It’s something many of us do when we’re watching a particularly tense scene in a movie (i.e. ALL of A Quiet Place), but what is chewing on your nails is an hourly occurrence? Nail biting, also referred to as Onychophagia, is a habit that usually begins in childhood. If you’ve grown up with this habit, you may feel self-conscious about your whittled down nails but find it hard to stop after biting them for so long.
Why do people bite their nails?
There are many reasons as to why people bite their nails, including stress, nervousness, anxiety, boredom, loneliness, hunger. There could also be a genetic link as to why people bite their nails.
The consequences of nail biting
Nail biting can cause very visible damage to your nails, as well as causing tissue damage to your fingers and nails. It could also lead to:
- Mouth injuries
- Dental problems
- Broken skin on the cuticle
- Nail or skin infections
- Bodily infections from bacteria going into the mouth
- Disoriented nail growth
The appearance of these damages could also lead to insecurity and embarrassment. If you’re sick of being embarrassed about the way your nails look or just want to kick this habit for good, read on for 6 tips to stop biting your nails.
How to stop biting your nails
1. Use anti-biting polish
Applying anti-nail polish to your nails to can help prevent you from biting your nails, by simply leaving a gross taste in your mouth. This polish is odorless and clear so you won’t be self-conscious about having smelly fingers! Just keep applying until your nails begin to make progress. Shop the Anti-Biting Polish
2. Cut your cuticles
A lot of people bite their nails when there’s annoying nail or skin poking out so they end up ripping it off and start biting their nails. By using a cuticle cutter, you can effectively remove the hang nails without causing any further damage.
3. Keep them trimmed
Keeping your nails trimmed is another great way of stopping your nail-biting habit. If you keep your nails neat and short all the time, you won’t have much to bite off nor will it give you that satisfaction.
4. Get a manicure
The more frequently you get those nails done nice and fresh. the less you’d want to ruin them! Manicures can leave you feeling clean with the removal of cuticles, softening your skin, nicely shaped nice and some pretty nail art.
5. Keep your hands and mouth busy
Many people bite nails as a result of anxiety, which causes you to fiddle with your hands or mouth out of nervousness. To avoid this, it’s important to try and keep your hands or mouth busy. Some tricks for keeping your hands busy include spinning things like a coin, or a fidget spinner. Whenever you get the urge to bite your nails, just take out a coin and start spinning it, or find a squishy toy to play with to keep your hands busy. Chewing gum can also keep your mouth busy which, can help you refrain from biting your nails.
6. Be aware
Try to determine what triggers your nail biting, as this will help you prevent it in future. For example, you might do it when you’re sitting at the computer and are getting stressed. So, whenever you find yourself wanting to do it in that situation, use tip no.4 and keep your hand or mouth busy