Nail Biting Causes Signs and Symptoms Diagnosis and Treatment

today's topic is nail biting nail biting is an oral compulsive disorder with onset usually occurring in childhood and young adolescents nail biting is habit that people including children and adults adopt when they are nervous stressed hungry or bored it is considered the most common stress relieving habit other habits related to this condition include thumb sucking hair twisting skin picking tooth grinding and nose picking nail biting usually starts in childhood usually between the ages of four and six years and many people don't grow out of it it affects around 30 of children between ages 7 to 10 years and 45 of teenagers the 10 fingernails are usually equally bitten at approximately the same degree nail biting includes biting the cuticle and the soft tissue surrounding the nail as well as the nail itself people don't usually think much of nail biting but dermatologists explain that chronic nail biting may actually cause some serious issues including harmful effects to the fingers the mouth and also the digestive system in rare cases nail biting may be symptom of obsessive-compulsive disorder causes nail biting may be caused by certain stress-related condition such as anxiety hunger or being bored symptoms nail biting can lead to broken skin on the cuticle when cuticles are removed improperly they are susceptible to microbial and viral infections producing whitlows saliva may then redden and infect the skin after years of nail biting the fingernails may become extremely deformed due to the destruction of the nail beds nail biting is also related to dental problems such as gingival and malocclusion of the anterior teeth stomach problems such as stomach infections can develop where the nails are swallowed nail biting may also lead to the transportation of pinworms or bacteria that are buried under the surface of the nail from the anus region to the mouth several treatment options may help to stop nail biting the aim of treatment is to discourage the habit and replace it with more constructive habit the most common treatment which is extremely cheap and readily available is to apply clear bitter tasting nail polish to the nails the bitter flavor usually discourages the nail biting habit when simpler methods are ineffective behavioral therapy is beneficial this may include habit reversal training to help unlearn the habit of nail biting and replace it with more constructive habit stimulus control therapy that seeks to both identify and then eliminate the stimulus that frequently triggers nail-biting urges keeping nails trimmed may deter you from biting your nails the idea is that if there is nothing or little nail to chew you won't feel compelled to bite your nails occupying the hands with certain activities such as handicrafts or musical instrument might also be effective in keeping the hands away from the mouth during treatment the child should be given emotional support and encouragement the best way to treat nail biter is to educate them stimulate good habits develop conscious awareness and guarantee the effective result thank you for watching our video please do not forget to like and share the video also please subscribe to the channel to stay updated on our latest videos