The unpredictable dangers of nail biting

When you bite your nails, you put 10 million bacteria in your mouth and put yourself at risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections.

Illustration photo.

If you're a nail biter, watch out. Here are some scary things that could happen to you if you don't quit the bad habit, according to BuzzFeed.

There are tons of horrible bacteria under your fingernails.

Fingertips are home to bacteria, fungi, and yeast. Staphlococcus aureus can also be found under fingernails, which can lead to boils and abscesses. Biting your nails increases the number of bacteria. In 2007, a Turkish research team surveyed 59 people who had a habit of biting their nails and found that 70% of them had diarrhea- and vomiting-causing bacteria, such as E. coli, in their mouths.

Nail biting damages teeth and gums

You may not believe that this little habit can damage your teeth. In fact, biting your nails can lead to chipped or broken teeth and, worse, misaligned jaws. For people with braces, biting your nails is especially dangerous because it can damage the tooth structure and negate the effectiveness of your treatment.

If you bite your nails, you're also more likely to grind your teeth at night. "People who bite their nails are often stressed. So they may have other habits that affect their teeth, like grinding their teeth," said Dr. Adam Roberts from University College London (UK).

Also, your gums will not be healthy if you continue to bite your nails. A doctor who saw a child with swollen gums found up to 6 pieces of fingernail stuck under his teeth.

Nail biting causes bad breath

Biting your nails introduces millions of bacteria into your mouth, resulting in increasingly bad breath.

Nails will quickly become infected

When you bite your nails, you also bite the skin at the tip of your nails, which significantly increases the risk of infection. The tip of your nails is susceptible to staphylococcus aureus bacteria, causing pus to form around them. Although this condition can be treated with medication, if it is severe, you may need surgery.

Nail biting can lead to sexually transmitted diseases

Although not many, there have been cases of nail biting causing mouth ulcers, a disease often contracted during oral sex.

Nail polish is very toxic

Many nail polishes contain ingredients that are not good for your health. What's more, just three days after applying the polish, your nails will be "covered" with bacteria.

Your nails probably won't grow back.

Excessive nail biting damages the nail bed, causing the nail to become shorter. Over time, the nail loses its ability to regenerate and never grows back.

According to VnExpress