Can You Learn to Stop Nibbling Your Nails?

Believe it or not, you can nail your nibbling habit—and the sooner, the better. Experts have linked nail-biting to bruxism, or the grinding or clenching of teeth. Bruxism can cause jaw problems, facial pain, and extremely sensitive teeth.¹

Here are a few key ways to break the habit. You also can try these techniques with youngsters. Just remember to praise them for their efforts.²

• Trim rough, ragged nails and file them smooth. Broken nails can be very tempting to nibble.³

• Apply a bitter-tasting polish or liquid to nails.⁴

• Learn to do something else when you feel the urge to chew.² For example, make fists for a minute or so. But be careful not to swap one bad habit for another. Chewing on a pencil can lead to mouth injury, too!¹

¹ “Nail-Biting Can Lead to Bruxism.” Academy of General Dentistry, February 2007. www.agd.org/support/articles/?ArtID=1135. Accessed 2010.

² “Your Child’s Habits.” GirlsHealth, Office on Women’s Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, November 2007. kidshealth.org/PageManager.jsp?dn=girlshealth&article_set=21617&lic=175&cat_id=146. Accessed 2010.

³ “Your Nails.” KidsHealth, March 2007. http://kidshealth.org/kid/htbw/nails.html. Accessed 2010.

⁴ “Nail Fungus and Nail Health.” Academy of Dermatology. 2008 www.aad.org/public/publications/pamphlets/common_nail.html. Accessed 2010.