Whether it’s from eating too quickly, being distracted while you eat or from an accident, unintentionally biting the inside of your cheek can be extremely painful, but is rarely a cause of serious concern unless the biting becomes a more chronic occurrence.  

There are plenty of reasons that someone may bite their cheek regularly. It could be an unconscious reaction to negative emotions like stress, anxiety or depression. Or sometimes the position of their teeth could be out of alignment, causing them to accidentally bite their skin while chewing normally.  

Repeated, chronic cheek biting (known as morsicatio buccarum) could also be the sign of a compulsive disorder or other psychological diagnosis. If you find yourself struggling with compulsively biting your cheek, reach out to a health care professional for additional support.  

Infrequent cheek biting typically leads to pain or discomfort that can last for up to a day or two alongside redness and swelling. While the symptoms are often mild, this swelling can cause the injured skin to become more prone to being bitten again, re-injuring the cheek and exacerbating pain and discomfort.

If severe cases, this can lead to canker sores, tears in the inner lining of your mouth (the buccal mucosa) or raised, white lines on the insides of your cheeks known as linea alba. These lines are deposits of keratin, the same protein that makes up your hair and nails, and are caused by the friction from repeated bites. Since linea alba is raised, it is easily irritated and can continue to build up over time, similar to a callus on your hands. If it persists or worsens over time, make sure to talk to your dentist about it, as some early indicators of oral cancer may resemble linea alba.

If you find yourself biting your cheek often, it may be time to schedule an appointment with your dentist to rule out misaligned teeth or other health concerns. If the cause is stress-related, you may find mindfulness, meditative practices, or an activity like rage yoga helpful. In the case of habit-based cheek biting, replacing the action with a healthier option like chewing sugar-free gum, may allow you to kick the habit.  

But if it’s just an accidental bite that’s gotten a bit out of hand, you may just need to pay extra attention when chewing or talking for a few days until the swelling goes down.  

In any case, we have the tools and expertise to help. Reach out to us today to book an appointment, and we’ll work with you to develop a treatment plan that will leave you smiling and your cheeks feeling better than ever.