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You might have the habit of biting your nails when you are stressed out. But did you know that biting your nails could give you some gross health issues? Find out from Dr Udit Nangia what they are.
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Inflammed fingers: The chemical composition of your saliva can inflame and damage the skin of your fingertips if you are always putting your fingers in your mouth and biting your nails. The saliva can corrode the skin of your fingers.
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Nail deformities: Your fingernails have a degenerative layer called the matrix and biting your nails can damage the nail matrix which in turn can lead to nail deformities or ingrown nails.
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Nail infection: When you eat a big piece of nails you could expose the nail bed to bacteria or pathogens in your mouth. This could lead to an infection. Paronychia is the most common type of infection which is accompanied by swelling, pain, redness and pus-filled lumps.
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Stomach virus: Your hands come into contact with all kinds of debris, and they get stuck under your nails. When you put those germ-filled nails in your mouth, you expose yourself to a number of conditions, from common cold to a stomach infection.
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Crooked teeth and gingivitis: Chronic nail biting can destroy the sockets that support the roots of your teeth which in turn can cause your teeth to become crooked. According to a study published in the American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, chronic nail biting can also cause gingivitis [1].
