Why do people bite their nails and is it completely harmless?

Been doing it all my life.
Easier then using scissors or those clippers. ( I hate those things)

My nails look good.

It’s dangerous if they bite so much that they bleed. I’ve never heard anything about illnesses.

With the swine flu situation, I would think that if you didn’t wash your hands before putting them in your mouth, there would be a pretty high chance of getting germs in there. I also personally think they look much neater if you clip them rather than the jaggedy edges of biting them. :)

I do it because it’s easier than trimming. The roughness gets worn off within a few hours; my nails are healthy and neat.

It’s just a bad habit. I catch myself doing it every now and then. I’ve never gotten sick because of it but I know it’s not a good habit. I guess it’s just something I do when I’m bored.

it’s bad for the enamel on your teeth

It doesn´t look attractive especially if you do it in front of other people…. I agree that nail edges are uneven when bitten off.
People often do it because they´re nervous.
If they don´t wash their hands often enough, well then yes they could get more germs. But in that case the differing factor would actually be effective hand washing (which should include the inside of the nail)

what if you bite your toenails, same thing?

I used to bite my nails often; it was always when I was upset or nervous. These days I might do it once a year, if that, when I am really upset. Not sure why I do it, it’s just a habit.

No, if you bit your toenails, then I would say that you will definitely get more germs because no one goes around washing their feet all the time (yuck)

I bit my nails from the time I was 5 years old until I was 45. Then I suddenly and inexplicably stopped. I no longer bite them or have the urge to bite them.

I have no idea why I did it in the first place, but I felt badly about it. I thought it was ugly, it hurt, it made me feel kind of out of control, and I’m glad I have regular nails now.

@pdworkin I did the same thing. Bit my nails all during elementary school. Then I just stopped when I got in jr. high. I think it just got to me that they looked bad. Especially on a girl. Now I have gone to the opposite. I have long nails. Biting is just….ick. What do you do with the nail? Spit it out? Swallow it? shudder

I do it out of habit and I’ve been doing it ever since I was a little kid. Seeing as how I don’t get sick any more than anyone else, I doubt it’s had an effect on the rate at which I contract illnesses. And no, I don’t agree with Freud on this matter that people do it because they weren’t breast-fed enough.

@DominicX Ha! I’ve never heard that one before. What a crock!

I only do it when I have a broken edge and not down to the quick but it’s so damn satisfying!

my tooth just broke off for the second time in as many months last night because of nail biting…

I’ve given up once and for all

@lynneblundell Oh, geez….I’d guess so!

It is a nervouc habit, I did it all my life except for the last year. It is annoying habit, and it hurts when you bite to much and it is more sub conscious so you don’t always know when you are doing it.

I’m a married guy who is a life-long nail-biter. Do it all the time, everywhere. I also bite my toenails in private, but when I’m barefoot or in flip flops it’s obvious they’re badly bitten. Nobody seems to mind, least of all me. I don’t think it’s a good or sanitary habit but if your’re a commited nai biter you can’t worry about germs or pathogens. On a whole, I’m a healthy, athletic, outgoing guy. .