I started biting my nails at the age of 13. Not entirely sure where or whom I picked it up from, but it was my go-to coping mechanism for everything. Anxious? Bite nails. Stressed? Bite nails. At some point, no matter what I was feeling, biting my nails was my response.
Then college happened. Who would’ve thought nails could be a reason for being picked on? But it happened. My already chubby and short fingers didn’t help my case either.
But Is Nail Biting Really That Bad?
In short, yes.
Your nails contain a number of bacteria (that’s why it’s recommended you wash your hands before you eat food). According to experts, the bacteria that transfer E. coli and salmonella, are most commonly found in your nails. Biting your nails transfers them to your stomach which can lead to infections and bigger issues. And in case you didn’t know, these bacteria are commonly found in your intestines, where the body waste is produced. (🤢)
Personal hygiene is compromised in every way. Biting your nails not only changes their shape and causes them to grow unevenly and even lead to ingrowths but also changes the shape of your gums. And if you’re a chronic nail biter with wonky teeth, your habit may have something to do with it. Not just that, it may even make your teeth loose and cause them to fall out faster!
It doesn’t end there – it can also lead to bad breath. This only makes sense since you’re constantly bringing new germs into your mouth with direct contact from your hands.
Every Method I Tried To Stop Biting My Nails
Educating myself on why the habit is bad didn’t help – like it hasn’t helped millions of others. So here’s what I tried instead:
Coating Your Fingertips With Something Terrible
Chronic nail biters on the internet said coating their fingers with something distasteful helped. Think salt, jalapenos, etc. But what really helped me was chili powder. Unfortunately, this was only a temporary fix since I couldn’t step out with chili powder on my fingers.
Punishment
Other nail-biters suggested wearing a rubber band on the wrist and snapping it every time you lift your hand to bite your nails. Unfortunately, this didn’t help a lot since I forgot I had a band meant to snap my wrist every time I bit my nails.
Coat Your Nails With Awful-Tasting Polish
Apply a polish on your nails that tastes terrible. And no, I don’t mean regular nail polish.
The Color Fx Nail Fit Bite No-More is meant to be applied on the nails to help get rid of the terrible habit. It hardens the nails and tastes awful. But it’s also enriched with vitamins that stimulate and rejuvenate the nails, enabling them to grow well.
Nail Extensions
Gel or acrylic extensions are hard, making them extremely difficult to bite through. Trust me, I’ve tried. And because I’ve tried, I know that it’s the only thing that’s made me stop this awful habit. The only drawback? Your nails can’t be bitten down to the quick, to get extensions – they’ve got to have some length for the false nail to hold on to.
The journey has been tough but it’s also been rewarding. While my nails are still brittle and break easily, at least they exist!
Featured Images: Instagram, Pexels.