Break the Nail-Biting Habit: Proven Strategies & Tips

Nail biting is a common habit, one that can be very difficult to break. Many times, people bite their nails when they are nervous or stressed. Nail-biting is a habit that often starts by the age of 10 and can continue through the age of 30, or even longer, according to WebMD. Working to keep your life as anxiety-free as possible can help with this habit, as can regular nail trimming and filing in conjunction with a bitter-tasting nail product that works to discourage nail biting.

Things You'll Need

• Nail clippers
• Nail file
• Bitter-tasting nail product

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Instructions

• 1

  Trim your nails, also taking care to file any ridges or jagged edges. Many times, nail biting starts when a person sees an uneven edge on a nail; keeping your nails trimmed and smooth should help prevent the initial urge to "fix" your nails by biting them.

• 2

  Apply a bitter-tasting stop-nail-biting product to each fingernail. Follow the directions for your product.

• 3

  Continue applying the nail product as directed. Some products recommend applying it twice a day, while others need to be applied only once a day. The goal is for the bitter taste to remain continuously on your nails to help remind you not to bite your nails.