Nail biting may seem like an inconvenient yet harmless habit, but there’s more to it than you think. Biting your nails can be damaging to your nail bed and the skin around the nails but also to your gums and teeth. The big issue is that nail biting can feel like an addiction, and those who wish to stop may have a hard time succeeding. Today we’re gathering all the tips and tricks that may be helpful, from new habits and cosmetic products that can give you a hand.
In case you need it, we’re giving you a few reasons to stop biting your nails. If you’re already convinced, you can skip this first part!
On this post:
Why you should stop biting your nails
There are so many reasons, that we can (and we will) give you a list. Within the list, you’ll find different types of consequences: the damages that you expect to verify in the moment as well as the issues that emerge in the long run. Let’s start by considering the whole spectrum of consequences of nail-biting:
1. It makes your nails look and feel rough
Every nail bite is a synonym for nails with rough edges, that is going to pull every thread it finds in their way.
2. It can create hangnails
Hangnails not only make your hands look neglected but also can be painful and even lead to infections.
3. It can lead to dental or gum problems
Your teeth take most of the impact when you’re biting your nails. The issue goes even further when the nail slips and you hit the top and bottom teeth with full clout. The same goes for the gums: when the nail slips from the grinding teeth, it may hit the gums and cause damage. You may now guess how this writer knows all this.
4. It promotes bacterial transmission
If there’s something that your nails are good at, that would be growing an ecosystem for bacteria to thrive. Once you bite your nails, the bacteria goes straight to your mouth and gets a free VIP pass to your body.
5. It leaves your hands exposed to skin infections
It’s not rare that a nail-biter pulls a little more than the body would allow. That can lead to bleeding and/or leave the door open for all the bacteria we’ve just discussed to get into action.
How to stop biting your nails
To break with an old habit, you’ll need to anchor your willpower somewhere. Hopefully, the right tips can be of assistance! Stop biting your nails is really hard; that’s why we suggest you try all the tips. Try them one at a time or combine them all at once—do as you should to make them work!
1. Identify your triggers
It may be anxiety, boredom, or even an inherited habit from your family. Identifying what leads you to nail biting is empowering and essential to keep you from biting your nails. You cannot fight an invisible enemy—give it a name and work from there.
2. Keep the nails short
The reasoning here is that if there’s less nail to bite, it should help to stop biting. With short, trimmed nails, there’s less square footage of nails available for your merciless nail-biting addiction. Make sure to get a good pushback to your cuticles so you don’t find yourself replacing the habit with another bad one.
3. Apply a bitter polish
We’re creatures of habit, so you may need a little external help to get to your goal of stopping nail biting. You may start by applying these bitter nail polishes, that taste horribly when you go with your lovely nails to the mouth. Your taste buds won’t like it, and hopefully, your brain will associate nail biting with an unpleasant consequence—and you may get your brain working for you instead of against you!
4. Cover up your nails
With no nails in sight, you won’t be able to bite them. You may be creative when it comes to choosing the method of covering them; we may have a few ideas! You may use a fashionable glove (a nonfashionable glove will also do the trick!), or you may get a gel manicure or even glue on some press-on nails. Some people even use bandaids to keep the nails out of sight! The important thing is that you make nail-biting as hard as possible.
5. Use technology
There are some smartphone apps that will give you a hand! We’re no experts in the technology department, but the word on the street is that even smartwatches can help monitor your movements and help you stop biting your nails. We’re used to having technology improving our days, so we think this tip deserves a chance as well!
6. Ask your friends and family to help
Everyone has that control freak friend or family member who wants to be on top of everything: here’s when their diligence may be of assistance. Every time you’re on their companion, make sure to get their help reminding you of your goal.
7. Try stopping gradually
Sometimes it helps to have a real understanding of the scale of the challenge. If you’re a lifetime nail-biter or if you’re going through a period of intense stress, it may be too much to ask to go cold turkey. Maybe you can stop by sparing your tumbs, and then sparing a finger at a time. Before you notice, your nail-biting habit is one step closer to its last day.
8. Create a new, healthier habit
Habit replacement is not new, and it’s also used for other unhealthy habits, such as smoking. The key here is to find a more healthy habit that replaces the nail-biting behavior. You can think of eating a healthy snack, such as carrot sticks, or you may go for a fidget toy to keep your hands busy in a harmless way!
9. Carry around a nail file and clippers
We think that this tip may save ex-nail biters from a relapse! You may have succeeded in stop nail biting, but all of a sudden a wild hangnail appears, or maybe you broke the corner of your nail. In such cases, you may feel that you don’t have a choice but to bite your nails! With a clipper and a file by your side, you can rest assured that you won’t need to fall for old habits to save the day.
For more on nail beauty, you should like to read our tips to create a nail care routine at home.
