6 Unobvious Things That Can Happen if You Bite Your Nails

Any activity that involves touching the face increases our chances of spreading illness. Other people even bite their nails subconsciously and don’t realize it until later. That means they’re more prone to microbial contact, like with the virus for the common cold.

Biting our nails can also cause microscopic breaks in the skin around our fingernails where viruses that cause warts can enter. The virus can then transfer from the fingers or nails, onto the face through touch or when nail biting. This can lead to facial warts, especially near the lips.

People who bite their nails also have increased chances of developing bruxism, or the unintentional grinding of our teeth. Those with bruxism might experience jaw pain, tense muscles, pain around the face, and chronic headaches.

Stopping the habit of biting your nails is not an overnight process, but there are ways to help you resist the urge to do so, like covering your fingers or keeping your fingers busy by clicking a pen. There are also special nail polishes that have a bitter taste to discourage you from nail biting.