How to Stop Biting Your Nails
Biting your nails can be a sign of different things, such as anxiety, insecurity, or simply boredom. Even though many people don’t consider this habit to be a serious problem, it can bring some negative consequences, including cracked teeth and illnesses. Fortunately, there are certain measures you can take to encourage yourself to let this practice go.
5-Minute Crafts has created this article with some useful tips that may help you stop biting your nails.
❗ Important: This article has been written for informative purposes only and does not replace medical advice. Keep in mind that nail-biting can be linked to emotional or psychological conditions. Therefore, we recommend that you consult your doctor for a proper diagnosis and treatment.
1. Keep your nails short.
If you do so, you may not feel the urge to bite them, as there will be very little or almost nothing to chew, or at least it won’t be as satisfying. Just make sure to stay on top of your nail trimming routine since they will continue to grow.
2. Try getting a manicure.
If you spend money on making your nails look nice, it may be less likely that you would want to bite them, as doing so would ruin your manicure and make your investment seem like a waste.
3. Think about all the germs you’re transferring to your mouth.
Nails are the perfect spot for germs to hide, and when you constantly place your fingers into your mouth, it increases the possibility of getting sick. Moreover, the damage caused by biting your nails can make it easy for all these germs to get into your skin.
So, whenever you feel like biting your nails again, think about all the germs and the consequences of transferring them to your mouth.
4. Opt for a gradual approach to stop the habit.
Experts recommend focusing on a set of nails at a time. For instance, you may choose to stop biting your pinky nails first, then after you have succeeded with that, move on to your ring finger nails, and so on. The aim is to get to that point where you have broken the habit with all of your fingers.
5. Look for a substitute.
Use a stress ball or a pen to click in order to keep your hands occupied. At the same time, chewing gum can keep your mouth busy.
6. Make your nails taste bad.
The unpleasant flavor may discourage you from biting them. You can purchase bitter-flavored nail polish to coat your nails with it.
If you can’t get this specific type of polish, you can also spray a bitter mixture over your hands. You can make it yourself by simply blending some apple cider vinegar, white vinegar, and water.