Does Cheek Biting Harm Oral Health?

If you’ve 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’t the only thing you need to worry about. Cheek biting can also impact your oral health. Keep reading to learn why this happens, the damage it causes, and how to stop biting your cheek.

Why Do We Bite Our Cheeks?

There are generally two causes of cheek biting, which are physical and emotional. When you bite your cheek due to physical reasons, it’s usually unintentional. This can happen when you’re 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.

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.

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’t classified as self-harm. BFRBs are clustered together with OCD behaviors and usually develop in early puberty.

What Damage Does It Cause?

Biting your cheek damages your mouth regardless of what’s 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’s 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.

3 Ways to Stop Biting Your Cheeks

Fortunately, there are a few ways that you can stop biting your cheeks, such as:

• Visiting your dentist – If you are biting your cheek because your wisdom teeth are deflecting toward it, you may need to have them pulled. Your dentist may also recommend having your teeth straightened with clear aligners.
• Relieving stress –If you are biting your cheek for mental health reasons, visit a physician or therapist. They can teach you some stress-relieving exercises that will make you less likely to bite your inner cheek.
• Replacing the Habit – If biting your cheek has become a habit, a good way to stop doing so is to replace it with something else. For example, you could try chewing sugar-free gum to keep your mouth occupied.

About the Practice

Wethersfield Dental Group is led by Dr. Ukti Phadnis, Dr. Vance Harper, and Dr. Javed, three talented, compassionate dentists who take pride in giving patients the care they need to maintain their smiles. They offer a range of treatments, including preventive care to keep oral health issues from developing. If you have an issue with cheek biting, they can also determine the cause and offer treatments such as clear aligners to help. If you are ready to set up an appointment with Wethersfield Dental Group or want to learn more, visit their website or call them at (860) 969-2281.