Reasons to Stop
Nail biting doesn’t usually cause permanent damage. But it definitely has its downsides:
- If you damage the tissue around your nails, they may stop growing the way they should. This gives you abnormal-looking nails.
- It can spoil your smile. You can chip, crack, or break your teeth when you bite your nails. Over time, nail biting can even cause jaw problems.
- It can make you ill. Hands are a hotbed for germs, and nails are their perfect hideout. When you’re putting your fingers in your mouth multiple times a day, it increases your chances of getting ill. Plus, the skin damage you can cause when you bite your nails creates an easy way for germs to get in.
Prevention
You may not see a change overnight, but with a little time and effort, you can break your nail-biting habit.
Try these tips:
- Cut them short. If there’s not enough nail to grab with your teeth, it won’t feel as satisfying when you give biting a try.
- Coat them with a bad taste. There are special nail polishes with a bitter flavour you can paint on your nails. The terrible taste will make you think twice before chewing.
- Treat yourself to manicures. Spending money and time at a nail salon will give you both good-looking nails and a reason to keep them that way.
- Speak to us about Builder in a Bottle- a Gel option that promotes nail strength and health.
- Wear gloves. It may sound silly, but if you can’t get to your nails, you can’t bite them. If gloves won’t work for your daily schedule, you can look for stickers made to cover nails – they can have the same effect.
- Find your triggers. Notice how you feel or what you’re doing when you bite your nails. Once you know what kicks you into a nail-biting drive, you can try to find other ways to cope.
- Keep your hands or mouth busy. Find something to fiddle with — a stress ball, a worry stone, or even a pen to click. Chew gum so your mouth has a job. Give your nail-biting energy another place to go.
If you’re having trouble with the cold-turkey approach, take it a little at a time. Set small goals for yourself. Try to stop biting the nails on your right hand for a week. Or start even smaller: Choose one nail not to bite, like your thumb. Once you’ve kept it up for a while, put another nail in the “no-biting” zone. Keep going until all your fingers are off-limits.