How to Get Rid of a Hangover

"I will never drink again!" is a common phrase heard after someone wakes up after a night of drinking with a hammering headache and a stomach rolling around like a sneaker in a washing machine.

Steps

Before and While Drinking

1. Drink water. Before heading to a party, drink plenty of water to keep yourself hydrated and to dilute the alcohol you will be drinking.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   


2. Eat something that contains a lot of fat. Fat is better than carbohydrates when it comes to slowing your body's absorption of alcohol. Go for steak, sausage, fried foods or pizza before you head to a party. ^[1]
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   • The fat sits in your body for at least 12 hours and greases the lining of your intestines, which makes the body absorb alcohol slower. ^[1]
   
   
   
   


3. Space the drinks. Have a glass of water or a non-alcoholic beverage between each drink to dilute the alcohol in your body.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   


4. Stick to lighter alcohol. To mitigate the effects of hangovers, choose beer and clear liquors (for example, vodka or gin). Malt/dark liquors (e.g. whiskey or rum) tend to produce headaches, and red wine contains tannins which do the same.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

The Morning After

1. Take a non-acetaminophen over-the-counter painkiller like aspirin or ibuprofen.^[1] Painkillers' effects peak at about four hours, so the effect of taking a painkiller before bed will be gone by the next morning (when your hangover strikes).
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   • Alcohol disrupts how the liver processes acetaminophen, so taking that may lead to liver inflammation and permanent damage. ^[1]
   
   
   
   


2. Drink plenty of water and electrolyte-replenishing sports drinks the next morning. This will help ease any symptoms of dehydration, which often goes hand in hand with a hangover.^[2]
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   • The processes that break down alcohol also produce lactic acid and other chemicals that interfere with the production of glucose (sugar) and electrolytes; that's why sports drinks are a good idea.^[3] Don't drink caffeinated beverages, as they contribute to dehydration.
   
   
   
   


3. Eat burnt toast. Carbon in the burnt part helps filter impurities, which is why people hospitalized for alcohol poisoning get a potent carbon slurry pumped into their stomachs.^[1]
   
   
   
   
   
   
   


4. Eat bland foods like toast and crackers. It's not to "absorb" the alcohol (which is what most people think). It's to boost your blood sugar.^[4]
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   • Alcohol prevents your body from maintaining normal blood sugar concentration, and low blood sugar leads to fatigue and weakness^[5] ).
   
   
   • Complex carbohydrates (cereal, bread) are good choices.^[2]
   
   
   
   


5. Have bouillon soup to restore salt and potassium. Potassium is needed for nerve and muscle function and you lose a lot through urination after drinking alcohol.^[6] A banana, avocado, potato chips or glass of orange juice will also help restore potassium.^[6]
   
   
   
   
   
   
   


6. Have food or drinks that contain fructose to help you burn the alcohol faster. Eating fruits and drinking fruit juice might make you feel better.^[4] A 1976 study suggests, however, that while fructose eases the metabolic effects of alcohol, it might not ease the symptoms of a hangover.^[7]
   
   
   
   
   
   
   


7. Make a bacon sandwich. The bread will raise your blood sugar, and the protein in bacon breaks down to amino acids to help replenish brain neurotransmitters that were depleted by the alcohol.^{[8] [9]}
   
   
   
   
   
   
   


8. Be happy. A 1997 study in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) suggests that guilt about drinking, a neurotic personality, becoming angry or depressed while drinking, and having suffered "negative life events" in the past 12 months are better predictors of symptoms of hangover than how much or what you drink!^[10]
   
   
   
   
   
   
   


9. Chew ginger. Chew small pieces of ginger to get relief from hangovers. Alternately, boil 10-12 pieces of fresh ginger root in about four cups of water and add the juice of one orange, half lemon and half cup of honey. The concoction will provide quick relief from hangover by stabilizing blood glucose levels.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   


10. Eat eggs. Eggs contain an amino acid called cysteine which helps counter the effects of acetaldehyde, which is known to create worsened hangovers.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    


11. Sleep. Sleep is one of the most essential treatments for a hangover, as your body in most cases does not get a chance to go into the R.E.M. (rapid eye movement) state of sleep which provides proper restoration for your brain due to the rebound of glutamine in your body.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

Busting Myths About Hangover Remedies

1. The order in which you drink alcoholic beverages doesn't determine magnitude of the hangover, but rather it's the type that you drink. ^[1]


2. Diet drinks will not help mitigate hangovers. ^[1]


3. A wake-up cocktail will only delay, not prevent, your hangover. Avoid the screwdriver in the morning. ^[1]


4. Hangover pills made from natural ingredients like yeast and artichoke extract do very little to mitigate hangovers. A supplement made from prickly pear cactus may solve dry mouth and nausea issues, but not the awful headache. ^[1]

Test Your Knowledge

Get Rid of a Hangover Quiz

Video

Tips

• 
  
  
  
  • One of the main causes of nausea during a hangover is not just because of the alcohol itself (myth), a good portion of it is the low blood sugar (liver using up all available glucose to process the alcohol) and the increased stomach acid production (especially if you drank red wine). Over the counter anti-nausea remedies that contain phosphorus and fructose can help correct the blood sugar problem and decrease the irritation from the stomach acid.
  
  
  
  


• To avoid a hangover try and drink 2-3 bottles of water after drinking.


• Drink responsibly.


• Try a cold shower. It should cool you off, and help with your head and stomach.


• Don't over-eat on sweet foods before, while, or after drinking vodka.


• Stick with non-carbonated mixers. Carbonated drink mixers accelerate alcohol absorption.


• Always SIP your drink, never gulp your drinks (unless its a shot, in which case make sure you don't have too many!) since drinking very quickly will not only increase your chances of throwing up that night, it will also increase the severity of your hang over (naturally you will also be drinking a lot more).


• Know your limits. Seventy five percent of people who drink to intoxication will have a hangover the next day. The number of drinks it takes to reach a state of intoxication varies from person to person. Don't have more than three drinks in 1-2 hours, and no more than five drinks in one night.^[3] Women and people of Asian descent might want to consider having a little less because they are more susceptible to hangovers. They tend to have lower levels of alcohol dehydrogenase, an enzyme that breaks down alcohol.^[3]


• Eat before drinking so alcohol isn't absorbed as quickly.^[3]


• Choose light liquors (vodka, gin) over dark liquors (brandy, whiskey). They have fewer congeners, which contribute to hangovers. Overall, drinks with more chemicals produce worse hangovers. Red wine is one of the worst culprits.^[11] A study found that hangover symptoms varied by the type of alcohol consumed: (in order of decreasing severity) brandy, red wine, rum, whiskey, white wine, gin, vodka, and pure ethanol.^[10]


• Choose less concentrated drinks. Beer is better than shots of whiskey, for example.^[4]


• Prickly pear juice may reduce hangovers. Drink a tablespoon a few hours prior to drinking alcohol. Studies involving it have shown that C-reactive proteins (which are released by the liver to combat inflammation) are 40 percent lower when prickly pear juice is consumed, indicating that the inflammation caused by alcohol consumption is considerably reduced.^[12]


• Curd rice or buttermilk may also help soothe your stomach. ^[13]

Warnings

• It should be noted that excessive consumption of water can lead to hyponatremia (extremely low salt levels in the body), which can kill you. It's better to use both water and sport drinks, so electrolyte levels are maintained.


• Exercise does not make a hangover go away. In fact, it might make the hangover worse by further dehydrating you.


• The "hair of the dog" approach or drinking more alcohol in the morning has been shown to be ineffective at curing the root problems and could well be a shortcut to long term alcoholism. It's best avoided.


• If you can't remember what happened while you were drinking, or if you get hangovers on a regular basis, you may have a drinking problem. Talk to someone about getting help.


• Even without treatment, a hangover should last no more than 24 hours. If you're still feeling bad after that, call a doctor.

Related wikiHows

• How to Prevent a Hangover


• How to Get Sober with a 12 Step Program


• How to Improve Your Alcohol Tolerance


• How to Select a Bottle of Wine

Sources and Citations

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source How to of the Day http://ift.tt/sk8Ap8

How to Drink More Water Every Day

Water is essential for human health; over 60% of the human body consists of water, and the effects of dehydration can be life threatening. Although there is considerable disagreement among scientists as to the exact amount of water individuals should consume each day, the former “8-by-8” rule of 64 ounces per day is no longer a hard and fast rule. Replacing high-calorie sodas or alcoholic drinks with plain water can help control appetite and weight,^[1] improve sleep and energy levels,^[2] reduce the likelihood of dental cavities or tooth decay,^[3] and help manage chronic conditions such as diabetes mellitus.^[4] If you would like to increase your water intake for athletic, dietary, or health purposes, there are many safe and effective ways to do so.

Steps

Motivate Yourself By Playing Water Drinking Games

1. Play Water Pong. Water drinking games can help you drink more water. Just remember not to drink too much water, since that can be fatal.^[5] Water pong is similar to Beer Pong, just with water. If you commit to playing it once a week, you'll manage to increase your water intake considerably by month's end. If you want an added incentive to win at this game, decide on a prize before you start playing. You'll need a large stable table with a durable flat (and waterproof) surface, 20 cups, and 2 ping pong balls. Here's how to play:
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   • Clear everything off your table.
   
   
   • Fill each cup with 4 oz. of water. Make sure all the cups are equally filled.
   
   
   • Arrange 10 cups at each end of your table. You'll want to position the two groups of cups as far away from each other as possible, so if your table is rectangular, set them up at the long ends of the table.
     
     
     
     • Align 4 cups in a row at the edge of the short end of the table.
     
     
     • Line up 3 more cups in a row in front of the line of 4.
     
     
     • Place 2 more cups in a row right in front of the row of 3 cups.
     
     
     • Place a final cup in front of the row of 2 cups. You'll notice that you just formed a flat pyramid out of the 10 cups.
     
     
     • Arrange the remaining 10 cups at the opposite end of the table in the same pattern. Both peaks of the pyramids should be facing in, pointing in toward the center of the table.
     
     
     
     
   
   
   • Take turns trying to throw your ball into one of your cups at the opposite end of the table. When you get a ball into a cup, you get to drink the water in that cup. The person who finishes all their cups of water first, wins!
   
   
   
   


2. Play Water Bank. This is a great game for a family to enjoy together, but you can also play it with your roommates if you live with other people. Not only do you motivate yourself to drink more water while playing this game, but the winner also gets a cash prize at the end! You'll need a piggy bank, a jar or a decorative bowl to hold the money you collect, and a notepad or a mobile phone to log your water intake each day. Here's how to play:
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   • Determine how long you will be playing the game. An easy time-frame to remember is the first to the last day of the month.
   
   
   • Decide how much each glass of water is worth. Since you'll be contributing that amount of money to the piggy bank (or collection jar or bowl), make sure it's an amount that everyone playing can afford.
   
   
   • Every time you drink a full 8 oz. glass of water, make a note of it. You can keep a simple tally in a notebook you carry around with you, keep track on your mobile phone, or create a log on your computer. Make sure that you play this game with people who you trust won't cheat!
   
   
   • At the end of each day or week, deposit the value of water you drank into your communal bank.
   
   
   • When the game ends, count who contributed the most money to the bank. That person not only earned all the money, but they also drank the most water that month! If there's a tie, split the bounty.
   
   
   
   


3. Get a Water Card.A water card is just like a coffee card–you get a stamp each time you drink a full 8 oz. glass of water. Once you fill up your card with stamps, you get a prize. You'll need to make yourself a card and either have a pen on hand to cross off your boxes, stickers, or a stamp. Here's how to play:
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   • Create a table in a word processing program. Draw a 9 x 8 grid, label the top row 1 to 8 and the first column with the days of the week.
   
   
   • Copy the table 3 times on the page so that when you print it out, you'll have three cards on each sheet.
   
   
   • Cut the cards out and put one in your wallet for the upcoming week.
   
   
   • Each time you finish drinking an 8 oz. glass of water, mark it off on your card.
   
   
   • Each day or week that you manage to fill your card with marks, give yourself a reward. Rewards can be anything from a chocolate at the end of the day, your favorite scone with your next cup of coffee, or even a new book or movie rental at week's end.
   
   
   
   


4. Have a Charity Water Drive. Drink water to help a local charity. Pool together with your co-workers to see how much water you can drink in a month. The number of glasses you drink represents the amount of money you donate to your favorite charity. You'll need a white board or a flip chart to log your office's water consumption, and a jar or large envelope in which to store donations. Here's how to play:
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   • Send out an email inviting people to participate in the Charity Water Drive. Ask them to respond with their top three favorite charities, and the amount they would be willing to contribute per glass of water. The amount can range from a few cents to a few dollars.
   
   
   • Determine the length of time that the drive will last and when it will start. Your charity water drive can last a week, or even as long as a month. It all depends on how determined you are as a team to raise money for your chosen charity.
   
   
   • Create a grid on your whiteboard or flip chart to track your progress. List the names of everyone participating, and leave a place next to everyone's name where they can tick off their water consumption each day.
   
   
   • Mark off your progress at the end of each day to help you determine when you've reached your goal. You can color in the inside of a drawing of a thermometer and celebrate once you've filled it all in.
   
   
   • Make your donation at the end of your charity drive.
   
   
   
   

Make Drinking Water More Convenient

1. Understand how much water you should plan on drinking every day. The Institute of Medicine recommends an average of 3.7 liters (125 ounces) per day for healthy adult men and 2.7 liters (91 ounces) per day for healthy adult women, allowing adjustments for activity and health levels, climate and elevation, and the amount of water consumed from food and other drinks.^[6]
   
   
   
   • Keeping in mind that 20 percent of daily water intake typically comes from food and 80 percent of water intake typically comes from a combination of plain water and other beverages,^[7] the amount of plain water you need to drink every day for optimal hydration will vary.
   
   
   • Perhaps the most important factor to successfully increasing your daily water intake is making it easier for you to drink water. Try some of these suggestions to make it a cinch to up your daily consumption of water.
   
   
   
   


2. Carry water with you. Having your own water supply on hand makes drinking water a no-brainer.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   • Slip a reusable water bottle into your purse, gym bag, desk drawer, or car, and be sure to refill it regularly.
   
   
   • Having accessible water makes you more likely to sip on water instead of soda or other drinks and can provide a visual cue to drink more water.
   
   
   
   


3. Develop reminders. Try setting alarms or computer reminders that tell you to drink water once per hour, or decide on a few personal “triggers” for drinking water.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   • Triggers to sip water can be routine activities such as receiving a phone call, passing a drinking fountain, stretching during work or workouts, hearing someone say your name, or watching commercial breaks during television programs.
   
   
   
   


4. Lobby for a water cooler in your office. If you have a water cooler or purified drinking system available to you and in close proximity throughout the work day, you may be more likely to grab a glass of water than to head to the kitchen to refill your coffee cup.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   


5. Prepare flavored water in advance. Having a large pitcher of pre-flavored or purified water in your home refrigerator makes it easy to refill your water bottle every morning or to grab a glass of water at each home meal.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Substitute Water for Sweetened Beverages and Alcohol

1. Understand that sweetened beverages or alcohol cannot be substituted for water. If you are a habitual soda or juice drinker, or if you routinely drink beer or wine with evening meals, consider swapping water for your typical drink of choice to increase your plain water intake. Although each of these beverages are very high in water content, you can increase your total water intake and remove the side effects of sweetened, caffeinated, and alcoholic beverages by drinking just water.


2. Replace at least one drink per day with water.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   • Consider a glass of water instead of a second cup of your morning vanilla lattes.
   
   
   • Plan to drink a full glass of water with your lunch before opening a can of soda.
   
   
   • Alternate between alcoholic drinks and water at parties, bars, or meals.
   
   
   
   


3. Make water your drink of choice. Replacing soda or sports drinks with water altogether may seem like overkill, but it is the easiest way to increase the amount of regular water you drink every day.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   • Instead of keeping a case of soda cans at your desk, consider lugging in a pack of bottled water, or use your new water habit as an excuse to stretch your legs a few times each day on your way to the water fountain.
   
   
   
   


4. Quench your thirst with water. Studies show that when you are thirsty, water will satisfy your thirst just as well as other beverages, such as sports drinks, soft drinks, or juice.^[8]
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Drink Water Before, During, and After Meals

1. Make it a habit to down a quick glass around mealtimes. Drinking a glass of water — or at least a few sips — before, during, and after eating any meal is a great way to up your daily water intake.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   


2. Sip water with each meal. Replace your typical drink during meals with water, or at least have water to drink on the side. Not only can this save you money when you eat out, but it can also cut the calories you consume by drinking and make you less likely to consume additional calories from food.^[9]
   
   
   
   
   
   
   


3. Follow up each meal with a small glass of water. Drinking water during and after each meal can help you feel full longer after eating and aid in the digestion of your food.^[10]
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Drink Unsweetened Water-Based Beverages

1. Sip on unsweetened tea. Herbal or fruit teas are essentially water with natural, non-caloric flavors.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   • Try drinking unsweetened tea hot in the morning as a replacement for hot, caffeinated beverages.
   
   
   • For a flavorful drink to get you through the rest of the day, try hot or iced teas in a variety of flavors, such as mint, strawberry, peach, ginseng, or lemon.
   
   
   
   


2. Add lime, lemon, or other natural flavorings to your water. Slipping a slice of citrus fruit into your water can add a subtle flavor to perk up plain water, making it easier to drink more water throughout the day. Try mint leaves, cucumber slices, or berries for other flavor options to add to your water.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   


3. Try carbonated water.
   
   
   
   • If you normally drink soda, sparkling water can give you a calorie-free, sweetener-free, fizz-fix will all of the benefits of regular water.^[11]
   
   
   • If you prefer flavored carbonated water, opt for one with no added sweeteners and only natural flavors. Otherwise, buy plain carbonated water and flavor it yourself.
   
   
   
   

Video

Tips

• Remember that water benefits lots of things. It helps moisturize lips, keeps from infections, ect.


• Before you go to bed each night, put in the refrigerator the number of water bottles you would like to drink the next day. They'll be cold and waiting for you when you wake up.


• Most people consume enough water in response to their thirst and through their daily routines. If your urine is clear or light yellow you are likely consuming enough water.


• You may need to increase your daily water intake during hot weather, time spent at high altitudes, or during periods of physical exertion.


• Remember that food sources and water-based drinks can provide significant amounts of your necessary daily water intake. Foods such as watermelon, oranges, and tomatoes are up to 90% water, and soups, coffee, and juice count toward your daily water needs as well.


• Drink a little water every morning before you brush your teeth for a refreshing start to your day.


• Adequate hydration allows your body to remove waste, circulate blood and nutrients, support cellular health and biochemical processes, promote proper organ function, and maintain energy levels, among other essential bodily activities.^[12]

Warnings

• Do not attempt to regularly replace food with water as a weight-loss technique. Water is not intended to replace food in your diet, as you need the nutrients from solid foods to survive.


• Increasing your water or fluid intake in the late evening may cause you to have to get up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom. To avoid this, you may want to limit your beverage intake after dinner.


• In some countries, tap water is dangerous and can cause illness. When in doubt, opt for purified or bottled water sources.


• Drinking too much water is rare but can cause hyponatremia, an electrolyte imbalance, which can have serious negative health consequences, including death.^[13] By letting your thirst be your guide, consuming water from a variety of food and beverage sources, and following the recommendations of a health professional for health conditions or intense physical activity, you can avoid drinking too much water.


• Drink only when you're thirsty. Your body is its own doctor and will tell you how much water you need. In fact, you're much healthier drinking when you're only thirsty then drinking 8 glasses of water per day! Forcing yourself to drink 8 glasses of water per day gives you nothing but a big fat risk of over-hydrating, which is more dangerous than dehydration.

Related wikiHows

• How to Melt Glass Bottles


• How to Love the Taste of Water


• How to Eat Slowly to Avoid Overeating


• How to Lose Weight by Eating Slowly


• How to Eat Slowly


• How to Drink More Milk Every Day


• How to Get Your Eight Glasses of Water a Day


• How to Reuse Drink Bottles


• How to Collect Fast Food Drinking Glasses

Sources and Citations

CHEESE

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source How to of the Day http://ift.tt/17RKHQQ

How to Floss

Flossing daily removes plaque and other debris that brushing alone does not reach. By flossing your teeth daily, you increase the chances of keeping your teeth for a lifetime and reduce your risk of developing gum problems.^[1] It can even help you get rid of bad breath.^[2] The benefits of flossing are almost endless, really, and anyone who isn't flossing is missing out.

Steps

1. Start with floss that has "grab" to it. Anything that doesn't shred also doesn't take the plaque off the teeth. Good old fashioned "name brand" waxed or unwaxed is best.
   
   
   
   • Floss comes in two basic forms:
     
     
     
     • Nylon (multifilament) floss. This floss is made up of many strands of nylon fabric, making this stringy and possible to break apart.^[3] Nylon floss comes in waxed and unwaxed.
     
     
     • PTFE (monofilament) floss. This floss is made up of a single strand or thread, and glides in between even the tightest of spaces.^[3]
     
     
     
     
   
   
   
   


2. Wrap the ends of an 18-inch to 24-inch section of floss around your middle fingers.
   
   
   


3. Hold the floss between your thumbs and forefingers of both hands.
   
   
   


4. Use your thumbs to floss your upper teeth. Use your index finger to floss your bottom teeth.
   
   
   


5. Gently work the floss in between your teeth.
   
   
   


6. When you reach the gum line, curve into a "C" shape around the tooth, making sure to go below the gum line.
   
   
   


7. Gently glide the floss up and down several times between each tooth, including the back sides of your back teeth.
   
   
   


8. Pull the floss against the tooth while flossing.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   • Don't forget the molars in the back of your mouth. Most gum disease and decay occurs in the back of the mouth, where fewer people floss.^[4]
   
   
   
   


9. Unwind new floss from one hand to the other as you go, so that you are flossing with a fresh piece of floss.
   
   
   


10. Consider other options if you can't or don't want to floss the traditional way. Flossing significantly lowers your likelihood of gum disease and decay, making it an essential part of your hygienic routine. If you can't floss the traditional way, try flossing with:
    
    
    
    
    
    
    • Floss holders, small Y-shaped devices that hold floss. For those who aren't coordinated enough to handle traditional floss.
    
    
    • "Superfloss," which expands in larger spaces and contracts to fit through smaller spaces. Super floss may be beneficial for people with wipe gaps between several of their teeth.
    
    
    • Floss threaders, which make it easier to work around any dental work that you might have gotten.
    
    
    
    

Video

Tips

• Experts are divided on whether to brush or floss first. One argument runs that brushing first helps remove bacteria that the floss might push below the gum line. One opposing argument runs that the floss loosens the plaque and the brush then removes it.^[5] The most important part is to brush and floss daily and keep your teeth clean.


• Wash your hands before and after flossing your teeth.


• If you have braces^[6] , bridges, or other such items in your mouth, ask your dentist or orthodontist for instructions on brushing and flossing them properly.


• If you are caring for another person's teeth, such as a child ^[7] or an elderly or disabled person ^[8] the guides linked here can help.


• Use waxed floss if you have any trouble slipping the floss between your teeth. ^[9]


• If holding the floss or reaching to the back is difficult, try a floss holder, usually a Y-shaped device with a knob to loop the floss around. ^[10]


• Brush and floss before bed, especially if you only clean your teeth once per day. ^[11]

Warnings

• Your gums may bleed for a few days until the plaque layer is broken up, bacteria are removed, and your gums heal.


• If bleeding is severe or continues after the first week of flossing, call your dental professional. Bleeding gums may have to do with other medical conditions. ^[12]

Things You'll Need

• Dental Floss


• Plaque stainer - to see where a lot of plaque is *optional*

Related wikiHows

• How to Have Great Teeth


• How to Care for Your Teeth


• How to Brush Your Teeth


• How to Whiten Teeth


• How to Brush Teeth Without Toothpaste

Sources and Citations

Cite error: <ref> tags exist, but no <references/> tag was found

source How to of the Day http://ift.tt/1EtU2J9

How to Stop Biting Your Nails

Nail biting is a bad habit that can not only make your hands look unsightly, but if you bite your nails badly enough, you can permanently damage your nails, your teeth, or even your gums. If you are tired of the nail stubs and bleeding, try these simple remedies to promote normal and beautiful nail growth.

Steps

Covering your Nails with Adhesive Bandages

1. Put adhesive bandages over your nails. Cover your nail with the pad of the bandage.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   


2. Keep the bandages on every day. You can apply fresh bandages every time you shower, or every few days.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   • You can remove them for a special occasion, or choose to keep them on so you look silly during the occasion and are even more motivated to stop biting your nails.
   
   
   • If this process is starting to hurt your nails, you can take them off at night.
   
   
   
   


3. After a few weeks, take off the adhesive bandages.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   


4. Notice how much better your nails look. If you start biting your nails again, put the adhesive bandages back on.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Take it One Nail at a Time

1. Pick at least one nail to "protect" at a time.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   


2. Go a few days without biting that nail.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   


3. Notice how much better that nail looks than the others. After a few days, a non-bitten nail will flourish and reward you.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   • Do not bite it. If you must, bite one of the 'unprotected' ones. Sometimes it helps knowing that you have another nail to bite, even if you don't actually nibble at any unprotected ones.
   
   
   
   


4. Pick another nail to stop biting. Once you have grown your non-bitten nail for a while, start protecting another one. And another.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   


5. Continue the process until you have successfully avoided biting all of your nails. If you ever really feel the urge to bite your nails, focus on just one nail to bite.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Keep Your Hands and Mouth Busy

1. Find a habit to take the place of nail biting. Whenever you have the urge to bite, do that instead. Some people like to drum their fingers, twiddle their thumbs, clasp their hands, put their hands in their pockets, or just stare at their hands. Just make sure it's not a bad habit; choose a helpful one or one that doesn't really matter either way.^[1]
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   • Carry a rubber band, penny, or something else to hold in your hands. Play with that constantly in place of biting your nails.
   
   
   • Distract your hands at times when you usually bite your nails, such as car rides, or when you're sitting in class. Find a new way to replace the habit depending on where you are. If you're in class, focus on writing extremely thorough notes. If you're in the passenger seat of a car, fiddle with your keys.
   
   
   • Try keeping an "egg" of Silly Putty with you. It is fun to play with and it occupies your hands during biting-prone times.
   
   
   • Try keeping a quarter or other coin in your pocket, and play with it when you feel the urge to bite your nails.
   
   
   • Plus, these don't involve eating or chewing on anything, so they will help break the habit of oral fixation.
   
   
   
   


2. Distract your hands by taking up a hobby. Not only will the new hobby keep you from biting your nails, but you could also discover a new passion at the same time.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   • A hobby to distract your hands might be making models or maintaining your house, knitting or crocheting, finger knitting, running, or other outdoor pursuits, or even nail care and decoration.
   
   
   • If you are artistic, try doing projects with clay or plaster. It gets all over your hands, and the flavor stays in your nails long after you wash off any visible mess. They both taste bad (clay tastes salty and can leave a slimy texture and plaster tastes chalky) and doing the projects will also keep your hands busy.
   
   
   
   


3. Keep your mouth busy. Though you should avoid developing a serious new oral fixation, a few small tricks can keep your mouth busy and will cut down on the amount of time you spent biting your nails. Here are some things you can do:
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   • Chew gum or suck on mints or candies throughout the day. Biting your nails will be tough if you're busy chewing gum or taking in the flavor of a delicious sucking candy. Also, the sensation of your bitten nails mixing with the flavor of minty gum or an orange-flavored candy will just be gross.
   
   
   • Snack small throughout the day. Though you should avoid snacking so much that you end up gaining weight, you should carry around healthy snacks like carrot sticks or celery so you can munch on them throughout the day.
   
   
   • Carry around a water bottle. Bring water with you wherever you go so you can always take a sip of water when you're having a weak moment.
   
   
   
   

Use a Nibble Inhibitor

1. Paint a nibble inhibitor on your nails to discourage yourself from chewing them. Bitrex is a chemical that is put in products to make them taste foul, obtained from your local pharmacy.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   


2. Apply the solution to your nails several times a day.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   


3. Carry some solution with you at all times.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   


4. If you get used to the taste of the solution, try using a different solution.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   


5. Continue to apply the solution when you stop biting your nails. Even if you've stopped biting your nails, you can keep the solution around as a trophy.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   • If you're ever tempted to bite your nails in the future, then you can smell the solution to remind yourself of how unpleasant the experience was.
   
   
   
   

Cover Your Nails

1. Cover your nails with nail polish. Try a bold color like red, or a color like black that will look silly if it's chipped because you're biting your nails. If you don't like color, polish them and apply some shine and growth promoter or petroleum jelly. It's harder to bite nails that are looking great.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   


2. Wear fake nails. This is another great way to keep your nails covered. Get your nails professionally manicured, which involves getting acrylics glued to your nails. They last for ages and when you get them taken off, you will have your real natural nails underneath.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   • If you're really determined, you can get a particularly expensive manicure with artificial nails. This will make you feel even worse about biting your nails and ruining your pricey look.
   
   
   
   


3. Cover your nails by wearing gloves. Keep gloves in your back pocket and wear them when you want to bite. This will motivate you even more if it's the middle of summer and you look ridiculous wearing gloves.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   • If you're writing or doing something else that is particularly tough to do with gloves, you will be even more motivated to stop biting your nails. Remind yourself that if you didn't have a nail-biting problem, that you wouldn't need to wear the gloves.
   
   
   
   

Maintaining Healthy Nails

1. Treat yourself to a manicure as often as you can. You have earned a manicure for reaching your goal to stop biting your nails. Once your nails are in great shape, you should focus on keeping them that way, and the best way to show off your shiny new nails is to get a manicure.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   • Chat with the manicurist about having great nails. You're allowed to brag!
   
   
   
   


2. Keep your nails relatively short. A simple manicure can help maintain your healthy nails, and so will keeping them relatively short and preventing yourself from biting them more.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   • If you have any surplus growth, cut your nails back. Keep clippers with you at all times. You can't bite if there's nothing there.
   
   
   
   


3. Push your cuticles back from time to time. Many nail-biters do not have "moons" on the base of their fingernails because their cuticles have not been pushed back. To do this, gently push your cuticles towards your finger to reveal more of your nail. This is easier to do after a shower when your hands and nails are wet.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   • This makes the nail appear longer, and it gives a more attractive shape, which might also be a motivation to stop biting.
   
   
   
   


4. Maintain a healthy diet. A healthy diet will help you feel better overall and will help your nails repair and grow well. Eat calcium and magnesium rich foods so that your nails will repair and grow well. Not only that, but most of the reason that the human body wants to bite nails is a lack of calcium and magnesium in the body. The body needs that material back.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   • Eggs, soy, whole grains, and liver are also helpful to nails. Sulfurous minerals found in apples, cucumbers, grapes, garlic, asparagus, and onions all help consistent growth.
   
   
   • Essential fatty acids, or EFAs, are found in tuna fish, salmon, shellfish, leafy vegetables, nuts and seeds. They are needed for human metabolic processes and help keep nails shiny and pliable.
   
   
   
   


5. Celebrate your nail success. Don't be afraid to show off your new nails to your friends, or even to people you don't know very well. Show them your hands and say, "Can you believe I used to have a nail-biting problem?"
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   • Take photos of your hands and enjoy how good they look. You can even hang them up, or hang them next to a photo of your ragged "before" nails to show that you are capable of making big changes in your life.
   
   
   
   

Video

Tips

• Take pictures of your nails and examine them. See how bad they really are and how long you have been living with this problem. Is that what you want your nails to look like forever?


• Motivate your self with special rewards for not biting your nails. For example, if you can go one week without biting your nails prepare a special dinner with friends or buy yourself something nice. If you feel tempted to bite your nails, just remember that you'll miss out on good rewards.


• Remember that severe nail-biting can also cause health problems. When you're biting your nails, you're constantly transferring bacteria from your hands to your mouth.


• Apply on nail polish. It doesn't matter what color because nail polish is not a good tasting substances. Males can apply clear nail polish so no one will notice.


• Study the nails of people who don't bite their nails for extra motivation.


• See if you can notice how or when you decide to start biting. There may be an underlying cause of stress, nerves or boredom. Dealing with the underlying and real issue could stop the nail biting and more.


• If your friend bites their nails too you can help each other through it. That way you don't have to go through it alone.


• Do the "Swear Box" system, just rename it something like "Nail Bite Box". Put an amount in when you catch yourself biting. At the end of the week you could donate the money to a charity you like.


• To keep you motivated, or remind you how bad your nails used to look, you can record your progress in a notebook or photo album. Take "before and after" photos of your nails and put them in the book to keep you motivated. Recognizing that it usually takes three weeks to grow nails half a centimeter, chart out in the book how long you want your nails to be by a certain date.


• Put under coats on, if you do its just like nail polish but it doesn't damage your finger nails as much.


• If your friend has the same problem, set the same goal. Try different things to see what works and what doesn't.

Warnings

• Know when to get help. If your nail biting is such a problem that you're always biting your nails, frequently causing your cuticles to bleed, or even losing fingernails, you may not be able to stop biting your nails on your own. If this is the case, see a doctor as soon as you can to see if your problem is a symptom of a bigger issue like Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).

Things You'll Need

Adhesive Bandage Method

• Adhesive bandage

Take it One Nail at a time Method

• Self-consciousness


• Determination


• Motivation

Keeping Your Hands and Mouth Busy Method

• A rubber band


• Silly putty


• Gum


• Mints

Nibble Inhibitor Method

• Nibble inhibitor

Cover-up Method

• Nail polish or fake nails

Related wikiHows

• How to Strengthen Weak Fingernails Naturally


• How to Stop Nail Biting With Polish


• How to Do Nail Art


• How to Fix the Skin Around Your Nails


• How to Accomplish a Goal


• How to Deal with Brittle Nails

Sources and Citations

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