I finally googled to find if there was any info on my habit, and found out that I wasn't alone. I was even a little scared to look, but I needed to know. I have been biting my cheek since I was 9, or 10. I'm now 42. I don't do it all the time. It seems to be in spirts. I will do it when I'm not even thinking about it, and sometimes I will have trouble leaving my cheeks alone. Then the urge will stop, and I may not do it for a couple days. then it starts again. I will do it for a few minutes to a half hour. Fortunately I haven't done any damage, and rarely causing any bleeding. I'm always self concious when I'm in public, and try to hide it. I always think I have to have a perfectly smooth feel in my mouth, and will chew to try to get it smooth, but it always never happens, and I only make it worse. I never knew that anyone else did this. I'm glad that I'm not alone.
Ok, this isn't me, but I saw this on another post, and I hope you get to read this,, its not a bad idea.
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Win!
I stopped over two months ago. I bit my cheeks for 26 years and I wanted to post to try and help others quit. I bit my cheeks and lips raw when anxious, like most biters. For me, its social anxiety--I would do it on my way to a public place, or worse--in public, or merely at home thinking about other people and places.
Here's what I did:
When I felt the urge come on, I smiled instead--at others, at the room, at myself--it didn't matter, just as long as my mouth was busy. Smiling put my mouth to work, it gave it something to do. It also made me feel better about myself, cause I seemed happy, with all that smiling I was doing. Sometimes feeling better in a situation is as simple as that. When the urge got too powerful for smiling, I put gum in my mouth and chewed it like there was no tomorrow. Carry your gum with you everywhere.
All my biting urges were completely gone after 48 hours. It was the first 48 hours that were the most difficult.
I hope this helps someone.
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Win!
I stopped over two months ago. I bit my cheeks for 26 years and I wanted to post to try and help others quit. I bit my cheeks and lips raw when anxious, like most biters. For me, its social anxiety--I would do it on my way to a public place, or worse--in public, or merely at home thinking about other people and places.
Here's what I did:
When I felt the urge come on, I smiled instead--at others, at the room, at myself--it didn't matter, just as long as my mouth was busy. Smiling put my mouth to work, it gave it something to do. It also made me feel better about myself, cause I seemed happy, with all that smiling I was doing. Sometimes feeling better in a situation is as simple as that. When the urge got too powerful for smiling, I put gum in my mouth and chewed it like there was no tomorrow. Carry your gum with you everywhere.
All my biting urges were completely gone after 48 hours. It was the first 48 hours that were the most difficult.
I hope this helps someone.
It's been a month since I discovered this forum, and read everyone's posts, and I also have been able to keep from biting!! Don't know why, but I'm not complaining.
I noticed that alot of people say that nobody notices it and I have to share an experience I had in college.
There was a girl who had really bad social anziety.... She avoided alot of people, I talked to her a few times, and she was really nice.
I was talking to a group of girls and they all started talking about her, and how wierd she was and that she would always chew on her lips and cheeks. They imitated her and laughed (kinda snobby I know). When she came was around they were really nice to her.
And I know that these girls would never say a word to her about it, because that's rude or not socially acceptable....yet they can make fun of a girl when she's not paying attention.
So anyways, I think some people definatley do notice the lip biting, they just don't feel comfortable saying anything about it because it is such a strong emotion and addiction to do so. I just developed the lip biting since my life got so stressful. I used to be very social and accepted, but now I have developed social anziety and I don't feel comfortable around people. My guards are always up, and the lip biting is a way to comfort myself.
I strongly suggest smilling when you're feeling stressed. It helps so much.
There was a girl who had really bad social anziety.... She avoided alot of people, I talked to her a few times, and she was really nice.
I was talking to a group of girls and they all started talking about her, and how wierd she was and that she would always chew on her lips and cheeks. They imitated her and laughed (kinda snobby I know). When she came was around they were really nice to her.
And I know that these girls would never say a word to her about it, because that's rude or not socially acceptable....yet they can make fun of a girl when she's not paying attention.
So anyways, I think some people definatley do notice the lip biting, they just don't feel comfortable saying anything about it because it is such a strong emotion and addiction to do so. I just developed the lip biting since my life got so stressful. I used to be very social and accepted, but now I have developed social anziety and I don't feel comfortable around people. My guards are always up, and the lip biting is a way to comfort myself.
I strongly suggest smilling when you're feeling stressed. It helps so much.
I bite my lips and cheek all the time. i do it more when i am bored or have alot on my mind. i find that the only way to stop once i start is to chew gum or find something to distract me. My friends always wonder why i have so much gum but hey gotta go with what works.
Oh my god! I am not alone!!! I have been doing this since I was about 6 or 7. Sometimes I catch myself doing it when I am bored, but it really kicks into high gear when I am stressed!!! I bite until I bleed and sometimes I don't even catch myself until I taste blood in my mouth. I was also told by someone that this causes cancer (don't know that for a fact) but since then I have been trying to stop too! I was actually able to quit for a few years back but nursing school turned that all around. I really want to stop but I can't....lol. It is like a addiction. I keep telling myself okay tomorrow will be the LAST day. But when your lips try to heal they get really rough and my tounge is always searching for that loose chunk of skin. Sounds gross but after I pick it off I am like yessss that was a good one!! (SMH) Like the bigger and longer the piece the better?!?!? What is wrong with me? It really does sound like a disorder I guess but I feel strange about seeking professional help. What to do......?
Haha, it's like a canibalistic obsession. Do any of you have ocd too? I tend to bite my face when Im having ocd type thoughts.
Wow. It's as though I have been reading my own words on this issue. I struggle with this constantly, and have since I was a kid. Also, one person responded that they thought it was better when they were sick, on anti-biotics, with a sinus-infection or something. This hit home with me, because I have always noticed that as well. Did anyone respond with any real ways to stop? I know I look absolutely ridiculous chewing away, and pushing my finger into my cheek at various spots. I also noticed that I chewed like hell while reading these posts....anxiety related chewing, must be
I am currently at the painful healing stage after biting the inside of my upper and lower lips. Presently I keep repeating to myself "what the hell was I thinking, I knew this was going to hurt for a few days!". It's bad enough that I can't eat, drink, smile or talk comfortably. I have tried to be self conscious about this many many times before, and I manage long stretches where I don't bite my lips (or bite them only slightly and stop). But then come days where I'd be at home or at the library studying, or at work thinking of a solution (lately full-time jobs + full-time weekend MBA), and I would just go at it (them! both lips!) like there's no tomorrow. Sometimes unfortunately even after I bleed. I stop only after I've gone too far. I noticed that my upper lip is more sensitive than my lower lip, so i try to stay away from biting it when I can (I wish that worked all the time though). I am usually a strong-willed person, I should be able to fight this off completely, nowadays I bite my lips much less than before, but still do it sometimes. Aaaaaggggghhhhh I am so annoyed at myself!
I've been doing it for years, too, and it drives me (and my husband) absolutely CRAZY. I make such an ugly face when I'm trying to get to the furthest part of my cheek, and them my mouth is all chewed up all the time. Ugh. And like other posters indicated, my dentist told me it could definitely cause oral cancer.
A few weeks ago, I had some success with the following technique that I learned in a Psychology class in college. For most of us, this is a partially subconscious/partially conscious habit...so we just need to break ourselves of the habit of doing it.
Basically, you wear a rubber band (or ponytail band) around your wrist 24/7. When you catch yourself biting your cheeks, snap the rubber band on the inside of your wrist. Not hard enough to draw blood or bruise yourself (obviously) but hard enough that it stings. If you consistently do this for about a month--every time you notice you're biting your cheeks--you should be able to break yourself of the habit. There were lots of studies & statistics about habit-breaking, repetition and negative reinforcement that went along with the Psych explanation, but that's the gist of it.
I did this for about 10 days a few weeks ago, and I noticed that I was definitely biting my cheeks less and less over the 10-day period. ((sigh)) but then I lost the rubber band I was using, and never put on a new one, and now.....back to my same bad habits.
I'm pretty sure that if I had kept it up for a month, I wouldn't need the rubber band anymore, and I wouldn't be chewing up the inside of my mouth. I'm going to try it again starting right now--anyone else want to join me? :D
A few weeks ago, I had some success with the following technique that I learned in a Psychology class in college. For most of us, this is a partially subconscious/partially conscious habit...so we just need to break ourselves of the habit of doing it.
Basically, you wear a rubber band (or ponytail band) around your wrist 24/7. When you catch yourself biting your cheeks, snap the rubber band on the inside of your wrist. Not hard enough to draw blood or bruise yourself (obviously) but hard enough that it stings. If you consistently do this for about a month--every time you notice you're biting your cheeks--you should be able to break yourself of the habit. There were lots of studies & statistics about habit-breaking, repetition and negative reinforcement that went along with the Psych explanation, but that's the gist of it.
I did this for about 10 days a few weeks ago, and I noticed that I was definitely biting my cheeks less and less over the 10-day period. ((sigh)) but then I lost the rubber band I was using, and never put on a new one, and now.....back to my same bad habits.
I'm pretty sure that if I had kept it up for a month, I wouldn't need the rubber band anymore, and I wouldn't be chewing up the inside of my mouth. I'm going to try it again starting right now--anyone else want to join me? :D
I always had the biting my cheek, or fingers, anything really; I've recently took the spiritual path, and ever since I started meditating, my anxiety has been at an all time low! :-P
i have had this habbit for many years myself and ppl tell me it happens alot when i am nervous but its not all the time bc once i start i CANT quit untill its smooth i have been told how discusting it is but i almost feel hopeless its nice to hear though that i am not alone
I have found that wearing my retainer makes me unable to bit the inside of my mouth.
I have been to a GP, Dentist, and ENT doctor trying to find a cure to this condition. I am glad to find I am not the only one. The doctors simply say they cannot see anything - lower left lip down to bottom (from incisors). First, my tongue, then chewing and often don't know I am doing it. I am suseptible to stress and at least now I think I know the cause. Thank you all. FYI, I have a prescription for Triamcin/Orabas 0.1% Dental Paste that helps, especially at night and when really iritated (almost itchy). This paste comes in tubes and only a tiny amount is rubbed on the irritated area. If I used it everytime I started chewing it may go away but I dont' think about it until the irritation is severe. This stuff is expensive by my medical insurance pays. Get 4 tubes in one 30 day prescription as iti s easy to go through one a week.
Just wanted to say, I'm 29 and I've been biting my cheek for close to 20 years. I've tried stopping before but I've only managed to stop for periods of maybe a month, then I would catch myself biting again. I bite to the point where it hurts and bleeds sometimes, other times its like i'm just taking a layer of skin off and it doesn't hurt. Its an aweful habit and I know its noticable. For me at least, makes my breath stink too, i dont know i guess all the skin or whatever. My wife can tell when I've been biting due to the smell. I've only actually seen one other person doing it. Its nice to know that alot of people suffer. I deal with stress, anxiety and depression. Triggers are those or boredom or hunger or sometimes periods of thought. Its definately a habit. I used to smoke for about 7 years, but I was able to quit that. I also bite my nails and the callous on my fingertips. No one has ever said anything about it besides my wife and thats probably because I dont hide it from her as much as I do from everyone else. It is kinda embarrasing, especially when you go to the dentist. I want to stop, its hard.