Another Cure for Nail Biting

Filed in archive Health on September 10, 2007

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I was a nail biter until the end of high school. My brother used to tease me about it. He used to make fun of just how short my nails always were. I used to bite them until it's short from bleeding. The biting is normally triggered by scary teachers, suspense films and boredom. It was so bad, that one boring summer day, I even "feasted" on some of my toe nails. I know it's yucky, but it really reached that point.

I remember reading about possible solutions to nail biting, such as chewing gum or putting chili or tabasco on your fingers. But for me, it was vanity that solved it. Funny, but it did help me get rid of my biting problem. I remember putting on my first nail polish. I was so preoccupied of protecting it from getting chipped that I forgot my biting impulse. I never even tried biting it, since I knew it wasn't going to taste good. But it did help a lot, and I never had the same problem again. In fact, from then on, I always had long fingernails (yup, even when I was taking care of my new-borns).

If you or one of your kids have this problem, a Dutchman reportedly found a cure for it with a guarantee to cure it in 4 weeks. Although the treatment comes with a hefty price (U$670).

"His treatment relies on a tooth guard molded to fit either the upper or lower teeth. Barely visible, the "preventer" makes it impossible to bite, but can be removed for eating."

If this doesn't work, then try the cheaper nail polish or chili treatment.