We all have habits that sometimes we don't even realize are bad for us, but just how bad is your habit for your health?
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Nail Biting.
When it comes to regular nail biting, your nail health as well as the skin around them could be at risk. Germs from your mouth get transferred to the skin, and vice versa. This could cause infections of the gums and throat.
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Twirling & Pulling Your Hair.
Twirling your hair around your finger and pulling your hair out can lead to damaged roots over time. This can also cause permanent areas of hair loss as well as infection. Obsessive hair pulling may be a sign of a serious psychiatric impulse control condition called trichotillomania that may require medications and psychotherapy.
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You Crack Your Neck.
When you crack your neck, gas builds up in the joints between the vertebrae and creates a popping sound. Repeatedly cracking your neck can make the surrounding ligaments hypermobile and more susceptible to injury. Cracking your neck can cause damage to your joints that may result in arthritis over time. In rare cases, neck cracking can even lead to stroke.
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You Repeatedly Touch Your Face.
Picking at acne and touching your face repeatedly can damage the top very thin microscopic layers of the skin. If you cause yourself to bleed from picking at a scab or pimple, you could cause permanent scarring. Treat these areas with moisturizer, anti-acne cream, and other topical treatments.
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You Grind Your Teeth.
Grinding and clenching your teeth can cause serious issues to your oral health. Grinding can cause your teeth to crack and break, which may require crowns or root canals. Grinding can also lead to deterioration of the jaw joint, known as temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ), that may require surgery.
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You Suck on Hard Candies.
When you suck on hard candies such as lollipops, you're teeth are surrounded by sugar, which can lead to cavities and decay. Biting down on hard candies can also damage your teeth.
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You Bite Your Lip.
Nervously licking or biting your lips can expose your them to your mouth's digestive enzymes. This can lead to dermatitis and inflammation, which can make lips appear dried and cracked. Also, biting your lips repeatedly can cause the development of fibromas, which are firm, flesh-colored growths that may require surgical removal.
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You Bite the Inside of Your Cheeks.
Biting on the inside of your cheek can be a nervous habit that can lead to swollen cheeks and can cause it to become easier to continue biting in the same spot, even after it heals. This can result in chronic inflammation over time and scarring of the area.
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You Chew Gum.
Gum chewing can put you at risk of TMJ from overuse of the jaw and it can also present a set of other problems, including digestive disorders. Sorbitol, an artificial sweetener found in some gums, produces an unpleasant laxative effect when consumed in excess (18 to 20 sticks a day). Also, swallowing all that air can increase your risk of a gassy stomach.
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You Nibble on The End of Pens & Pencils.
When you bite down on the ends of your writing utensils, you run the risk of ingesting a variety of germs that can be harmful to your immune system. Not only can it cause you to become ill, but chewing on your pens and pencils can cause tooth damage that may require dental work.
Source:
Health