Biting tongue during sleep... why?? Please help! - Sleep Disorders Message Board

jann71 · 03-05-2009, 06:12 PM

I have bitten holes in my tongue! It happens just when I'm about to nod off to sleep. The pain wakes me up and most of the time my tongue is bleeding. Does anyone know why I'm doing this or what could be causing it? It's getting really aggrevating and my poor tongue is so sore. Thanks.

AuntieLeela · 03-05-2009, 08:51 PM

Your family doctor or dentist can get you a bite guard to wear at night for right now and then figure out what's causing you to bite your tongue. You might just have misaligned teeth.

bethsheba · 03-06-2009, 05:51 PM

The first thing that comes to mind is med side effects as some meds (antidepressants in particular) can cause one to grind one's teeth. and interfere with one's bite.

But there is another condition that comes to mind and that is Lyme disease...but if you have Lyme, the tongue biting would probably accompany alot of unexplained problems that may have been lumped together and misdiagnosed as MS, Fibro, or some other condition.

jann71 · 03-07-2009, 09:03 PM

Thanks for the replies. It's getting bad. My tongue is so sore and swollen from all the bites. It seems to happen more when I'm just drifting off to sleep. Sometimes it is the side of my tongue, but most of the time it's the left side of the tip. That's the part that's red and swollen from the bites. I bite it so hard that it bleeds. I'm getting really frustrated. I don't see my doctor until the end of April. It's driving me nuts. Again, thanks for the replies.

jann71 · 03-12-2009, 09:49 PM

Just thought I'd post an update. I saw one of my doctors yesterday and told him about my tongue biting. He thinks I may be having mini seizures, probably caused by oxygen deprivation, probably caused by my severe sleep apnea that is not being treated because I have been intolerant to the CPAP.