Today we are going to tell you about How To Stop Biting Nails In 9 Minutes. Because the habit of nail-biting can cause serious health problems who practice it. It has serious implications, not only from an aesthetic point of view but also nails carry viruses and bacteria that can make you sick when in contact with your mouth.
Also, this compulsive habit can permanently damage your nails, teeth, and even gums. So it is very important to know about How To Stop Biting Nails In 9 Minutes tips.
Although this practice is very common in childhood, many adults maintain Onychophagia, either due to stress, boredom, or some physical reason. If this is your case and you are thinking about how to stop biting your nails just follow the below tips on how to stop biting your nails.
Note: If you love to file your nail then you can read about Best Electric Nail File.
Why do we bite our nails?
Nails are mainly made up of Keratinized dead cells and have various functions.
The habit of nail-biting can start with the simple act of putting your fingers in your mouth, which is so common in children.
Although it is not considered a disease as such, it is a pathology of a psychological nature, which, if it cannot be controlled, may require specialized help. The causes can be:
- Nervous episodes.
- Obsessive states, as a compulsion
- Vital drastic changes
- Frustration, anger, low self-esteem.
We recommend consulting with a mental health specialist about why this occurs, especially if it becomes common.
Other Causes of nail-biting
There can be several reasons that generate the behavior of nail-biting:
- Stress. “Many people bite their nails in a specific situation such as an exam, a meeting, or due to the accumulation of daily stress.
- To calm situations that generate anxiety. “When they are in situations that provoke nerve or distress, it favors the need to bite their nails,” says the expert.
- Shyness or low self-esteem. “Frustration, anger, perfectionism, or people with a high level of demand are traits that can help the appearance of onychophagy.
- Fear. “Although it has not been associated, fear is a factor that triggers this behavior.
The causes of Onychophagia can be divided into two groups:
1. External causes
One of the recurrent explanations for Onychophagy is the anxiety and stress produced by personal, work, economic, sentimental, or conjugal problems, nervousness during exams. They are usually more benevolent factors, since with will power and becoming aware of the problem, it is relatively easy to give up the habit and control it.
2. Internal causes
It is about emotional maladjustment and alterations of the nervous system produced by trauma. They can be family maladjustments, mistreatment, humiliation, low self-esteem, guilt, and the need for self-punishment. The habit is prolonged in time and becomes chronic, sometimes the behavior is so sharp that it can lead to self-aggressive behavior.
There is a widely-held belief that nail-biting is a slight problem. But beware, Onychophagy can be worse than commonly thought and cause permanent damage.
Why can’t we stop biting our nails?
Although seeing deformed nails and fingers can be unpleasant, people who have this habit receive certain benefits by continuing it, which makes it very difficult for them to stop biting their nails.
For starters, it can be enjoyable and relaxing, so even though it’s not the healthiest and most appropriate habit of all, it’s hard to stop. If we are nervous, we do not have other tools to manage those nerves or stress, and biting our nails relaxes us. We will continue to do so whenever we feel nervous. Therefore, it would be necessary to acquire more adequate tools to relax.
On the other hand, especially perfectionist people can suffer from some irritation when things don’t go as they expect. For these people, nail-biting is a means of managing that irritation. Again, it is an emotional situation that they cannot handle any other way, and they come to the one that makes them feel good: finish off all their nails using only their teeth.
Consequences and effects of Biting Nails
The hands reflect the health and safety of the person. Therefore, nail-biting could have health, emotional, and social implications:
Health and aesthetics
- Nails are hosts of the most varied germs, which, when contacted with saliva, travel through the digestive tract and can cause disease.
- Damage to the cuticle and skin of the fingers can lead to bacterial and viral infections of the hands.
- Finger deformations may occur and the nail may be lost.
- Chronic inflammation of the fingers.
- Increased appearance of caries due to damage to teeth.
1. Health and aesthetic consequences
Huge amounts of germs of all kinds are found on the nails. These, when contacting the mouth, can penetrate our body and produce some type of disease.
Injuries to the fingers and buds can lead to bacterial or viral infections. Furthermore, the fingers can become deformed and there is a risk of losing the nail permanently. Other consequences also include chronic inflammation of the fingers and the appearance of caries due to the damage caused to the enamel of the teeth.
2. Emotional consequences
Another class of negative effects of nail-biting is complex and embarrassment (ultimately causing anxiety) about the appearance of the hands and can interfere with interpersonal relationships.
This point is also related to a low level of self-esteem, feelings of sadness, and inability to control compulsive behaviors.
3. Social consequences
The person who eats his nails may believe that he is rejected by society. It can also present certain difficulties in personal and romantic relationships.
Work problems: the rejection of job interviews for hygiene or aesthetic reasons depending on the position.
How To Stop Biting Nails In 9 Minutes
As you can see, quitting this unhealthy habit can have countless benefits for your health, as well as psychological, emotional, and social levels.
Here I will explain the best way to stop biting nails. They are very easy tricks that do not require special products, you just have to want it and put your will.
1. Be aware of the problem
The first thing you should detect are the situations that cause you to stress or insecurity and that activates the habit of biting, feeling, or scratching your nails and that leads directly to putting them in your mouth.
This is identifying the particular moments that lead to this behavior, for example, having to interact socially or prepare for an academic test, the moments before a job interview … Similarly, you must identify which activity or group Of them avoid this behavior and keep your hands busy, they must be things that are to your liking, for example doing sports, crafts, playing a musical instrument, writing … In this way, you will mitigate anxiety and avoid compulsive biting behavior the ones.
2. Chew licorice
Having your mouth busy chewing licorice root is a good measure to combat the habit of biting your nails. Do this especially in moments that make you anxious. Get used to carrying this remedy with you always. Once you have abandoned the bad habit of ঘnychophagy, you can rest and leave the licorice at home.
3. Chew gum
Similarly, it is very effective to chew gum every time you feel the need to put your fingers in your mouth. In this way, you will avoid biting your nails while refreshing your breath and exercising your jaw muscles, avoiding wrinkles.
4. Use Aloe Vera
There are specific bitter products to avoid this habit. However, why are you going to spend money being able to have what you need at home?
Aloe Vera has countless health properties, but it certainly doesn’t taste very good. Cut an Aloe Vera leaf in half, you will see that it is transparent similar to the snail slime. Leave it in the fridge overnight and you will see that this slime has adopted a reddish color due to oxidation, which produces its bitterness. Then apply it to your nails until it dries. Every time you put your nails in your mouth, a very bitter and unpleasant taste will come over you that will surely take away your desire to do it again. In addition, Aloe Vera has antibacterial and healing properties, making it ideal for avoiding infections due to nail-biting wounds and accelerating the regeneration process.
5. Self-control
With this self – control exercise you will be able to control the urge to eat your nails:
Bring a finger close to your mouth, stop when it is two inches from your lips. Get it away. Repeat this action several times, decreasing the distance more and more.
Insert the nail between the teeth without biting, resist a little time, take it out. Repeat this gesture increasing the time more and more. Practice this exercise 5 minutes a day and you will see that it works.
6. False nails
Perhaps this is the most expensive solution of all but it is worth it, it is about covering your nails with other synthetics such as acrylics. It will prevent you from damaging your own nails while allowing them to grow.
7. Band-Aids
Put a few strips on the nails for a month, replacing them from time to time. This is that you can admire how they grow healthy and shiny after a while, without biting them.
8. Practice a hobby
Keeping yourself busy doing a hobby or that you like will keep your fingernails away for longer.
Any activity of your interest is appropriate, it is very important that you like it as this will dissipate your desire to put your nails in your mouth. Crafts are highly recommended because they keep your hands busy, especially if it is about working with materials such as clay to make ceramics, since it keeps your hands dirty, in the same way, the painting is also interesting.
9. Wear gloves
Another easy and comfortable way to stop biting your nails is by wearing gloves, especially in winter. These prevent you from ending up putting your hands to your mouth. In summer it can be a little uncomfortable, but if your problem is serious and you are really committed, you can try wearing thin breathable gloves.
10. Congratulate yourself on your progress
Don’t hesitate to celebrate your progress as you progress. You will see how the people around you take notice and congratulate you, this will encourage you to continue keeping your nails healthy and beautiful.
11. Enamels with bitter flavors
One of the simplest tricks that will help you stop biting your nails is to apply bitter-tasting nail polish to them. These are sold in pharmacies without a prescription, are safe, and come with a special applicator to make them easier to use.
12. Mindfulness
Another tip to help you stop biting your nails is to practice mindfulness. Focus on each activity you are doing. Living and focusing on the present moment will ensure that your mind does not evade and you will not feel the unconscious impulse to put your hands to your mouth.
13. Keep your nails short
It may seem silly, but having them too short can help some people stop biting their nails since they will not be leaving room or space to bite them. If it is possible and you can keep them in this way, try to trim them every time they grow to avoid sinking their teeth.
14. Keep your hands busy
In times of nervousness or when you feel the urge, stay busy with an activity or just keep your hands busy with something to avoid biting your nails. It can be fiddling with a pencil, a fidget spinner, or a stress ball. The point is to keep your hands busy so as not to put them in your mouth and end up biting your nails.
15. Replace this habit with another
You can not only chew gum to get rid of Onychophagy. When you feel the urge to bite your nails, try replacing that habit with a healthier one that exercises your hands and keeps them busy, such as a stress ball.
16. Invest in caring for your nails
This trick to stop biting your nails seems impossible and counterproductive, but nothing better than keeping your nails well cared for to avoid biting them. It may seem complicated and it will take time, but if you make an effort to keep your nails manicured, you will end up feeling bad about spoiling them with this unpleasant habit.
17. Get a manicure
If you keep your nails manicured, and even more if you go to some beauty center to leave you money to do it, you may feel less the need to bite and damage them. In addition, you can try putting on false nails, since by covering them you will allow them to grow naturally.
18. Identify the problem
Onychophagia is a very normal habit in childhood. The problem appears if that irreparable desire to bite or eat the nails becomes more intense and remains even in adulthood.
The reason that habit is maintained could be a physical trigger, such as stepparents, or other more emotional triggers such as anxiety, stress, or simply boredom. Identifying the cause of why you bite your nails could help you come up with a plan to avoid it.
19. Use Nail polish
A person who has a bad habit of nail-biting is used to not looking attractive. Before opting for the construction of artificial nails, you can try to polish the nails with a different tone to the color of it or make some kind of decoration. It will be more difficult to eat nails when they are perfectly enameled.
20 One small step
Small steps lead to great achievements. The great enemy of motivation is impossible goals. Maybe you have an event or a job interview and for this, you decide not to bite your nails. It is paradoxical because in the moment of greatest anxiety you put aside your weapon to fight it. Surely at some point, you end up forgetting the objective, you bite your nails and a feeling of failure and incapacity appears.
This is too much pressure to eliminate a habit like Onychophagia that may take years inside us. Surely there are people who have left it the first time. There is always the person who talks about their last cigarette. But … what about those that don’t work like this?
Trying not to be too hard on yourself is a good ally when temptation has doubled the will. Try one or two fingers or Set a target weekend or holiday period. The sum of simple and easier objectives will make us achieve great goals. Every step counts, and just as we must record the behavior we want to change, it is worth recording the achievements we are making.
21. Acrylic nails
Acrylic nails are the technique in which more women rely on to stop nail-biting. And it is that this technique is considered one of the most used treatments for the reconstruction of bitten nails thanks to the hardness of its final finish.
They are made by mixing two different components: acrylic powder (polymer) and acrylic liquid (monomer) that create a gummy structure that, when in contact with the natural nail, heats up, forming a structure similar to the nail. After approximately three minutes, it cools and it will be time to file it to achieve the desired length.
It is ideal to advise your clients of this technique since while they wear an acrylic nail manicure, their natural nails grow little by little without realizing it and when they decide to remove the artificial nail, they see their nail much more beautiful than before.
Still do not know how to make acrylic nails for bitten nails? We leave you a series of indications that will be very useful to do them perfectly.
22. Look for alternatives
Everyone who has struggled against a bad habit (more or less harmless) knows how difficult it is. Many times a certain misunderstanding on the part of the people around whom tries to quit this habit, and may even receive comments that allude to their mental weakness.
Sometimes visualization, will, or mentalization is not enough. So finding alternatives can be a solution. Let’s not forget that each person will be served one option and another. The important thing is to remember that we can act in two foci, the mouth, and the hands.
Given the need to have something in the mouth to calm the nerves, restlessness, or boredom, we can resort to chewing gum, ginger or sucking licorice, candy, etc. Having something in the mouth removes the need to occupy that space. Another point where we can act is the fingers.
Washing your hands, wearing gloves, enamels, putting on a band-aid or even invisible sheets will prevent the action. At least it can serve as a direct reminder of the goal set. On the other hand, you can carry other types of distractions to play with, such as a keychain, a small ball, a pen, etc. Something to play with and keep your hands entertained.
23. Use lime and hand cream
If we have perfectly manicured and hydrated hands and nails, in the case of hands with cream and in the case of well-cut and filed nails, the one that bites your nails will give you a greater charge of conscience and you will try for all means to continue wearing good-looking hands.
24. Ask for help from the people around you
That you make people close to you day to day that you are trying to stop biting your nails is important.
They can “scold you” or tell you to stop putting your fingers in your mouth when they are with you. This way you will notice more pressure to avoid temptation.
25. Do an exercise to convince yourself
It consists of putting a finger to the mouth and stopping when it is a few centimeters from the lips.
Then you must move it away and repeat this action a few more times.
Finally, try putting your finger between your teeth without biting your nails.
This exercise can be done for a few minutes a day and little by little you will see how you are able to put your hands to your mouth without having to bite your nails.
In conclusion…
With willpower and the advice, you have learned about How To Stop Biting Nails In 9 Minutes you will surely show off perfect nails soon. If you see that you have a lot of trouble quitting, you can go to a trusted psychologist.