Holistic Health 5 Tips to Stop Biting Your Nails By Cathy Wong facebook twitter Cathy Wong is a nutritionist and wellness expert. Her work is regularly featured in media such as First For Women, Woman's World, and Natural Health. Learn about our editorial process Cathy Wong Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Meredith Bull, ND on August 25, 2020 facebook linkedin Meredith Bull, ND, is a licensed naturopathic doctor with a private practice in Los Angeles, California. Learn about our Medical Review Board Meredith Bull, ND on August 25, 2020 Print How you stop biting your nails is less important than simply doing so. Along with wreaking havoc on your manicure, repeated nail biting can damage the tissue that promotes nail growth, put you at risk for a chipped tooth, trigger painful jaw issues, transmit bacteria and viruses from your nails to your mouth, and cause inflammation and infection of the nailbed. LWA-Dann Tardif / Getty Images Chronic nail biting affects up to 30% of the general population. If you are still a part of that group, these six tips may help you kick the habit once and for all. Manage Stress Everyday stress is one of the biggest factors in chronic nail biting. To ease your stress—and alleviate anxiety—try taking up techniques like meditation, yoga, mindfulness-based stress reduction, deep breathing, or guided imagery. Helpful in knocking out your nail-biting habit, such techniques may also enhance your overall well-being. For example, a study published in the journal Mindfulness found that practicing brief sessions of hatha yoga and mindfulness meditation can significantly improve brain function and energy levels. Eliminate Triggers In a study published in the Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, researchers determined that people who are easily bored, frustrated, and/or impatient are more likely to engage in compulsive behaviors like chronic nail biting and skin-picking. To find out what’s feeding your habit, try keeping a journal and making a note of your mental state whenever you feel the urge to bite your nails. Once you’ve identified a pattern, change your circumstances by taking action against your triggers. For example, if you tend to bite your nails when you’re zoning out in front of the TV, try going for a walk or picking up a book instead. Focus on Nail Hygiene If you keep your nails trimmed and filed short, there will be less to latch onto, possibly making the nail-biting habit less satisfying. Similarly, getting regular manicures and keeping your nails in top shape could serve as a deterrent. (You may not want to ruin how they look.) Until you’ve fully busted your nail biting habit, stay safe and healthy by washing your hands as often as possible, taking care to get rid of any grime underneath your nails. Dab Your Nails With Something Bitter For some people, applying bitter-tasting nail polish, which you can buy over-the-counter at most drugstores, can be a deterrent to nail biting. Chew Gum Chewing gum might help you stop biting your nails by giving your mouth another activity to engage in. A Word From Verywell While home remedies are beneficial for many chronic nail-biters, some people may require more comprehensive treatment. In fact, the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) warns that nail biting may signal a more serious psychological or emotional issue in some cases. If you’re struggling in your efforts to quit biting your nails, talk with your doctor. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. American Academy of Dermatology. How to stop biting your nails. Published 2019. Luu K, Hall PA. Examining the Acute Effects of Hatha Yoga and Mindfulness Meditation on Executive Function and Mood. Mindfulness. 2016;8(4):873-880. doi:10.1007/s12671-016-0661-2 Pacan P, Reich A, Grzesiak M, Szepietowski J. Onychophagia is Associated with Impairment of Quality of Life. Acta Dermato Venereologica. 2014;94(6):703-706. doi:10.2340/00015555-1817 Roberts S, Oconnor K, Aardema F, Bélanger C. The impact of emotions on body-Focused repetitive behaviors: Evidence from a non-treatment-seeking sample. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry. 2015;46:189-197. doi:10.1016/j.jbtep.2014.10.007