Have you ever caught yourself biting your inner cheek without even realising it? That sharp sting, followed by the odd frustration of doing it again—it’s a habit that’s as common as it is mysterious.
This happens to me more often than not, and I never think about doing it until I realise I’ve been cheek-biting for more than an hour. What I’ve noticed though is that this happens seasonally, if I can call it that because I can go for months without biting my cheeks, and then all of a sudden I find myself doing it out of nowhere. Pretty weird if you ask me.
Medical News Today states that chronic cheekbiting is often psychologically triggered, possibly due to a genetic factor. It is stated that other factors include stress, emotional, and environmental factors.
According to Lakshme Dental cheek biting can be accidental or chronic, with accidental bites occurring during eating, talking, or chewing, and chronic bites due to stress, anxiety, or boredom, can cause complications and should be addressed to prevent further damage.
“The eruption of wisdom teeth can change the alignment of the existing teeth, leading to an increased risk of cheek biting. This is particularly common during the period when wisdom teeth are breaking through the gums,” claims the Mooresville Dental Group.
The above source further mentions that orthodontic treatments like braces and retainers can increase the risk of cheek biting while eating habits like rapid chewing and attention to detail can also increase the risk.
To manage cheek-biting, the TLC Foundation advises that you identify triggers by observing the behaviour and the emotions causing it. It is further stated that you practice mindfulness therapy, such as yoga or meditation, to reduce stress and avoid self-soothing behaviours such as biting your inner cheeks.
“Crunchy snacks and chewing gum can provide a similar sensation to the one you feel when biting your cheek. Therefore, replacing it with healthy bites will reduce the harm caused to your inner cheek and help you work on managing the behaviour as well. You can store fresh chewing gum in easily accessible locations, such as your purse and pockets.”
Also see: 5 foods that help with oral hygiene
