Cheek biting, or cheek chewing, is a habit that afflicts many individuals. Although it may sound benign, the truth is it can have several undesirable side effects. Cheek biting can cause a series of issues that can impair your physical health and general well-being, from physical irritability to possible long-term ramifications as noticed in a dental practice in Ottawa. In this article, we aim to talk about the disadvantages associated with cheek biting.
Disadvantages:
- Discomfort: One of the most prevalent and easily evident drawbacks of cheek biting is physical discomfort. When you inadvertently bite your cheek, it can be painful, inflamed, and even bleed. These symptoms make eating, talking, or even smiling difficult. When we bite our cheeks, we develop a wound in our mouths.
- High risk of infection: This injury may promote the development of bacteria, increasing the risk of infection. If the harm is infested, the infection can cause more discomfort and pain and might need medical intervention. An open wound in the mouth is prone to infection because it provides a suitable environment for bacteria. Infection is identified by an abnormal smell or delay in healing the affected area. Triggering an infection might necessitate pain management, surgery, or a dental consultation to avoid further damage
- Chronic pain: High levels of pain sometimes become unbearable and affect an individual’s ability to participate in daily operations and decisions. Cheek biting is the cause of chronic pain for the patient. Several individuals have this habit, and for some, it is not a trivial occurrence but a frequent habit. Biting your cheeks all the time may result in constant pain and irritability. Repeatedly biting the inside of your cheek can injure the delicate tissues inside your mouth. In severe cases, the injury may result in excessive scar tissue formation, increasing the risk of health issues.
- Damage to oral tissues: Biting the cheek regularly may injure an individual’s oral tissues internally. Extremists might find themselves severely injured or developing a scar a few weeks after the bite. The more bites, the higher the chances of multiplying infected areas
- Risk of developing additional oral issues: The bite might cause more harm than previously anticipated. For example, the patient is likely to develop alignment challenges and hence find difficulties consuming some meals like meat.
In conclusion, I affirm that patients who bite on the cheek should consult an oral practitioner for advice on the same.
