Seems, repetitive cheek biting might not all the time be an accident; it may level to an underlying oral well being situation you did not even find out about.
Whether or not it is a tooth, jaw, and even psychological situation (did somebody say stress?), continually biting the within of your mouth will be prevented. We tapped two dentists right here to be taught extra about why cheek biting occurs, and whether or not it is a innocent (or dangerous) behavior.
1. You could have morsicatio buccarum (aka, persistent cheek biting)
If nibbling the within of your cheek is turning into a behavior, you may need morsicatio buccarum. “Morsicatio buccarum is the Latin time period for persistent cheek biting, i.e., when individuals habitually chew or chew the insides of their cheeks,” says Chrystle Cu, DDS, a California-based dentist and founding father of Cocofloss.
This persistent situation can develop for a number of causes, says Marina Gonchar, DMD, orthodontist and founding father of Pores and skin to Smile. In keeping with Dr. Gonchar, these can embody the next:
- A repetitive conduct as a consequence of boredom, stress, or nervousness
- Misaligned tooth
- Irregularities within the oral tissues
- Sharp edges of chipped tooth, fillings, or crowns
- Irritation of oral tissues because of poor-fitting home equipment (like retainers or dentures)
- Enamel grinding
deal with it:
Many individuals with this situation aren’t even conscious of their biting behavior. Step one is to acknowledge the problem, so that you will be acutely aware about stopping it. Past this, therapy is determined by the underlying trigger. For instance, if a chipped tooth is reducing into your cheek, your dentist can restore it, so it not catches the fleshy tissue inside your mouth.
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2. It’s an accident
In your haste to inhale a fast breakfast earlier than work, you chew with reckless abandon, and crunch, you are taking a bit out of your cheek. Yep, that hurts. “Unintentional cheek biting is quite common, particularly in case you are in a rush and never paying consideration,” Dr. Gonchar provides. It normally occurs while you’re speaking or chewing (or whereas doing each on the identical time), Dr. Cu says.
deal with it:
Unintentional cheek biting is normally no biggie. However in case you chew your cheek laborious sufficient, you would find yourself with a mouth ulcer, Dr. Gonchar. These sores are normally innocent and take a number of days to heal. Within the meantime, you may have to be further cautious when chewing to keep away from reopening the realm. Sluggish, cautious chewing can be only a good normal rule; it might probably assist stop unintended cheek biting within the first place.
3.Your tooth aren’t aligned correctly
Seems, straight tooth don’t simply create a fantastic smile. They’re additionally vital in your oral well being. Living proof: they’ll stop cheek biting.
“Persistent cheek biting is extra doubtless in case your chew [i.e., the way your upper and lower teeth fit together] is misaligned,” Dr. Cu says. Right here’s why: “When the tooth don’t meet correctly, overlap an excessive amount of, or are crowded, the oral tissues can simply get caught between the highest and backside tooth throughout routine duties reminiscent of talking or chewing,” Dr. Gonchar says.
Misaligned tooth—additionally referred to as malocclusion—could cause different issues, too. Signs can embody the next, per Mount Sinai:
- Issue or discomfort when biting or chewing
- Speech difficulties (hardly ever), together with lisp
- Mouth respiratory (i.e., respiratory by the mouth with out closing the lips)
- Lack of ability to chew into meals appropriately
deal with it:
If you happen to’re tooth aren’t correctly aligned and they’re inflicting issues, attain out to an orthodontist—a dentist who makes a speciality of aligning your chew and straightening your tooth. They’ll check out your tooth and advocate remedies choices, which can embody the next, per Mount Sinai:
- Common or clear braces (like Invisalign), and detachable retainers
- Eradicating a number of tooth (if overcrowding is a part of the issue)
- Repairing tough or irregular tooth (tooth could also be adjusted down, reshaped, and bonded or capped)
4. It’s a jaw situation
Jaw issues could cause tooth misalignment, too, Dr. Gonchar says. As we all know, when your tooth don’t match appropriately, you will have a higher threat of cheek biting. On high of this, “important jaw deviations are sometimes accompanied by a clenching and grinding behavior,” she says. Each may end up in persistent cheek biting.
Different doable jaw points embody the next, per Mount Sinai:
- Misalignment of jaws after a extreme harm
- Tumors of the mouth and jaw
- The jaws are misshapen
- Distinction in measurement between the higher and decrease jaws
deal with it:
Your finest guess is to see an orthodontist for this, too. They could advocate braces, a mouthguard (to guard your tooth in case your grind them), or different dental home equipment to handle your jaw issues. In extreme circumstances, you may want surgical procedure to elongate or shorten the jaw, in accordance with Mount Sinai.
5. It’s psychological
Gnaw in your cheek while you’re nervous? Stress or nervousness can exacerbate your cheek biting drawback, Dr. Cu says. During times of excessive stress or nervousness, cheek biting can function a coping mechanism for some individuals, Dr. Gonchar provides.
Cheek biting may also change into a repetitive conduct. And it might probably occur with sure psychological well being situations that contain compulsive behaviors, Dr. Gonchar says. Some examples she cites are:
- Obsessive-compulsive dysfunction (OCD): A situation that causes frequent undesirable ideas and obsessions that drive you to carry out repetitive behaviors (i.e., compulsions).
- Physique-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs): Any self-grooming conduct that damages the physique. The commonest BFRBs are pores and skin choosing, nail biting, and hair pulling, in accordance with the Mayo Clinic.
deal with it:
If stress or nervousness is triggering your cheek biting, it’s vital to take inventory of your psychological well being. You might wish to divulge heart’s contents to a trusted health-care supplier or therapist about how you feel. With time, apply, and remedy, remedy, or a mix of each, you’ll be able to transfer by undesirable ideas, emotions, and behaviors that contribute to cheek biting.
6. You could have irregularities within the tender tissues of the mouth
When the fleshy insides of your cheek change into swollen or infected, they’ll develop bigger and get in the best way while you’re speaking or chewing. Translation: you’re extra more likely to snag your tooth on these tender tissues. Attainable irregularities within the tender tissues of the mouth will be the next, per Dr. Gonchar:
- Swelling from a clogged salivary duct
- Benign intraoral swellings and growths
- Malignant growths (in very uncommon cases)
deal with it:
“In all eventualities, you will need to see your dentist for analysis and therapy,” Dr. Gonchar says. “Not solely to eradicate the persistent cheek biting, but in addition to make sure the underlying situation just isn’t a trigger for concern.”
Is cheek biting dangerous?
Whereas “occasional cheek biting will be annoying and painful,” it’s normally not dangerous in the long run, Dr. Cu says. “The tender tissue inside our mouths (aka, our oral mucosa) sometimes heals from harm inside a few weeks,” she says.
However recurring cheek biting is dangerous information. Repeated, frequent, or persistent cheek biting might trigger ulcers, bleeding, infections, tissue scarring, and erosion, Dr. Gonchar says. These issues can injury your oral and, probably, general well being, she says. Because of this it is vital to deal with and forestall cheek biting (extra on this subsequent).
cease or stop cheek biting
If you wish to put an finish to your cheek biting behavior, attempt the following tips from Dr. Gonchar and Dr. Cu:
- Be conscious of the behavior: Cheek biting is commonly unconscious. To kick the behavior, you need to first take note of this repetitive conduct (particularly throughout instances of stress).
- Chew meals rigorously and slowly: It will assist keep away from unintended cheek biting throughout meals.
- Preserve good oral hygiene: Taking good care of your mouth ensures cheek biting isn’t a results of dental points reminiscent of calcium buildup or damaged fillings, crowns, or chipped tooth.
- Put on a mouthguard while you sleep: That is particularly vital in case you grind or clench your tooth at night time.
- Use efficient stress-management methods: If you happen to suppose your cheek biting is stress-related, discover one thing to do to calm down, like deep respiratory, meditation, or train.
- Strive chewing sugar-free gum: It will assist preserve your mouth occupied, particularly if cheek biting is recurring.
- Prepare your oral muscle tissue and posture to do one thing else: For instance, relaxation your tongue firmly on the roof of your mouth, protecting your tooth touching ever-so-slightly and your lips closed. On this place, apply respiratory out and in by your nostril. Respiratory like this additionally has the additional benefit of accelerating nitric oxide manufacturing, finally serving to you get extra oxygen in your bloodstream.
- See an orthodontist: If cheek biting is said to improper alignment of the tooth or jaw, orthodontic therapy might help eradicate any underlying structural points.
When to see a dentist about persistent cheek biting
You don’t want a visit to the dentist for the occasional cheek biting incident. However in case you repeatedly chew your cheeks whereas burdened, consuming, or speaking, it is perhaps time to make a dental appointment. It’s value having a dental skilled have a look in your mouth you probably have the next signs, in accordance with Dr. Gonchar and Dr. Cu:
- The pores and skin inside your cheeks is painful or not therapeutic, and the discomfort interferes together with your each day life
- You could have steady injury to the within of your mouth, like sores, irritation, or bleeding
- You could have issue talking or consuming
Your dentist will check out your tooth and jaws to determine if an underlying situation (like malocclusion) is at play. As soon as they get a superb look—and also you clarify your signs—they might help provide you with a therapy plan to hopefully cease your cheek biting for good (or no less than, make it occur much less typically).
