Unraveling The Habit: Strategies To Stop Nail Biting

Nail biting is a common habit that can be difficult to break. To quit biting your fingernails, try a gradual approach by identifying your triggers and keeping your nails short. You can also try chewing gum, wearing gloves, or keeping your hands busy with stress balls or other fidget toys. If you find it challenging to quit cold turkey, start with small goals and work your way up. For example, you can try not biting the nails on your right hand for a week or start with one nail and gradually expand to other nails. Remember, it's important to be patient and persistent in your efforts to quit nail biting.

Identify your nail-biting triggers

To stop biting your nails, you need to find your triggers. Notice how you feel or what you’re doing when you bite your nails. Once you know what kicks you into nail-biting drive, you can try to find other ways to cope. Keep your hands or mouth busy. Find something to fiddle with -- a stress ball, a worry stone, or even a pen to click.

Among the strategies recommended by the AADA are identifying your nail-biting triggers, keeping your nails clipped short, and taking a gradual approach (as in, just work on stopping biting one fingernail at a time).

Try to gradually stop biting your nails. Some doctors recommend taking a gradual approach to break the habit. Try to stop biting one set of nails, such as your thumb nails, first. When that’s successful, eliminate your pinky nails, pointer nails, or even an entire hand. The goal is to get to the point where you no longer bite any of your nails.

If you’re having trouble with the cold-turkey approach, take it a little at a time. Set small goals for yourself. Try to stop biting the nails on your right hand for a week. Or start even smaller: Choose one nail not to bite, like your thumb. Once you’ve kept it up for a while, put another nail in the “no-biting” zone.

Wear gloves. It may sound silly, but if you can’t get to your nails, you can’t bite them. If gloves won’t work for your daily schedule, you can look for stickers made to cover nails -- they can have the same effect.

Keep your nails short

One of the strategies recommended by the AADA is to keep your nails short. This is because when your nails are short, you are less likely to be able to bite them. Wear gloves or stickers on your fingers to prevent you from biting your nails.

You can also try to gradually stop biting your nails. Start with one set of nails, such as your thumb nails, and then work your way up to the rest of your fingers. This will help you break the habit and get to the point where you no longer bite any of your nails.

Additionally, you can try to find your triggers and notice how you feel or what you're doing when you bite your nails. Once you know what kicks you into nail-biting drive, you can try to find other ways to cope. For example, you can try to keep your hands or mouth busy by chewing gum or finding something to fiddle with, such as a stress ball or a worry stone.

It's important to remember that nail biting may be a sign of a more serious psychological or emotional problem. If you've repeatedly tried to quit and the problem persists, consult a doctor. If you bite your nails and develop a skin or nail infection, consult a board-certified dermatologist.

Take a gradual approach

If you want to quit biting your nails, it's best to take a gradual approach. Some doctors recommend this as a way to break the habit. Start by choosing one nail not to bite, like your thumb. Keep it up for a while and then put another nail in the 'no-biting' zone. Once you've achieved this, you can eliminate your pinky nails, pointer nails, or even an entire hand. The goal is to get to the point where you no longer bite any of your nails.

You can also try to stop biting the nails on your right hand for a week. Chew gum so your mouth has a job and give your nail-biting energy another place to go. If you’re having trouble with the cold-turkey approach, take it a little at a time. Set small goals for yourself.

Wear gloves or stickers made to cover nails -- they can have the same effect. If you can’t get to your nails, you can’t bite them. Find your triggers. Notice how you feel or what you’re doing when you bite your nails. Once you know what kicks you into nail-biting drive, you can try to find other ways to cope. Keep your hands or mouth busy. Find something to fiddle with -- a stress ball, a worry stone, or even a pen to click.

Wear gloves

If you want to stop biting your nails, wearing gloves is a great way to do so. It may sound silly, but if you can’t get to your nails, you can’t bite them. If gloves won’t work for your daily schedule, you can look for stickers made to cover nails -- they can have the same effect.

Keep your hands or mouth busy

If you want to stop biting your nails, you can try to keep your hands or mouth busy. Chew gum so your mouth has a job. Give your nail-biting energy another place to go. If you’re having trouble with the cold-turkey approach, take it a little at a time. Set small goals for yourself. Try to stop biting the nails on your right hand for a week. Or start even smaller: Choose one nail not to bite, like your thumb. Once you’ve kept it up for a while, put another nail in the “no-biting” zone.

You can also try to wear gloves. It may sound silly, but if you can’t get to your nails, you can’t bite them. If gloves won’t work for your daily schedule, you can look for stickers made to cover nails -- they can have the same effect.

Find your triggers. Notice how you feel or what you’re doing when you bite your nails. Once you know what kicks you into nail-biting drive, you can try to find other ways to cope.

Keep your hands busy by finding something to fiddle with -- a stress ball, a worry stone, or even a pen to click.

Frequently asked questions