Nail biting, which is medically known as onychophagia, is an oral compulsive habit that is quite common in children and adults. Nail biting can morph from a simple habit to a serious problem that is difficult to stop.
Factors that can contribute to nail-biting include; boredom, stress, loneliness, anxiety, and frustration.
Nail biting could also be a symptom of psychological disorders like Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), bed-wetting, and separation anxiety disorder.
Negative consequences of nail-biting include;
damage to the nails, cuticles, and surrounding skin.
could also damage the teeth.
embarrassing nails which could lead to stress and anxiety.
exposure to germs and infections from your nails.
It is also worthy to note that nail biting is socially unacceptable and may give others wrong impression about you.
1. Wear Artificial Nails
Artificial nails are the permanent cure to nail-biting. Trying to bite them can be likened to gnawing through a toothpaste tube. Even if you manage to bite it off, it’s not something you want to swallow. Examples of the artificial nails in the market include wraps, acrylics, and press-on nails. You can also use them to cover the already bitten nails in a stylish way.
2. Keep Your Nails Short
Since the nails are continually growing, you should trim them on a regular basis. The idea behind this remedy is simple; when the nails are short, you’ll have nothing to bite. You should also smooth them out with an emery board and then apply nail filler on the edges. Make sure the nails have no sharp corners that can tempt you to bite. This remedy requires that you keep some clippers in your bag. Besides stopping the biting habit, your nails will look neat and tidy.
3. Bitter Gourd Juice (Bitter Melon)
Bitter gourd is widely cultivated in Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean. It has a bitter taste which gives you a ‘yuck’ face when you try to bite the fingers. It will deter you from biting your nails, especially when sleeping. Simply extract the juice and apply it on your nails. Since it’s a natural herb, it can also be used by children to stop the habit.
4. Regular Manicure
A professional manicurist will give your nails a different texture or color. You should have your nails painted such that you want to make them look beautiful. Add some patterns and décor like jewels. Sometimes the cost of the manicure can deter you from biting them. You may also want to finish your manicure with a shellac polish or gel colors to encourage your nails to grow. No matter how short your nails are, keep them neat and well-manicured.
5. Neem Oil
Besides its bitter taste, neem oil has antiseptic qualities which help to ward off infections and promotes the healing of the cuticles. So, if you unconsciously put your fingers in your mouth, the oil would discourage you from biting them. To stop nail biting, put a cotton ball in natural organic neem oil, rub it on your nails and let it dry on its own.
6. Cayenne Pepper
Cayenne pepper has a spicy heat taste that can deter you from biting nails. However, it’s a bit tricky to use this remedy. You have to keep it away from your eyes and open skin otherwise, it can irritate. You can either apply fresh pepper around the nails or use ointments that have pepper as an ingredient. You should not use this remedy on your children.
7. Garlic
Garlic has a strong pungent taste and aroma. It’s also a natural antibiotic, so it would curb any infection and strengthen the nails. All you need is to crush a few garlic cloves, apply the juice on your fingers and then wash off after a few minutes. That way, the lingering garlic taste would be on your nails which help you stop biting your fingernails. If you don’t have fresh garlic, you can use garlic oil.
