Science Can Explain Why Kids Eat Their Boogers

If it seems like so many kids eat their boogers, your observations are correct. While people of all ages might eat their boogers, this behavior is undoubtedly common in children. Plus, kids may be less aware of social etiquette at their age and have no shame in eating their boogers out in the open. If you're a non-booger eating adult, it's difficult to fathom why someone might intentionally pick their nose and eat these substances. But there is indeed a scientific explanation behind this behavior in children, and lot of it has to do with the taste of boogers.

First, it's worth understanding what boogers are made of. These sticky, icky substances are really just dried mucus mixed with dirt and other substances such as pollen, germs, and even dust in your home and other frequently visited environments. As part of the human respiratory system, nasal mucus essentially protects your lungs from any such debris you might inhale. For some kids, picking their noses and eating boogers can become a habit. During the process, they might also develop a liking for the taste of boogers, which have a naturally salty taste thanks to their sodium chloride content. And here's another (yucky) food for thought: The Nemours Foundation says that the human body makes approximately one quart of nasal mucus every single day, so there's likely no shortage of boogers available to sustain this admittedly gross habit.

Since nasal mucus traps germs, it's possible that boogers might contain them as well. Despite the possibility of booger germs, it's surprisingly unlikely to get sick from eating them. The reason is that many of the germs that end up in booger formation also end up in mucus that travels to your stomach anyway. This happens via postnasal drip you naturally swallow throughout the day, and it's usually harmless.

While boogers might not necessarily be harmful to eat, the process of removing them could be, and in a couple of different ways. As much as you might not want to think about it, eating boogers requires someone picking their own nose to remove them. This nose-picking action can damage the nostrils and the lining of the nasal cavity, leading to complications such as nosebleeds, sores, and even infections. For these reasons, it's helpful to teach kids to blow their noses into clean tissues to get rid of mucus (at some point, they might hopefully appreciate the social etiquette lesson behind this strategy, too!). Compulsive nose-picking in kids and young adults may also be signs of a condition called rhinotillexomania, which may require diagnosis and treatment to prevent unintentional harm to the nasal region.