or lemon juice on your nails, or eating a diet rich in omega 3 fatty acids and vitamin B. In addition, you can follow different tips to avoid nail biting like putting on false nails.
This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Onychophagia: causes and treatment , we recommend that you enter our category of Teeth and mouth .
I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.