Chewed Cheek: Causes, Effects, and How to Stop It
Chewed cheek is a common issue that many people face, often without realizing the root cause. Whether it’s a result of stress, misaligned teeth, or also because of bad habits, this condition can lead to discomfort and potential health concerns if left unchecked.
If you are facing this issue and want to resolve it, the first step is identifying the cause. This helps you to get the right treatment according to your condition.
This article is very helpful for those who want to get all the details about chewed cheeks, like its causes, effects and best treatment. With the help of this information, you should easily avoid this problem, so get ready to know about this in depth.
Understanding Cheek Biting
First, you have to know what is happening to you in this condition. Usually, in this situation, the inner lining of the cheek gets injured, either accidentally or due to habitual behavior. Mostly, this can be done while eating, speaking, or even subconsciously. After this, you feel fully uncomfortable.
This problem happens in different types: accidental, habitual, sleep-related, and chronic biting. Behind each type there are some specific reasons. To get out of this problem, you have to manage these reasons. That is why, first, you have to understand the main cause for effective treatment and prevention.
Types of Cheek Biting
In this section, we provide you with information about the types of cheek-biting problems so you can easily prevent this problem. The following are these types:
- Accidental Cheek Biting: This type of cheek biting can happen to you anytime, unconsciously, while eating or talking. In addition, wrongly positioned teeth and sharp dental edges also increase the chances of this problem.
- Habitual Cheek Biting: The main things that can be the cause of this type of biting are stress, anxiety, or boredom. If you don’t control them, you face more issues.
- Sleep-Related Cheek Biting: Many people have teeth grinding or clenching problems, or they also unknowingly bite their cheeks while sleeping. It is difficult to treat this problem because this can happen unconsciously.
- Chronic Cheek Biting: If we describe this type in medical terms, this is a morsicatio buccarum. In this condition, patients have to face difficulties for a long time because they repeatedly bite their cheeks, and as a result, they face sores and discomfort.
Causes and Triggers
There are different issues that can be the cause of biting issues. Once you understand these causes, you can easily end this problem with the right solution. The following are the causes:
- Dental Issues: Those people who have dental issues like misaligned teeth, overcrowding, or sharp edges have a higher chance of having a biting problem.
- Stress and Anxiety: Nowadays, stress and anxiety are common, and they are very harmful to you. If you don’t manage them, you have to face many problems, including chewed cheek.
- Teeth Grinding (Bruxism): If you have teeth grinding or clenching issues, then be careful because they can also be the cause of biting issues.
- Behavioral Habits: Some people have bad habits of chewing their cheeks without even knowing that this can be a serious issue for them.
Potential Health Implications
Many people think that cheek biting is just a normal problem, but they don’t know that this can affect your health with different issues if they do this process consistently. In this section, we provide you with information about the effects that you face due to repeated chewed cheeks.
- Sores and Ulcers: If you keep doing this process, then after some time, you face a painful condition like sores or ulcers inside the cheek.
- Dental Damage: The chances of dental issues can also be increased due to consistent biting. These dental issues are like fractures in teeth or misalignment, and if not controlled, you have to face more difficulties in the future.
- Infection: When you bite cheeks again and again, open wounds become at this specific area, and over time, these wounds become infected and harmful.
- Psychological Effects: In some cases, there is a chance of feelings of guilt, embarrassment, or anxiety due to cheek biting.
Effective Strategies to Stop Cheek Biting
Once you have understood the reason behind Cheek Biting, then you have to immediately manage this problem. In this section, we provide you with information about some effective strategies that help you manage this problem. These strategies range from behavioural techniques to physical interventions.
- Behavioral Therapy: You can do Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Habit Reversal Training (HRT) to get out of this problem. They are very helpful, and you notice the positive changes quickly after these therapies.
- Mouthguards or Splints: Sometimes, your cheek-biting problem is because of bruxism. In this situation, the most effective option for you is to use mouthguards. With its help, you can avoid this action.
- Stress Management: In some cases, you take a lot of stress that can cause cheek-biting problems, but you can manage it with relaxation techniques such as mindfulness, deep breathing, or meditation.
Seeking Professional Help
If you are facing just a normal cheek-biting problem, then you can manage it yourself, but if you are fully disturbed due to this problem, then you need professional help to avoid this problem.
- Consulting a Dentist: A dentist can evaluate any dental issues, such as misaligned teeth or sharp edges, that might be contributing to your cheek biting. They can also recommend mouthguards or other dental solutions to protect your mouth.
- Therapist or Counselor: In this situation, if the main causes of this problem are stress and anxiety, then it is recommended to avoid self-treatments and communicate with a therapist specializing in behavioral therapy. He suggests the best treatment to manage these problems.
Conclusion
If you have a chewed cheek problem and you don’t treat it at the right time, then you have to face both physical and emotional consequences. The first thing you have to do is find the main cause of this problem, and then you have to manage it with the right solution.