Nail biting can be a hard habit to break. Although some view it as a harmless habit that results in drastically shorter nails, it can also lead to several health issues. Chronic nail biting can cause infections in your mouth and fingers.

So are you ready to stop the habit? There are easy ways to keep yourself from gnawing at your cuticles.

Kicking the habit can take some time. Experts say that it could take up to 12 weeks without biting your nails before you can consider yourself cured. Here are four things you can do to stop your nail biting habit.

1. Invest in gel manicures

Gel manicures can reportedly work for those whose nails are still relatively healthy with no infections. Although they cost more than regular manicures, gel nails are a great investment. After all, they are harder to remove and can last for a long time. In addition to that, it allows you to see how your nails would look if you stop biting them. It could definitely boost your determination to overcome the habit.

2. Use bitter nail polish

Believe it or not, there are bitter nail polishes available everywhere. These polishes contain denatonium benzoate and sucrose octaacetate which taste pretty bad. Although the unsavory nail polishes can work for most people, they do require constant retouches to ensure the taste remains in your nails. Nevertheless, it is probably a more affordable option for getting gel manicures.

3. Keep your hands busy

They say idle hands are the devil’s playthings so get busy. Buy a fidget spinner or squeeze on a stress ball whenever you feel the need to put your fingers in your mouth. Experts say this is a very effective method called habit reversal and has worked for several nailbiters.

4. Speak with a psychiatrist

Although nailbiting is a habit borne of boredom, it is also possible that there is a psychological reason like stress behind the constant cuticle gnawing. If none of the above-mentioned methods work, try contacting a therapist who can help you find the cause behind the stress.