Biting your nails is no small habit to beat. Whether it’s something you do when you’re nervous or you simply need something to do with your hands throughout the day, it’s a habit that many people battle on a daily basis. Try these suggestions to kick this bad habit to the curb once and for all.

Get a manicure

One foolproof way to quit biting your nails—if only for a week or two—is by getting a manicure. Manicures don’t come cheap, so you’ll be less inclined to gnaw away at your cuticles if you invest in this beauty treatment. While manicures don’t last forever, even the brief hiatus could turn you away from this habit for good.

Cut your nails

If your nails aren’t long enough, you’ll be less likely to bite them! This tip may sound self-explanatory, but it could really make all the difference in helping you cut this habit out of your life. Carry nail clippers with you so you aren’t tempted to grow them out.

Apply a treatment

There are different polishes specifically formulated to help you stop biting your nails. Bite No More is a popular one, among others. The point is, when you go to bite your nails, you’ll be met with one poor-tasting polish. When a manicure or normal nail polish fails you, the bad taste of this polish helps many people wean themselves off this habit.

Consider the bacteria

Really try to get into your head that biting your nails means you’re also consuming a whole lot of bacteria throughout the day. Think about it: you touch bathroom doors, your car door handle, and hundreds of other areas that hundreds of other people have also touched. Once you get that through your head, kicking this habit may come easier than you thought.

There are other less conventional ways to stop biting your nails, but these suggestions should get you on the right track. Keep a stress ball at your desk or on your person so you avoid resorting to your nails for something to do. Soon, your nails will be healthier than ever.