Sarcophagi or nail biting has been viewed historically as an indicator of an anxiety, boredom or lack of personal entity or control. It has been frowned at for decades because of the association with unhygienic practices and possibly harms to the nails and skin surrounding it. But newer research and scientific observations indicate that these same individuals who bite their nails may in fact have a strong immune system.
While most people associated nail biting with poor manners, this article delves into the relationship between nail biting and immunity and whether the habit deserves a pass.
The Habit of Nail Biting
Codicils are a habit observed with equal frequency in adult and juvenile populations, with children and teenagers being the most affected. It is established that 20-30 percent of people bite their nails at some time in their lifetime. Even though stress or boredom causes the habit, the behavior is learned, and people engage in it mindlessly.
From a hygiene point of view, nail biting involves placing fingers or nail in the mouth thus bringing germs and bacteria from finger nails into the mouth. This has been considered a health hazard in that it might cause infections among the users of the vessels. However, there are authors who can consider such exposure to microbes as rationally beneficial in some ways.
Nail biting and immunity:
The science of why it could be dangerous to bite your nails.
The human immune system is developed to identify and fight pathogens including bacteria, viruses and every other bad germs. It might be interesting to explain what happens while a person is biting their nails; the latter unintentionally introduce their organism to these microbes in portions. This is actually not very
different from how vaccines work; injecting a person with a low dose of the pathogen or a harmless component of it so that the immune system gets prepared against future invasions.
The “Hygiene Hypothesis”
One of the biggest theories to back this concept is the “hygiene theory.” This hypothesis states that early childhood contact with selected microbes provides the immune system with a form of practice to differentiate between pathogenic traffic and beneficial commotion. Kids with clean environment may have increased chances of getting allergies, asthmatic, and other auto-immune related diseases as their bodies have not been taught how to fight real pathogens.
With regard to the previous topic, nail biting can be also regarded as a certain form of micro-exposure to environmental germs. The tiny amounts of bacteria and other pathogens that nail biters ingest could be helping them to build their immunity. There is research to suggest that children who bite their nails and suck their thumbs are not likely to develop allergies when they grow up.
Possible Advantages of Nail Biting
Immune System Training:
Nail biting increases exposure of the body to different pathogenic organisms and by so doing exercise. The body is able to produce antibodies in anticipation.
Reduced Allergies:
A study has pointed out that, children who bite their nails are less likely to have allergies because their immune system is better developed to distinguish between what is innocent and what is hostile.
Stress Relief:
While more extreme, a number of people turn to the habit of nail biting as a form of suffering, when the reposing affective stimuli appear too overwhelming to
handle. Though, not concerning immunity per se, stress reduction is relevant since excessive stressful levels harm the immune system.
The Downsides of Nail Biting
However, nail biting decoration is not without any danger as embraced below. Here are some of the downsides:
Infections:
Nails are best described as soft, fragile protrusions on the human fingers that can lead to formation of cuts or abrasions around the nail bed thereby providing easy access to fungi and bacteria.
Dental Problems:
It also leads to harm of the teeth whereby one will end up with misaligned teeth, chipped or teeth that are wore out frequently by the nails.
Social Perception:
To do this, nail biting is perceived as an ugly behavior or one that is not clean, impelling both comprehensible and natural notions of exclusion influencing self-acceptance as well as perception by other people.
Digestive Issues:
Some times this leads to gastrointestinal disorders in the mouth especially if there is swallowing of nails in large portions.
Should Nail Biting Be Occasioned?
Even though nail biting has its benefits as a way of building immunity. It is best not to encourage this habit. The risks – especially the infection related one and the ones associated with dental health – are frequently outweighing the potential benefits.
How to Break the Habit
For those who wish to stop biting their nails, here are some effective strategies:
Identify Triggers:
Identify time you have the urge to bite your nails for instance when stressed, bored or anxious. Once you know those triggers, which you gradually discover in this way, you create better ways of coping.
Keep Nails Trimmed:
Cuts your nails short in order to minimize the chances of biting them.
Use Bitter Nail Polish:
There are nail polishes that are available and when they are bitten they have a displeasing taste in the mouth.
Occupy Your Hands:
Mitts, stress balls, fidget spinners or other objects used to occupy your hands in avoid biting nails.
A Balanced Perspective
As much as it is fun to believe that nail biting is beneficial in building up the immune system.It may be pertinent to take this with the right portion of salt.
Conclusion
Onychophagy is a complex behavior which has been considered a maladaptive since.
Its discovery because of its link to uncleanliness and certain heath peril. But new studies indicate that it is not necessarily always toxic. And could even have some side benefits specifically in regards to the immune response.
However, promoting nail biting is not good in any way. As it seems to encourage increased immunity but having a good understanding of the science behind it might help lessen the stigma of this habit.
In conclusion, it is advisable to give the trichophagia status of being. A simple habit or a behavior that needs modification depending on following ounces such as. The health status, health choice, and risks that come with it.
Consumers who want to leave the habit behind have several approaches possible. It can effectively kick the habit and live a healthy lifestyle. Be that as it may, identifying with the nail-biting propensity or not. The essential approach to have a sound invulnerable structure is by preserving.
