{"id":448,"date":"2023-02-22T00:52:00","date_gmt":"2023-02-22T00:52:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wethersfielddentalgroup.com\/blog\/?p=448"},"modified":"2023-03-13T00:57:07","modified_gmt":"2023-03-13T00:57:07","slug":"cheek-biting-and-oral-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wethersfielddentalgroup.com\/blog\/2023\/02\/22\/cheek-biting-and-oral-health\/","title":{"rendered":"Does Cheek Biting Harm Oral Health?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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If you\u2019ve ever accidentally bitten your cheek while eating, you know how uncomfortable it can be. You may be left with some soreness and discomfort until it heals, but that isn\u2019t the only thing you need to worry about. Cheek biting can also impact your oral health<\/a>. Keep reading to learn why this happens, the damage it causes, and how to stop biting your cheek.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Why Do We Bite Our Cheeks?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are generally two causes of cheek biting, which are physical and emotional. When you bite your cheek due to physical reasons, it\u2019s usually unintentional. This can happen when you\u2019re eating too fast, talking while eating, or when you get injured. Additionally, if your wisdom teeth deflect toward your cheeks, this can cause you to bite them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In contrast, emotional causes for cheek biting tend to make doing so a compulsion. When people are depressed or anxious, they often bite or chew on their inner cheeks as a way of helping them manage stress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition, this biting may be a body-focused repetitive behavior (BFRB). This refers to behaviors that are frequently repeated and injure the body but aren\u2019t classified as self-harm. BFRBs are clustered together with OCD behaviors and usually develop in early puberty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Damage Does It Cause?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Biting your cheek damages your mouth regardless of what\u2019s causing it. Doing so too often damages your gums and other soft tissues. For one, cheek biting can lead to canker sores due to irritation caused by the force it applies to your mouth\u2019s lining. You may find it difficult to eat or speak properly until the lesions fade. Chronic cheek biting also leads to tears and redness in the mouth lining.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3 Ways to Stop Biting Your Cheeks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Fortunately, there are a few ways that you can stop biting your cheeks, such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n