Anxiety, Stress, and Lip/Cheek Biting

I do the same thing. I feel a rough spot or what feels like a "bubble" of meat on my inner lip, usually around the corners of my lips near my bottom teeth, and i chew around it tring to smooth it out I chew and chew until it is hanging off and i bite and RIP it off.. I'll use my nail or a tweezers or simply bite it off until it is a deep hole inside. I then chew around the hole and it gets bigger and bigger and deeper and it bleeds perfusely. Sometimes ill chew down to the nerve, i know this because when i bite it ill get a jolt of immense pain that shoots through my entire mough and it will go numb and tinge but in immense pain. In the hole sometimes a bubble of fat will bulge out, i can see it in the mirror it is so gross. When the fat bulges out, i'll bite THAT and pull it off. It gets SO deep that i'll spit blood out into a soda can or in the sink and it is terribly painful. I dont notice when i start it, but once i do, i can't stop until im satisfied that it's "smooth", which is so stupid because now there is a deep crater inside my mouth that is anything BUT smooth. But to me at least the edges are smooth, and i'm happy with that. Once I do one hole, i'll check the inside of my mouth for more rough spots, and i'll always find one and then i'll work on a new one. Sometimes it is so deep, i'll think I need stitches, but it is remarkable how quickly it heals. The next day there is a white covering over the hole but it is so sharply painful that when i brush my teeth, just the few bristles that brush against it are like lightning JOLTING across the wound. I have to avoid the area for almost a week. As long as i dont keep messing with it it will heal usually in about a week. I don't know how to stop. I've thought about inventions for this problem, everything from plastic coverings that prevent chewing to rubber mouth guards that cover the teeth and make it impossible to bite or chew, but its just not practical because , as i stated, i never notice when i START. It would be amazing if i could just stop but i dont know how. Does anyone have any advice? Thanks

 

 

 

Rum Tummy Tummy Rum Tummy Tummy Rum Tummy Tummy Ho Ho Ho Ho Ho!

Irish_Rain wrote:
I do the same thing. I feel a rough spot or what feels like a "bubble" of meat on my inner lip, usually around the corners of my lips near my bottom teeth, and i chew around it tring to smooth it out I chew and chew until it is hanging off and i bite and RIP it off.. I'll use my nail or a tweezers or simply bite it off until it is a deep hole inside. I then chew around the hole and it gets bigger and bigger and deeper and it bleeds perfusely. Sometimes ill chew down to the nerve, i know this because when i bite it ill get a jolt of immense pain that shoots through my entire mough and it will go numb and tinge but in immense pain. In the hole sometimes a bubble of fat will bulge out, i can see it in the mirror it is so gross. When the fat bulges out, i'll bite THAT and pull it off. It gets SO deep that i'll spit blood out into a soda can or in the sink and it is terribly painful. I dont notice when i start it, but once i do, i can't stop until im satisfied that it's "smooth", which is so stupid because now there is a deep crater inside my mouth that is anything BUT smooth. But to me at least the edges are smooth, and i'm happy with that. Once I do one hole, i'll check the inside of my mouth for more rough spots, and i'll always find one and then i'll work on a new one. Sometimes it is so deep, i'll think I need stitches, but it is remarkable how quickly it heals. The next day there is a white covering over the hole but it is so sharply painful that when i brush my teeth, just the few bristles that brush against it are like lightning JOLTING across the wound. I have to avoid the area for almost a week. As long as i dont keep messing with it it will heal usually in about a week. I don't know how to stop. I've thought about inventions for this problem, everything from plastic coverings that prevent chewing to rubber mouth guards that cover the teeth and make it impossible to bite or chew, but its just not practical because , as i stated, i never notice when i START. It would be amazing if i could just stop but i dont know how. Does anyone have any advice? Thanks

WTF, in order for someone to get an answer to the problem (like myself), it is impossible because of all the comments saying the same darn thing (YOU WOULD NOT BE ON THIS PAGE IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE THE PROBLEM). 

Empathy, and surprise are what leads to the other "similar post" Guest 33. Glad you were able to find the time to post your comment, even after the days it must have taken you to read ours. :)

I do the same! To the point where my cheek will bleed and is painful, but then I will continue to do it when it is. I really don't know what to do about it because it makes my mouth painful for the next couple of days and it takes a while to heal properly.

hii,i have the same habit of cheek and lip biting,whenever i sit to study seriously,i start off with this bad heabit of biting my inner surface of cheeks unless it becomes smooth..i waste my precious time doing this,i am completely fed up ..what should i do?i have my 12th board exam and because of this habit i am not able to concentrate in my studies,what do i do?help me.

When I chew gum, I find myself pushing it up between my cheek and gum and go back to biting my lip...all unconsciously. The oly time I don't bite my lip is when I'm sleeping.

I do the same thing my bf gets so mad at me for it but I tell him it's a habit like smoking only it won't kill me. Lol But honestly I don't know why I do it but for the lips I use carmex lip balm seems to help but when it wears off I start again. As for the cheek I have no idea what to do on that one I just know it can be a PAIN SOMETIMES.

ANSWER ANSWER ANSWER: I did this forever untill I had my wisdome teeth removed!!! I physically cold not bite my cheeks anymore... YOUR MOUTH TAKES ABOUT THREE DAYS TO HEAL!!!!! It's like a diet or any habit.. Force yourself to get through the first few days in any way you can... I know how it feels its really addicting BUT you DO have control of yourself! The SMOOTHNESS of your mouth after those few days is such a satisfying feeling and I am so much happier now :) Good lick you can do it!

I can't believe I am reading all these comments.  Since I don't seem to encounter anyone with this issue in my life, I really thought it must be only me.  I have always had anxiety, diagnosed since I was little.  I started to actually pull at my hair to the point that I'm pulling it out.  And about two years ago I started to bite my lips and cheeks more then ever.

I can't stop.  I think I went four days without doing it, and was so proud of myself, but as soon as major stress happens it all goes out the window.

What helps?  I noticed that one side of my mouth (top and bottom lip) are much less full and now my whole mouth is weird.  I am so worried it's not going to grow back (and it probably wont...).  In order to stop biting now I am trying to remember, or constantly look at myself, the serious damage I am doing.  Knowing the consequences seems to help.  Knowing it could cause cancer and also deformities is what is keeping me from really trying extra hard.

It is amazing to read the posts on here, to know I am not alone on this.  My family and boyfriend notice me doing it and I am so embarrassed.

So - the scare tactic works (wrinkles, cancer, deformities), chewing gum works- and what works the best?  having dental surgery or an issue in your mouth so that you can't move your mouth properly- it has actually physically stopped me from doing it and then everything heals and I seem to have things a bit more under control.

I feel lost though.  but no longer alone.

I had the same problem. And the answer was when I went to the dentist and he gave me an arc to put in my mouth when I go to sleep. My teeth where away from my lip inside and outside. And whenever I feel stressed I use it again. It really worked. I wish all people solve this problem because it hurts and it is embarrassing sometimes. Do it and u won't regret. Good luck and health for all.

I have the same issue with the lip and cheeke bitting. I can't stop!! When I tell people I do it to make it smooth they think I'm crazy. I also do this with the skin around my fingernails and toe nails. I spend hrs "fixing" the skin and nails until it hurts and bleeds. I do know it has to do with my anxiety problems but I need to stop and don't know how. If anyone has been through this and has any advise I would love to hear it.

MY EXPERIENCE: I have been chewing my lips since I was five and I too wanted my lips to be smooth. I would even create painful ulcers on my lips and cheeks. But now I haven't created an ulcer for about a year, my biting sessions have dramatically reduced and they are not severe at all. MY SOLUTION: Going cold turkey didn't cut it so I went in steps. First off, I ruled my upper lip off limits so I restricted myself to my bottom lip and cheeks. Then when I lost the urge of touching my upper lip I allowed myself to continue with the cheek biting. But now I was not allowed to bite deeply on my bottom lip. So now I just scrape it and I am hoping that I can continue until I quit this nasty habit all together. Gum doesn't work for me and it would trigger biting but I found having a mouthguard helps. Especially when it is huge it works the best. Pop it in when you get home and at least then you reduce the time that you have to focus on it. I hope this helps...

I still have trouble with biting inside my mouth but I broke my biting my finger nails years ago by starting with one finger that became off limits. As it grew back I chose a finger on my other hand and did the same thing. I broke the habit in about 6 weeks.

i have exactly the same problem, i have been doing it for as long as  i remember, it gets to the point of no where left to bite inside my mouth, it makes me even more anxious so i bite over the sores i have already biten, my boyfriend keeps shouting at me, this make me do it even more, i feel anxious all the time even when i know i'm doing it i can't seem to stop, i have wrinkles around my mouth which have worsened in the last few years, tried chewing gum but i'm still biting inbetween chewing gum. please help me i'm worried i'll get cancer and have no lips left!! :(