title: Nailbiting, or onychophagia: a special habit.
abstract: Onychophagia, or nailbiting, is a common oral habit, observed in both children and adults. The etiologies suggested for nailbiting include anxiety, stress, loneliness, imitation of other family member, heredity, inactivity, transference from a thumb-sucking habit, and poorly manicured nails. Treatment should be directed at the causes; punishment, ridicule, nagging and threats, and application of bitter-tasting commercial preparations on the nail are a variety of reminders, but are not appropriate approaches to treatment. The key to success is the nailbiter's consent and cooperation.
authors.affiliation: Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná, Graduate dentistry program, Orthodontics, Curitiba, Brazil. tanaka.o@pucpr.br
authors.forename: Orlando Motohiro
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Robert Willer Farinazzo
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Vitral
authors.forename: Giulia Yuriko
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Ariana Pulido
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Guerrero
authors.forename: Elisa Souza
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Camargo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000209:etiology*; D009259:Nail Biting / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy