Me too! I'm getting really worried about it now, I can't stop!
All the posts are the same and I'm relieved to find that it's not just me. My dentist says that the inside of my mouth is loose looking, all the pulling at it I do I suppose. Ugh. I've got white lines on the inside of my cheeks where my teeth bite on it all day long and the skin on the inside of my lips is always being torn off!
I know it's really gross and would love to stop. I hate kissing my husband cos I'm worried he'll notice.
Any quitters out there or are we all weak? xxx
All the posts are the same and I'm relieved to find that it's not just me. My dentist says that the inside of my mouth is loose looking, all the pulling at it I do I suppose. Ugh. I've got white lines on the inside of my cheeks where my teeth bite on it all day long and the skin on the inside of my lips is always being torn off!
I know it's really gross and would love to stop. I hate kissing my husband cos I'm worried he'll notice.
Any quitters out there or are we all weak? xxx
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Wow! Everything I read is related to the same situation that I am in. It's the worst habit ever! I believe it is as hard to quit as smoking. Especially for those who have been doing it for a very long time, like my self, 11 years. It is so bad, it has given me jaw problems as well. My jaw has moved out of place, everytime I yawn or open my mouth it cracks on the right side. What helped me recently was a nightguard. It's like a retainer after braces and I wear it everynight to keep my jaw in place, also another thing I use it for is to stop myself from biting my cheeks. I brush my teeth which makes the surface feel smother and then I put on the nightguard and it prevents me from biting because my top teeth are covered so I can't. My dentist recommended the nightguard and I bought it from her right away!
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hi, i do this too. Actually, i just bit a really big hole into the inside of my lip and was gargling with salt for about 5 minutes to get it to stop bleeding about 15 minutes ago when i decided maybe i should look this up and see if other people have the same problems. I've been doing this off and on since i was a child, but have never done anything this idiotic to myself untill tonight. It started out because i like the roughness its caused on my cheeks. I was fasinated that i can bite the side of my cheek and pull away the tissue of my cheek and i'd have a line on the inside of my mouth where my teeth had been and i could run my tounge over the lines and feel the roughness. Then a few days later it'd heal and go away, along with my desire to do it again, untill a few months later when i got bored again.
Later i noticed i'd start to do it out of stress anxiety and depression. The good thing about it is now when i do it, i know for sure it's a tell tale sign that im starting to slip into depression and i can do something about it before it gets worse. I used to inflict pain on myself in highschool but no one would ever really know about it. Not because i liked to show off but because i felt in some way i needed the physical pain to distract me from my emotional pain. I am happy to say I am over this stage in my life and have gotten much much much better. I do have a few scars still and although they are hard to look at, they are also a reminder of what I am possible of overcoming.....
HOWEVER, i notice now that instead of hurting myself on say my arm... i do it on the inside of my mouth, somewhere where no one can see the pain i cause myself and somewhere where i know its not severe and will heal almost immediately, and somewhere that if someone did notice it, would not think of it as me hurting myself, but rather maybe i just have a swollen lip from an allergy or something along those lines. I hate that i do it, but it really only happens once in a blue moon for about a week and then goes away. Unfortunately for that week it gets really really really bad. Pretty much there is no area in my mouth right now that has not suffered the wrath of my own teeth this week. Ive been stressed out like hell the past few weeks so i understand why im doing it, but im admitting this for the first time because of how ashamed i am in myself.
But finding this helped in knowing im not alone :-) and i hope my post can help someone out there too. i know for me personally ive stopped taking my meds cause i lost my health insurance (only a mild anti depressant, nothing too severe) and ive fallen into some weird OCD habbits that i had when i was a kid. Hopefully this will stop soon enough and the gaping hole in my mouth will heal soon.
Later i noticed i'd start to do it out of stress anxiety and depression. The good thing about it is now when i do it, i know for sure it's a tell tale sign that im starting to slip into depression and i can do something about it before it gets worse. I used to inflict pain on myself in highschool but no one would ever really know about it. Not because i liked to show off but because i felt in some way i needed the physical pain to distract me from my emotional pain. I am happy to say I am over this stage in my life and have gotten much much much better. I do have a few scars still and although they are hard to look at, they are also a reminder of what I am possible of overcoming.....
HOWEVER, i notice now that instead of hurting myself on say my arm... i do it on the inside of my mouth, somewhere where no one can see the pain i cause myself and somewhere where i know its not severe and will heal almost immediately, and somewhere that if someone did notice it, would not think of it as me hurting myself, but rather maybe i just have a swollen lip from an allergy or something along those lines. I hate that i do it, but it really only happens once in a blue moon for about a week and then goes away. Unfortunately for that week it gets really really really bad. Pretty much there is no area in my mouth right now that has not suffered the wrath of my own teeth this week. Ive been stressed out like hell the past few weeks so i understand why im doing it, but im admitting this for the first time because of how ashamed i am in myself.
But finding this helped in knowing im not alone :-) and i hope my post can help someone out there too. i know for me personally ive stopped taking my meds cause i lost my health insurance (only a mild anti depressant, nothing too severe) and ive fallen into some weird OCD habbits that i had when i was a kid. Hopefully this will stop soon enough and the gaping hole in my mouth will heal soon.
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well, I'm happy (and sad, sorta) to see that I'm not the only one. I bite/tear my lips, cheeks, nails, skin around my nails and when they are all exhausted...my toenails.
My therapist says she suspects anxiety- long term kinda stuff, as this has been going on since I was 5ish and I'm 30 now. I have an appointment at a psychiatrist in a couple of weeks. Doctors think it's an OCD type behavior & may be able to reduce it by trying some anti-depressants (even though I do not suffer from depression).
I've tried it all...will power, bitter stuff on nails/lips, smacking my own hands, yoga, ridding of caffeine, whatever you can think of. Hopefully this is coming to an end now - and the antidepressants will help with the OCD tendencies...
My therapist says she suspects anxiety- long term kinda stuff, as this has been going on since I was 5ish and I'm 30 now. I have an appointment at a psychiatrist in a couple of weeks. Doctors think it's an OCD type behavior & may be able to reduce it by trying some anti-depressants (even though I do not suffer from depression).
I've tried it all...will power, bitter stuff on nails/lips, smacking my own hands, yoga, ridding of caffeine, whatever you can think of. Hopefully this is coming to an end now - and the antidepressants will help with the OCD tendencies...
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I had that with my nails, It would have a rough edge and I'd try to smooth it out, and it would get worse from there. Same with my lower lip. I found the best way to work through it is recognize you have a problem and try to remove the triggers. For my nails, I always kept a pair of clippers with a file on hand, I found a rough spot and would smooth it immediately. Also for the lips, I used carmex on and around my lips really thick, encountering the viscus wax tended to be a good reminder and let me heal. The cheek thing I didn't have, but bruxism, or grinding my teeth, the tentist had me biting my tongue and it stopped after some time. I'm not sure what to do about cheeks. There is always invisaligh braces to take away the sharp edges that can catch them.
Hope this helps. :-)
Hope this helps. :-)
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I also do this and feel very ashamed of anyone knowing. I also bite my tongue when I am asleep, to the point that I have teeth marks and white hyperkeratinization on it. Tell me how to stop that when I am asleep? I constantly check my mouth for any signs of cancer or of what I think might be cancer. I recently went to my dentist to have him look at my tongue, scared out of my mind not able to eat or sleep, thinking I was going t He said everything looked normal. I have stopped the cheek biting and the lip biting and thank GOD that I am okay. I have bit my mouth off and on for many years, during times of high stress and anxiety. The tongue biting has been happening over the last two years. I really can relate to everyone here, it is a really tough thing to control, while driving and watching tv is the worst for me. All I can say is if you think you have anxiety now, wait until you think you have cancer in your mouth. That was enough for me, good luck to everyone. It's a tough habit, believe me I know.
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I've been doing this biting since I was in elementary school. I would actually wake up from my sleep with a sore lip and a bloody mouth at times. My usual place is my bottom lip. I've bitten it to the point of a fat lip on multiple occassions. At one point, during a very high stress time, I actually bit all the way across my bottom lip. It was days before I could close my mouth or eat without it burning and hurting. One thing that helps the healing hasten is a moutwash called Peroxyl that helps the white scabs to go away and helps it heal up faster.
After that last time I was actually able to stop almost completely for 4 years. I think I maybe had to use the Peroxyl once or twice in that time.
Well, I am off the wagon. My lip is swollen and sore and I am remembering what caused me to try and break this habit in the first place. The thing that I think is the most strange about it all is that I won't even notice it until its already to the point that you almost can't stop. How do I not notice at first bite and stop from there?
Sigh. Frustrated and hoping to stop again soon because this is really hurting me tonight. (btw - anbesol helps numb but OH MAN it burns!)
After that last time I was actually able to stop almost completely for 4 years. I think I maybe had to use the Peroxyl once or twice in that time.
Well, I am off the wagon. My lip is swollen and sore and I am remembering what caused me to try and break this habit in the first place. The thing that I think is the most strange about it all is that I won't even notice it until its already to the point that you almost can't stop. How do I not notice at first bite and stop from there?
Sigh. Frustrated and hoping to stop again soon because this is really hurting me tonight. (btw - anbesol helps numb but OH MAN it burns!)
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Wow, amazing to find other people like me. I was with a friend at happy hour and she said I had a line on my lips. I told her I bite my lips and that's why it's there. So hard to stop! I'm 29yrs old and have been doing it since high school. Please help with suggestions on how to STOP!
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Well, you can add another one to your ranks. I started biting the right side of my bottom lip on Tuesday, and now I started on the left side today, so my whole lip is nice and swollen now. I don't do it very often (I can go years without doing it), but I think it's the anxiety that's causing me to do this. I'm in a pretty stressful situation right now. I'm conscious of doing it, and I know it's going to cause me pain later, but I do it anyway. You'd think the ugliness of a fat lip would be enough deterrence for someone who is self-conscious about their appearance, but it's not. Now I have another week or so of pain and healing to remind me of my foolish decision.
I also bite the inside of my mouth, especially the left cheek. I keep biting off the scar tissue, hoping it'll go away, but it always comes back. Both things have been going on since I was about 5 or 6, and I'm 29 now. I've heard the warnings about mouth cancer, and I keep telling myself I'll stop, but I never do.
I've also gotten into the habit of picking at the skin around my nails, especially where the side of the nail meets the skin. I'm just glad I'm not the only one who experiences these issues. I just wish there was a definitive way of breaking these habits! I'm not so sure I buy into hypnotherapy.
I also bite the inside of my mouth, especially the left cheek. I keep biting off the scar tissue, hoping it'll go away, but it always comes back. Both things have been going on since I was about 5 or 6, and I'm 29 now. I've heard the warnings about mouth cancer, and I keep telling myself I'll stop, but I never do.
I've also gotten into the habit of picking at the skin around my nails, especially where the side of the nail meets the skin. I'm just glad I'm not the only one who experiences these issues. I just wish there was a definitive way of breaking these habits! I'm not so sure I buy into hypnotherapy.
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I do it too! I do it primarily when I am bored......I can't say it is stress related. I really don't like to do it around other people so it is mostly a boredom thing for me. I would really like to stop though....I worry about causing some kind of cancer or something in my mouth.
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Hello, all. I've been following this board since my post and I've only found a few short-term ways to quit.
1. For me, the biting starts with the tongue scouring my cheeks for the perfect place to start. When I catch my tongue in action, I tell myself to keep my teeth closed. I leave little post-it notes on my computer monitor telling me to close my teeth. It's a tongue trap.
2. When at home, you can use these over-the-counter denture cushions called EZO. I was a former flute player and when I had braces, my lips would press into the brackets causing discomfort. When I'd practice, I'd cut a strip of EZO to fold over my teeth. Once they get moistened by your saliva, they'll stick like glue. They're like a thick pink piece of wax. Clarinet, saxophone and other reeded instrumentalists use these to relieve the pressure of the mouthpieces where the lip meets the teeth. You may not want to wear these at work or while you sleep, as it may cause embarrassment and choking, respectively.
Since being on this board I've been trying to tell myself that it's mind over matter. I want to be in control of my own body and it's voluntary motions. Now that I'm more aware of it than ever, I feel myself biting less often. However, if I go all afternoon without biting, by dinner time I have an all-out cheek biting war. I think of you guys when I get the urge and it helps. We're not alone!! Let's quit this dumb habit!!
-andro
1. For me, the biting starts with the tongue scouring my cheeks for the perfect place to start. When I catch my tongue in action, I tell myself to keep my teeth closed. I leave little post-it notes on my computer monitor telling me to close my teeth. It's a tongue trap.
2. When at home, you can use these over-the-counter denture cushions called EZO. I was a former flute player and when I had braces, my lips would press into the brackets causing discomfort. When I'd practice, I'd cut a strip of EZO to fold over my teeth. Once they get moistened by your saliva, they'll stick like glue. They're like a thick pink piece of wax. Clarinet, saxophone and other reeded instrumentalists use these to relieve the pressure of the mouthpieces where the lip meets the teeth. You may not want to wear these at work or while you sleep, as it may cause embarrassment and choking, respectively.
Since being on this board I've been trying to tell myself that it's mind over matter. I want to be in control of my own body and it's voluntary motions. Now that I'm more aware of it than ever, I feel myself biting less often. However, if I go all afternoon without biting, by dinner time I have an all-out cheek biting war. I think of you guys when I get the urge and it helps. We're not alone!! Let's quit this dumb habit!!
-andro
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Wow, so many people having it.I don't really bite my cheek though.I'm doing an awful job with my lips.And IT IS stress related, I think.I wanna stop it, the habit seems stupid.Grrh, even while typing this I'm doing it %-)
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I've been chewing my cheeks for as long as I can remember and yes, I'm 43 and it does cause wrinkles. I find it is hardest to control right after I eat or when I'm driving. Driving isn't stressful and doesn't cause anxiety but, I do have a speeding problem. I also like to eat and probably just want to keep eating. I take meds for anxiety sometimes. I just chew gum alot to control it and even then I find myself chewing my cheeks instead. I've also tried the mouth gaurd but it's to uncomfortable. Does anyone also have a eyelid that twitches almost constantly and unexplained itching on your shoulders. Yes I"m serious The only control for the itching is ice
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This is incredible! I've only seen one other person doing this in my whole life, but I guess there's alot more of us out there. I've been an off and on cheek biter for 10+ years. It takes about 3 days for it to completely smooth out. I always start up again when I'm extremely stressed. The only way I find I can stop is to not let my tongue wander around, and even if I take a nibble, I don't let that ruin my attempt to stop. Good luck to you all!
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