What are the causes for nail biting?
Nail biting has an official clinical name Onychophagia. Often the cause of nail biting is due to an underlying emotional disturbance. That may not be the case with all biters though; some people are just stuck with a bad habit. Nail biting is nothing to be ashamed of, in fact the late Princess Diana was well known for her badly bitten nails. When you bite your nails: You are at risk of transmitting bacteria into your mouth (especially when it is an unconscious action). The appearance of your fingers and hands is greatly diminished by unsightly and chewed nails. Your finger tips will be constantly sore and the hangnails that form will catch and bleed. Nail biting can be passed on as a form of learned behavior between parent and child or siblings. Telling someone to stop biting their nails is pretty useless advice and shouting at children is completely counter-productive.
