Have you been thinking that it’s time to stop biting your nails because it’s a frustrating habit – and your hands don’t look so hot? Particularly for individuals who have been doing this for some time, it becomes so habitual that you might not even realize you’re doing it until you glance down at your nails. Fortunately, you’re not stuck with this habit for life. If you can relate (and if you need a bit more motivation to stop), we would like to help you understand how nail biting can have some negative effects on your oral health.

#1: It’s Bad For Your Oral Health

Biting your nails is not good for your oral health. In fact, it can make a negative impact in more ways than one:

• Bruxism: If you’re suffering from bruxism, fingernail biting can aggravate the disorder. The more you nibble on your nails, the more you overexert muscles that need to relax.
• TMJ Disorder: Already have strained jaw joints? When you bite your nails, you move your jaw back and forth and you generally shift your jaw into an awkward position. This can place a significant amount of additional strain on your jaw joints (TMJs), which may worsen the problem rather than making it better.

#2: It Isn’t Healthy

Even if you are a consistent – or chronic! – hand washer, it’s important to consider how many things your hands come into contact with on a daily basis. While you might be getting the skin on your hands pretty clean, germs tend to get stuck beneath your fingernails. As a result, a good reason to avoid chewing on them is that it can literally make you sick. Keep those fingers out of your mouth to protect not only your oral health but your general health, too.