Cheek biting is uncomfortable and even painful. What do you do when biting your cheek becomes a chronic pain? A wisdom tooth that has just grown out can also cause cheek biting. The wrongly seated wisdom tooth hits the cheek. Defective fillings or broken teeth often scratch the tongue and cheeks and thus lead to unwanted biting. Repeated biting might also indicate that you have dental restorations in the back of your mouth that need to be replaced because they don’t fit properly.
Here are some reasons you may experience painful cheek biting over and over.
Wisdom Teeth Irritation
Wisdom teeth can cause cheek biting. They usually appear (or erupt from the gums) in the late teen years, and many patients don’t have enough mouth space to allow them to grow in properly. If your mouth and jaw are small, your wisdom teeth will likely erupt into your cheeks. The wisdom teeth grow into your cheeks because they have nowhere else to grow. Some patients have more pronounced wisdom teeth, causing excessive cheek biting.
If you continually chomp your cheeks with your wisdom teeth, the best solution is to make an appointment for extraction. Wisdom teeth aren’t necessary for oral health, and most times, these teeth cause more problems as they grow in.
Warm compresses or over-the-counter painkillers may offer temporary relief. To avoid infection, you should also gargle with salt water. But, if wisdom teeth are already causing you pain, call the specialists at Danville Family Dentistry for relief.
Accidental Sporadic Cheek Biting
Sometimes cheek biting happens for no real reason. It frequently occurs when you eat foods with an unusual texture or shape that makes you bite down differently or when you are talking while you are eating. Usually, it only occurs once, hurts, and then you forget about it.
However, if you frequently bite the inside of your cheek, it could occasionally swell up and become more bothersome, leading you to bite it more frequently over the course of the following few days. The small injury causes the sensitive cheek tissue to swell a bit. The swelling causes you to keep biting the same spot, which becomes very painful.
To stop yourself from biting it again, chew slowly for a while and try not to talk while eating.
Frequent Cheek Biting
Chronic bites on the cheek occur more often than not because of the frequent accidental bites and the ensuing swelling. You might be able to stop by deliberately thinking about it, but as soon as you stop, you’re back to biting your cheek. Furthermore, it might occur while you’re asleep.
An uneven bite can cause painful cheek biting. Malocclusion refers to improper tooth alignment. Occlusion is the term used to describe tooth alignment and how the upper and lower teeth fit together (bite). Most malocclusions are minor enough not to need treatment.
Malocclusions might be a symptom of bruxism and TMJ, or it might be a sign that these conditions are worsening. Often, improperly fitting restorations cause persistent cheek biting. Dental crowns are the most common offenders, but any restoration that changes the tooth’s biting surface could be at fault.
Prevent Cheek Biting
We’re here to help you find a solution to this problem. If your bite is causing the issue, we can correct it and prevent or ease uncomfortable TMJ symptoms like headaches. If your inability to chew results from poorly done restorations, we can replace them with more comfortably fitting ones. Taking care of your bite issues will improve your smile in addition to helping you stop biting your cheek and lessen TMJ symptoms.
If you want to learn more about how we can help you get a comfortable bite, please call Danville Family Dentistry at 317-745-4400 to schedule your next appointment.
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Disclaimer: The information included in this article is for educational purposes only. It should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
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