Did You Know Biting Your Nails Can
Make You Sick?
Nail biting
can leave you with more than just unsightly fingernails -- it can have
long-term consequences on your health, scientists say.
Researchers
at the Texas A&M University Health Science Center offer five reasons why
you should try to kick the habit.
·
Fingernails
have lots of dirt and germs. Chewing your fingernails means those germs get
into your mouth and body, where they significantly raise your risk of illness.
·
Painful nail
infections. The symptoms of an infection called paronychia include a red,
swollen area around the nail. If the infection is bacterial, you may develop
pus-filled blisters.
·
Nail biting
is bad for your smile. The habit can cause your teeth to shift out of place or cause
them to chip or break. Moreover, germs on your fingers could infect or irritate
your gums, and cause bad breath.
·
Biting your
nails boosts the risk of hangnails or ingrown nails. Hangnails are open sores
that can easily become infected. An ingrown nail occurs when a nail grows under
your skin.
·
Toxins are
present in nail polish or gel polish. If you paint your nails, you also put
yourself at risk of poisoning from the chemicals in the polish if you chew your
nails.
Pay extra
attention to your nails when you wash your hands, the researchers suggested in
a university news release. And remember, "if you constantly bite at your
nails, chances are you'll bite off a bit more than you expected," the
researchers said.
02.01.2017
Forgiveness
is a virtue of the brave
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