nail biting

Mimi_Arc_en_ciel

how can i stop it!! Its me im afraid who is the chewee. I did manage to grow them once but i tend to bite when im bored, nervous, anxious, worried

any good but cheap solutions? half of the time i dont even realise im doing it and although im embarrased by my nails i cant seem to kick it!

Silaqui

Hi Mommy (sounds funny writing that hehe)
I'm 25 now and have been biting my nails since I had teeth, I think! But about 4 weeks ago I stopped, and I did just that - stop. Somebody bought me this kit, which includes a strengthener and some of that horrible tasting stuff, amongst other things, but to be honest with you I haven't used the nasty tasting stuff much apart from the first week. You could probably do it cheaper with a bottle of strengthener and some cheap hand and nail cream - this is the leaflet that comes in the kit http://www.mavala.co.uk/stopBittenNails.html

The last time I tried to stop I got used to the taste and it didn't really bother me, but this time I used it as a 'reminder' of what I was trying to do. I must admit, I must have looked a bit weird in the first week or too as I took to sucking my fingers to avoid biting Another tip, I've found using hand and nail cream is a good deterrant especially if not rubbing it in properly, leave a bit round your nails if you won't be preparing food or anything. Also it's good for them!

After about 4 weeks, I have got (still very short) nails, and I've been using the nail shield from the kit to strengthen them, with a very pale 'nail coloured' polish on top. I carry a nail file everywhere I go and a bottle of polish so if I get tempted to bite, I have a diversion technique. It's easier not to bite when you start seeing results though, but overall it just takes willpower! Even now I still have my hands near my mouth a lot of the time.

The only thing is, I didn't bite for stress or any of those reasons, it was purely a habit. SO if there are underlying reasons, it may be more difficult.

Good luck though!
xx

Mimi_Arc_en_ciel

Silaqui wrote: »

Hi Mommy (sounds funny writing that hehe)

thats why i picked the name - all i hear all day is MOMMMMMMYYYYY i had to have my real name tattooed on me to remember (actually thats not the real reason i have my name tattooed on me but its still funny to think it is)

I know its not exactly MSE @ 15 but i *think* i can spend my Debenhams beauty card points on it so it will actually probably only cost me a £5

Carrying a nail file - thats the one thing i didnt do last time when i grew my nails, i then broke one and chewed it off and then accidently probably on purpse bit all the others

Will go in and see

Thanks for the reply and ill let you know ow i get on! x

Savvy_Sue

I have to keep an emery board handy at all times, if one gets raggy it has to be tidied up on the spot or I will nibble. That's how I started to stop, I realised I was only trying to tidy up the raggedy bits, and I'd only ever been biting them to stop them catching on my brushed nylon nighties and sheets - thanks Mum! :rotfl:

That was when I was a teenager, and I now have lovely nails!

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Try stick on falsies for a couple of days. Then moisturise, moisturise, moisturise as the cuticles look horrid as the biting stops, even splitting at times. Wearing cotton gloves practically all day and night also helps you break the connection between being bored and gnawing.

Keep cleaning them in soap with a brush as the white bit gets bigger. Push back the cuticles (the bits of skin that try to crawl over the nails and that which you usually tear at with your teeth as soon as a shred of it is get-at-able) with a soft tool.

Be prepared for a brief period where nothing seems to make them look better - 4 days later they are transformed.

And, as the nails get longer still, the pressure of the nail on bits usually left to swell and go stubby can be quite uncomfortable - it goes in about 3 days, but it feels like you've bashed it with a hammer.

Nail Envy from OPI is really good, especially if your nails are bendy.

A crystal file for the snags and chips is invaluable, as they will probably split quite a few times in the first three months.

The nails themselves will probably have a ridge in them marking where you last bit them. This bit is very weak and it is almost a certainty that at least one of them will break at that point. Be very careful to cut it and file it and go back to the gloves/falsies etc at this point as it is a danger point for starting biting again.

Just try getting them to the ends of your fingertips before going mad on long nails. It's more realistic and it does take some getting used to, as you do use your hands differently with nails.

Then - you start getting into varnishes, polishes, manicures and jewellery to show them off. Heaven!

I stopped biting mine this year - after 30 years (I started as a tiny child). Now they look great, and they are one of my best features. Oh, and it gives your teeth a rest - you may have little slots in them from gnawing - the dentist reckoned it was one of the main causes of tooth problems in the people he sees, as it gives a way for acid to affect a greater part of the tooth.

It can be done!

kerrydrobertson

try getting your nails done nice, have a manicure/french polish. might stop you from biting them for a few days at least. once you have a little bit of nail keep them in shape by filing them and apply a nail strengthener which will also keep them looking shiny. also applying cream and almond oil to the cuticle and massagin for 30 seconds or so stimulates growth.
try and avoid applying fake nails or getting gels etc as they will just weaken the nails more.

hope this helps!

dieselhead

I think I stopped biting my nails when I first had a manicure as a treat and despite them not being a regular treat (probably one a year but if I can afford it such a wonderful luxury). Your nails will look so gorgeous you will not want to chew and once the habbit is broken, you shouldn't need to worry any more.

I am hoping once term re-starts at my local collage to have the odd manicure there its only £4!!

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

I was assuming that you have chewed stumps where your nails would be - about 5mm of nail left, exposing the nail bed, frayed cuticles, ragged corners of skin on fingers, hangnails, bleeding being the only thing that stops you biting.

If not, the manicure thingy may well help. If they are like mine were, then a manicure (as you know) is pretty much impossible for the time being. But still a great idea for later on!

Toothsmith

Jojo_the_Tightfisted wrote: »

Oh, and it gives your teeth a rest - you may have little slots in them from gnawing - the dentist reckoned it was one of the main causes of tooth problems in the people he sees, as it gives a way for acid to affect a greater part of the tooth.

Too true.

It really can wreck front teeth in really hard-core biters.

Mimi_Arc_en_ciel

ive got stubs lol well i say stubs, they are just getting white tips at the end (does that make sense?) ive brought my "old" nasty taste nail biter into work with me and havent had to use it yet but ive noticed i havent bit yet - i know i bite when im in the car so i will put some on just before i leave work. Im going to go into Debenhams on Friday when i get paid and buy some stuff - Ive done extra hours at work that i wouldnt normally do so i am money saving, in a way! ill try and get a pic of nails on here if its allowed - maybe it'll shame me into stopping!

Mimi_Arc_en_ciel

Toothsmith wrote: »

Too true.

It really can wreck front teeth in really hard-core biters.

my teeth are messed up already - well i think they are - Ive had two removed as i kept getting abcesses so begged dentist to remove them - they are at the back of my mouth though so i dont notice and no one sees' Ive got a filling and ive had root canal on a front tooth - I had a cyst just above this which i had removed other week, they said my cyst was caused by the filling