Nail Biting Treatments

A stressful day, a big test, sibling rivalry and family arguments can all trigger a bout of nail biting. Fingernail biting is a compulsive habit frequently seen in children and even in some adults. Also known as onychophagia, the effects of nail biting can damage the nails and cuticles and can also be a cause of embarrassment. Thankfully, nail biting remedies such as self-hypnosis are available to anyone who needs to stop biting cuticles or gnawing their nails to the quick. Successful nail biting treatments are available to all people of all ages.

Candidates for nail biting treatments

According to a 1990 study by Alexander Leung et al. in the journal Clinical Pediatrics, 28%-33% of children ages 7 to 10 are chronic nail biters while 45% of teenagers also suffer from the affliction. Although fingernail biting seems to decrease with age, it’s estimated that up to 10% of adults continue to bite their nails and can’t stop biting cuticles.

Several factors may contribute to these behaviors including chronic stress and imitation of family members. Studies have shown that twins and other relatives who share a close genetic relationship often also share the habit of biting their nails. While fingernail biting afflicts both boys and girls equally up until the age of 10, fewer girls than boys continue to bite their nails as they mature.

Nail biters sometimes tend to demonstrate other nervous behaviors. Many can't stop biting cuticles, chew on pencils grind their teeth and suck their thumbs. While not all nail biters started off sucking their thumbs, a correlation has been shown that children who start off as thumb-suckers often develop a pattern of nail biting when stressed as they grow older.

Why Nail Biting Treatments Are Necessary

Although the effects of nail biting usually don’t cause serious harm, Leung’s study says that sufferers can permanently damage cuticle beds and nails, cause raw skin to bleed, bruising on the fingers and roughness around the free edge of the nail. Nail biters also tend to have a greater number of infections in areas where saliva has entered open skin around the fingers. In reverse, nail biting can also injure the mouth and is suspected to be a culprit in gingivitis, small fractures in the teeth and possible dental malocclusions.

Psychologically, nail biting can take its toll as children get older. Nail biters often incur additional stress as teenagers when they gain awareness that the behavior is socially unacceptable and causes the fingers and nails to look ragged. As children grow into teens and adults, the greater issue is the public embarrassment and humiliation that can result from this habit.

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Nail Biting Treatments

While nail biting remedies such as bitter-tasting formulas applied to the fingers, bandaging and use of mittens and gloves are meant to discourage the habit, it’s best to treat the stress and anxiety that precipitate the behavior instead. Parents should have a candid discussion with their children without ever chastising, criticizing in public or spanking.

Self-hypnosis, positive reinforcement, relaxation and biofeedback are all excellent nail biting remedies. In addition, distractions that provide a sound balance of outdoor recreation and regular exercise as well as indoor activities that utilize the analytical and creative aspects of the mind are all recommended nail biting treatments that can release pent-up energy and can successfully decrease anxious behaviors without the use of drugs.