A description of nail biting habit in elementary school children

Abstract

Nail biting is one of the oral habits that can harm teeth and adjust the structure. The aim of this study is to get the data which help to describe the habit of nail biting in elementary school students in Coblong sub-district in Bandung. This study was conducted using descriptive survey method. The samples were selected using a multi-stage sampling technique. The data of nail biting habit in children was obtained from clinical examination and questionnaires answered by parents as supporting data. The results showed that 25.2% of elementary school students in Coblong sub-district in Bandung have a common nail biting habit, 29.4% lying in age bracket of 9 years old, 57.5% are boys, 41.3% bite one nail, 24.6% bite thumbnail and 48.5% have attrition effect on their teeth. The conclusion of this study is that most nail biters in elementary students are boys who are mostly aged 9 years old. Most nail biters only bite one nail which is the thumb as the most fingernail bitten. The highest nail biting effect towards teeth is attrition.