Doctor urges people to stop biting their nails, reveals the disgusting reason why it's so bad

Nail biting is such a common habit that there is even a fancy medical term for it - onychophagia.

Studies show that 20% to 30% of the population are guilty of it, with children and teens being even more prone to nail-grazing addiction.

A whopping 40% of the small kids and half of the bigger kids are believed to bite their nails on a regular basis.

Your parents have probably worn their tongues off asking you to leave your nails alone, and chances are that after having heard it a million times you forgot all about why.

This TikTok-famous cosmetic dentist has posted a perfect reminder of the reasons to keep the nasty habit at bay: not only does it damage your teeth but it also can give you a bouquet of diseases.

Meanwhile, skipping this important dental hygiene stepcan lead to cavities and bad breath.

Here is when nail biting is more than just a bad habit.

Nail biting can damage your teeth …

Dr Stewart who posts under @drstewartbeggs and is an award-winning cosmetic dentist from the Chelsea Dental Clinic in West London, has revealed why biting your nails is a bad idea from an aesthetic perspective.

He informed his 2000 teeth-conscious TikTok followers that grazing on such hard objects as nails can ruin the precious pearls inside your mouth.

He said in a 16-second clip captioned ‘Don't ever do this one thing if you want great teeth’:

Avoid this one thing because it is so bad, and that is biting fingernails. It causes your teeth to chip and break.

But that is not the only reason to break the pattern.

Read more:

⋙ Hygiene: Brushing your teeth in the shower is not good for your health, here's why

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… but what’s worse, the space under your nails is loaded with bacteria

Broken teeth are just half of the problem, the dental guru believes.

Apparently, the space under your nails is home to all sorts of bacteria that pose a threat to your well-being. They are housed so deep under that not even thorough hand-washing can remove them.

Dr Stewart added:

Also, there are so many bacteria underneath your fingernails. It's a bit disgusting, so don't do that, please.

The clip has amassed thousands of views, although some social media users rightfully disagreed with its content.

A silver lining for those who can’t quit biting their nails

Some studies revealed that nail biting can boost your immune system.

Research made in 2016 showed that children who sucked their thumbs or bit their nails were more than a fifth less likely to have allergies as adults.

Ingesting the bacteria living under their nails gave a boost to their immune system, making them more resistant to developing allergic reactions.

Experts say that the findings support the ‘hygiene hypothesis’ that justifies exposure to microbes which may ‘influence the immune system into working in a different way’.

The team from the University of Otago in New Zealand hope that the scientifically-proved conclusions can put parents’ minds at rest when they stress about their offspring’s nail-focused tendencies.

Read more:

⋙ Here's the easy hack to open a soda can without ruining your nails

⋙ 5 body parts you aren’t washing enough which get ‘gross’, including your toes and nails

Sources used:

- Daily Mail: 'Dentist issues warning to people who bite their nails as he reveals how it can ruin your teeth'