One problem that many people have is biting their nails. While this is not necessarily a bad thing, it’s generally not considered socially acceptable and nail biters often suffer feelings of embarrassment and retreat in many social situations, which is why you want to know how to stop biting your nails.

Although many people assume that everyone must constantly be biting their nails because it’s a bad look, it can also be a sign of something far more dangerous. If you have trouble biting your nails, you should know that there are certain habits that you’re always doing that could be potentially harmful to your health.

Let’s break these habits down.

Listen to Your Body

Many people tend to ignore the first few times they notice that they have a nail-biting problem. This is a big mistake. By not addressing the problem right away, you may cause a much bigger problem by not addressing it, such as a toothache or intolerant taste buds.

You shouldn’t wait until your fingers get swollen and uncomfortable before you figure out ways to stop biting your nails. If you wait until there is a problem with your teeth, you could wind up missing out on the chance to address the issue fully. If you can’t identify the source of the problem, the best thing to do is to address the potential root cause of the problem.

For instance, if you tend to eat too much salt, you’ll probably find yourself chewing your food more than you would have otherwise. If you have a problem with high blood pressure, you’ll most likely be prone to biting your nails when you bite your thumb. If you think these are symptoms of heart disease, it well could be.

However, if you address all of these potential causes of the problem at once, you can minimize the potential problems associated with nail-biting.

Practice Good Habits

The next step is to address all of the good habits that you may have that could be the root of your problem.

Are you a serious coffee drinker, or do you spend more time than you would like to type on a computer? Maybe you like to shop for clothes when you have an appointment, or you walk around your house when you are doing laundry? Are any of these habits bad for your health?

If you’re not sure if a given habit is bad for you, a simple check with your doctor might be the first step. Also, you can start to be aware of the circumstances in which you are most likely to bit your nails.

If you are battling an eating disorder, think about Reasons B and C above. Perhaps they are triggers for you. Consider changing your shopping habits when you walk into the mall instead of driving the nearby streets. You may not bite your nails when you walk into the mall but you may find yourself choosing the more envelope-shaped bottles of nail polish and glues.

Anti-Nail Sheets

If you really are that concerned about how to stop biting your nails, you should go to your doctor and get an anti-nail spray or option. This can be painful when you have your nails painted with strong colors or designs, but it is well worth it. If you don’t like the way your nails look while they’re painted, you can paint them another color or style.

It’s important to understand that you shouldn’t paint your nails any other color than the one you prefer. Once you’ve tried a couple of ways to stop biting your nails, you might find a solution that you like and stick with.