You know you shouldn’t do it. But you do it anyway. This refers to a lot of bad habits but specifically biting nails. We are aware of the dangers of chewing our own nails but the urge is irresistible.

We at The Week sympathize with you and have thus compiled a list of do’s and don’ts. 

Identify the triggers
Any pro nail biter would know that biting nails always has a trigger. Whether it is the unrelenting hangnail, nervousness, or even just boredom, there is always a reason why your fingers make it to your teeth. The trick to identifying triggers is to be aware every time you feel the urge to bite your nails. Register the urge, identify the cause, and try to work out a solution. Simple boredom can be surmounted by keeping your fingers engaged at all times, like playing with a piece of string or a coin.

Taking it a step at a time
Research claims that breaking habits effectively isn’t a one-day affair. It should be done gradually. Never suppose that a day of resolution will put an end to your life-spanning compulsion to bite nails. Take it slow. Try to avoid biting a single set of nail, such as the forefinger, you may continue with the rest but leave the forefinger alone. Gradually make it two set of fingers, then three and so on. Soon enough you will realize that the urge to bite your nail no longer consumes you. 

Anti-nail biting polish
This product was created to specifically address the dire condition of pathological nail biters. When all else fails, perhaps this may work. Anti-nail biting polish is mostly colorless and, when you look at it, all it does is make the nails a little shinier, nothing else. But it is this unassuming nature that underlines the genius of this product. Every time you bite into your polish-coated nail, you will be assailed by the most horrid of taste. What’s even better is that the aftertaste stays for long and not even sugar will be able to mask it. Before you know it, your mouth will shy away from any proximity to your fingers.

Get manicures
None of us love to part with our money, or even time. We guard those that we have paid an arm and leg for, so spending some money on getting manicures may be one way to curb the habit. Get a manicure. Because you have spent time and money getting your nails done, perhaps then you will let go of any temptation to bite them. Also keep your nails short. If there isn’t a lot of nail on your fingers you may not feel the desire to bite them at all.

Think of yourself
Think of the germs embedded under your nail beds, think of your teeth chipping at the edges from years of biting. You are only inviting diseases and a lifelong suffering from sensitive teeth. Research indicates that germs notoriously responsible for causing most diseases are found under one’s nails. Tell that to yourself the next time you feel like biting your nails. Also, with years of biting nails, the teeth suffer too. Some can be permanently deformed. On a long-term view, biting nails doesn’t seem too rewarding, does it? 

 
• nails
 
• biting_nails