I chew on the inside of my cheeks

and I can not stop!! I have been doing it pretty seriously for the past few weeks, maybe over a month. I had always done it unconsciously occasionally, but now I know I am doing it, and it is ALL THE TIME!! Anyone else do this? Any ideas how to stop?

I am almost compulsive about it now. As it heals overnight, I chew again the next day.

I'm sorry if this is gross... I need advice!

Originally Posted by Samantha1979

and I can not stop!! I have been doing it pretty seriously for the past few weeks, maybe over a month. I had always done it unconsciously occasionally, but now I know I am doing it, and it is ALL THE TIME!! Anyone else do this? Any ideas how to stop?

I am almost compulsive about it now. As it heals overnight, I chew again the next day.

I'm sorry if this is gross... I need advice!

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I do it and I think many others do it too. If there is a way to stop I haven't heard it.

I do this as well as chew on my lips. I was actually warned when I was a kid that I was at risk of oral cancer due to the extent that I chewed my cheeks. I would have white scabs and bumps on them from chewing so much. I don't nearly as much anymore, but still do it quite a bit.

I do it a lot more now then I ever used to. It's a blessing in disguise, though... nomally I chew my nails way more but now I chew my cheeks instead! Ick!! I wish I could stop both, but I have no idea how to. Anyone else have an idea? I'm going to be SO embarrased when I go to the dentist....

I do it and I think many others do it too. If there is a way to stop I haven't heard it.

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Ditto. I was doing it as I clicked onto this post!!!

(I'm a nail-biter also, both charming qualities...)

Get a bite wafer that'll help curb your urge to chew and it'll keep you from tearing up your cheeks and risking infection.

swing by a local orthodontist office near you and ask to buy a bite wafer (they're REALLY cheap- they'd probably just give you one )

There's an awesome practice near you in Collierville. "libby, douley, and harrison" - i think they're all still there. harrison did my braces ages ago. i used to do the same thing.

the bite wafer helped a lot though when i got the urge to chew.

I chew too especially when I am stressed. (like now!) I don't chew deep enuff to cause bleeding though.

I like to chew too, I always have a lot of gum on hand

I'm a cheek chewer too! But only at night when I'm sleeping. Then I wake up with sore cheeks and usually develop a canker sore.

Nikki, those bite wafers sound interesting. I hadn't heard of them before.

Hey, I do it too! Is it a cat people thing, or what?

I honestly thought that very few people did this, guess not!!!

My mom got a device from the drugstore, in the toothbrush area -- prevents both cheek-chewing and bruxism (tooth-grinding). And if you eat a popsicle and hold it against the swollen spot for a few seconds at a time, it will bring down the swelling and help you keep from constantly re-injuring yourself...

I'm definitely going to check some of these things out! I have a dentist appointment soon... hopefully my cheeks can heal by the time it comes up.

I can't chew on my cheeks. I only seem to bite them at the wrong time as I curse in pain.

You've probably thought of this, but can you chew gum or suck on some mints or hard candy instead? I know you can't do that constantly, but it might help some!