Everyone has bad habits. A very popular one is nail biting. Nail biting has many negative side effects. Not only can it be damaging to your nails, but you can damage your teeth as well. It also leaves your fingers and mouth vulnerable to infections as you pass viruses and bacteria between them. If you have a habit of biting nails, here’s some tips to hopefully help you break the habit and have healthier nails.

Regularly Trim Your Nails

While some people can go up to two weeks without trimming their nails, you may have to do it as often as every 3 or 4 days to keep your nails short enough for the temptation to bite your nails to be reduced. The less nail you have to bite, the less temptation you may experience.

Try Bitter Polish

Consider purchasing an over the counter polish that will make your nails taste downright bitter. They’re usually available just about anywhere you find other nail polish. Some find that this is a great deterrent.

Get a Good Manicure

For some, spending money to make your nails look extra good adds on two deterrents. The first is that most people will be hesitant to ruin their new, attractive manicure. The second is that most don’t want to waste the money they spent by ruining their nails either. It means that for some, this is a great option worth the price.

Replace the Habit with a Better Habit

The key here is to replace the habit with something that either keeps your hands busy or your mouth busy. While some choose to chew gum, others keep their hands busy by playing with putty or squeezing a stress ball. All are good options to reduce the urge.

Identify the Cause

Behind every habit or tic, there is usually something that causes it. Things like having a hangnail without having the proper equipment to take care of it can often be the issue. It can also be feelings like boredom, stress, or anxiety that can affect the habit. It’s important to figure out the cause so that you can create a plan to stop the habit.