How to get rid of nail biting

Nail biting is a common nervous habit that can be hard to break. If you're a nail biter, you may be worried about the appearance of your hands and nails, and you may even be embarrassed about your habit. While it may be difficult to stop nail biting, there are a few things you can do to help kick the habit.

Identify your triggers: What makes you want to bite your nails? Is it when you're feeling anxious or stressed? Or maybe when you're bored or have nothing else to do? Once you know what triggers your nail biting, you can try to avoid those situations. Keep your nails trimmed: Long nails are more tempting to bite than short nails. So, keeping your nails trimmed short can help discourage you from biting. Occupy your hands and mouth: If you feel the urge to bite your nails, try to keep your hands and mouth busy with something else. For example, you could chew gum or eat hard candy. Or try keeping a stress ball or fidget toy handy to keep your hands busy. Try a bitter-tasting nail polish: Some people find that painting their nails with a bitter-tasting nail polish helps discourage them from biting. See a therapist: If your nail biting is severe or nothing else seems to help, you may want to see a therapist. A therapist can help you identify the underlying cause of your nail biting and provide additional coping strategies.