Nailbiting, or onychophagia: a special habit.
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.
Tanaka
Orlando Motohiro
OM
Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná, Graduate dentistry program, Orthodontics, Curitiba, Brazil. tanaka.o@pucpr.br
Vitral
Robert Willer Farinazzo
RW
Tanaka
Giulia Yuriko
GY
Guerrero
Ariana Pulido
AP
Camargo
Elisa Souza
ES
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000209:etiology*; D009259:Nail Biting / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy