bad habit - General Health Message Board

Miss Suzie · 07-16-2003, 10:51 AM

I have a bad habit of biting on the inside of my cheeks and my lips. Almost everyone in my family does it, I've done it for as long as I can remeber. Will this cause problems or infections? Does any one else have this habit?

DanaJ · 07-16-2003, 09:03 PM

I've always had this habit. Especially when I'm nervous, anxious, angry etc.
It's gotten bad at times(to the point where I would bleed), but I've never had any infections though.

You're not alone though!
It's almost as if I don't even realize I'm doing it. Just a habitual response for me *sigh*

omega_star_22 · 07-18-2003, 12:13 AM

wow, and I thought I was the only one who did that :-) I have been doing it as long as I can remember and I have never had any problems, not a canker sore.......nothing So I don't personally think that it can harm you in any way but I'm not a doctor, just speaking from experience :-D

dmhealth · 07-18-2003, 08:28 AM

I have the same habit. The only time it presents a problem is when I bite my lip to the point that it swells and breaks open. It looks like a fever blister, but it isn't. I also grind my teeth (since early childhood) and sometimes this causes me to bite the sides of my tongue also. I've tried retainers, etc. but nothing seems to really help.

911_mom · 07-19-2003, 08:21 AM

Same here! My grandma & mom used to tell me that I would end up with holes in my cheeks from biting them all the time. I don't have any holes yet. I feel the same way you all do. I thought I was alone on this. I always wonder what the dentist will think when I go in and he sees all my skin chewed off the insides of my cheeks. He hasn't said anything yet though.