Of all the painful injuries that can happen in your mouth, biting your cheek can often be among the worst. Not only does it hurt the first time, but sometimes due to the size of the lesion or its placement in your mouth, you can easily reinjure it before it has a chance to heal. Here’s what you need to know about these painful sores, and how you can prevent them from happening in the future!
Why Do I Bite My Cheek?
Cheek biting can occur for many reasons, but in most cases it’s accidental. It can sometimes happen if you’re eating and talking or not paying attention to your meal. It may also be due to a nervous habit, a bad bite, or even a compulsive disorder.
What Are the Risks of Cheek Biting?
In addition to causing painful oral lesions that can become easily reinjured when chewing, biting your cheek can also cause uncomfortable canker sores and tears in the lining of the cheek. The good news is that none of these are serious, and with time should heal on their own.
How Can I Stop Cheek Biting?
Unfortunately, while cheek biting is generally harmless, it can be extremely painful and can become easily reinjured, especially if the resulting lesion is large or in the way of your teeth. However, the exact method you choose to stop this behavior depends on the reason you did it in the first place. If you’ve accidentally bitten your cheek due to distraction, try to remember to slow down and focus on your meal when chewing. If you’ve chomped on a canker sore that was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time, it should go away on its own but be very careful when eating until it does.
For bite related issues, you may find yourself accidentally injuring the same area again. To prevent this, it is important to visit your dentist for an examination, as there may be an orthodontic treatment that can better align your teeth and make this type of accident less common. For compulsive or nervous behavior related biting or chewing, it may benefit you to seek help from a mental health professional.
Remember, while it’s not uncommon to accidentally bite your cheek from time to time, if you find that you are doing it regularly, purposefully, or you have a lesion that will not heal within a week or two, speak to your dentist about your options.
About Dr. Silfa
Dr. Publio Silfa earned his dental degree at Universidad Central del Este in the Dominican Republic, and his post-graduate residency at Columbia University College of Dental Medicine. Today, he is proud to provide smile-saving oral health care as a member of the American Dental Association. If you’re tired of suffering from painful oral injuries because of cheek biting, don’t resign yourself to painful canker sores as a way of life. Stop the cycle of pain and schedule an appointment with Silfa Dental today by visiting our website or calling 631-651-1322.
