How to Stop Biting Your Nails
What this video covers
This May 2019 segment takes on nail-biting — onychophagia — which Oz frames as more than an embarrassing habit. With a volunteer guest who has bitten her nails since childhood, Oz and a psychologist walk through three health concerns: (1) infections — small cuts around the nail can admit bacteria, causing paronychia (a treatable but potentially spreading nail infection); (2) tooth damage — chronic biting can literally reshape the front teeth, illustrated with a real case that ended in $15,000 of dental bills and oral surgery; and (3) the psychology itself — the American Psychiatric Association has classified chronic nail-biting as an obsessive-compulsive-related disorder, and the segment describes it as “pathological grooming” when it interferes with daily life and produces shame.
The fix, per the psychologist guest, is habit reversal training — a form of cognitive behavioral therapy in which he reports a 98% success rate among patients who follow the protocol — built around making the person more aware and accountable, plus a physical barrier that stops teeth from touching nails. The segment closes with simple tips viewers can start the same day.
The format is the show’s compact habit-change explainer: identify a common behavior, dramatize its hidden downsides, and offer actionable steps. The clip’s 2 million views suggest the topic’s broad resonance; nail-biting affects a sizable share of the population, particularly adolescents and young adults. As with the show’s other habit segments, the advice is presented as general wellness information for a television audience, not individualized medical guidance.
Key points
- Oz presents nail-biting as a health-relevant habit, not merely a cosmetic one, walking a volunteer guest through three concerns: infections (paronychia), tooth damage (a real $15,000 dental case is shown), and its classification as an obsessive-compulsive-related disorder.
- The segment’s recommended fix is habit reversal training — cognitive behavioral therapy with awareness-building and a physical barrier — which the psychologist guest says works for 98% of patients who follow his protocol.
- It aired May 2019 as part of the show’s tenth-season lifestyle and habit coverage.
- The advice is general wellness information as presented on the show, not individualized medical guidance.