When a person with a good bite chews food, the pressure of their bite distributes evenly across all of their teeth. A misaligned bite puts more pressure on fewer teeth. This has a chance to chip or break teeth over time. Fortunately, there are many ways to correct a misaligned bite. No matter what the underlying cause is, biting any part of the mouth hurts! And the discomfort sometimes lasts much longer than the initial zing of pain upon contact. And, a whole host of other potential problems can arise including headaches, tooth shifting, and jaw pain.
This occurrence is typically associated with regular, accidental cheek bites rather than BFRB cheek chewing. If you are suffering from regular accidental cheek bites, consult with your dentist. There is probably a simple cause that can be addressed with dental appliances and, in some cases, surgery.
If you are a chronic cheek biter, the treatment may be more complicated. The first step is to determine if the behavior is habitual or compulsive. Habitual cheek biting can often be addressed with light guidance, self-discipline, and patience. Some techniques that have proven successful for some people include:. Compulsive BFRB cheek biting and cheek chewing is a more complicated condition to address.
According to the TLC Foundation for Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors , treatment for chronic cheek biting should focus on emotional and behavioral components. Some steps that have been recommended include:. If you find yourself biting the inside of your cheek on a consistent basis, your first step is to identify the type of cheek biting you are doing:.
Once you understand your type of cheek biting, you can determine how to best address the behavior, whether it be visit a dentist, see a psychologist, or start a self-directed plan. Stomatitis is an inflammation inside of the mouth. The type of stomatitis will determine your treatment plan. Most cysts are on the lower lip, but can occur anywhere inside your….
Sometimes, people may also need to take medications. Many people feel shame and low self-esteem because of this behavior, which may lead them to avoid social and career-related interests. A therapist will aim to treat both the chronic cheek biting and the underlying cause of the behavior.
Anxiety is one of the most common mental health problems in the United States, affecting millions of people every year. Conventional treatment options…. Dermatophagia causes a person to compulsively bite, chew, gnaw, or eat their skin.
The condition most often affects the skin around the fingers. Psychomotor agitation can cause a person to make movements without meaning to. They may fidget, tap their toes, or move items around for no reason. Living with OCD can be challenging, but in this Spotlight, we take a look at some habits that you can adopt that may help you to cope with it.
Cognitive behavioral therapy CBT is a short-term talking therapy where a professional counselor or therapist works with an individual to help them…. Everything you need to know about cheek biting. What is cheek biting? Causes Complications How to stop Seeing a doctor Summary While most people have accidentally bitten the inside of their cheek before, some people bite their cheek compulsively over a long period.
Share on Pinterest A person may bite their cheek because of a minor accident or a mental health condition. How to stop. When to see a doctor. Share on Pinterest A person should speak to a doctor if they are regularly biting their cheek by accident. Latest news Adolescent depression: Could school screening help? While there is research that links mouth lesions with mouth cancer , it is lacking and non-specific to cheek biting.
However, long-standing wounds — present in persistent cheek-biters — are cited by the NHS as potential causes of oral cancer, as they cause ulcers or wounds on the tongue. If you find yourself persistently biting the inside of your mouth, you might benefit from a bite-guard.
Ask your dentist for advice. To minimise the damage done by cheek biting, give the following tips a go and see if they help:. Find yourself chewing away when you have a looming deadline or presentation? Once you know what sets you off, you can find something else to chew on, the most obvious choice being gum.
Similarly, if it is a lip-biting problem, applying lip gloss or lip balm may help you abstain, or at least make you realise what you are doing.
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