# Chewing My Cheek **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 28, 2019, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chewing-my-cheek/837758 "2019-07-28T15:40:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Steven\_Estes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/94ad74/32.png) [@Steven\_Estes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steven_Estes)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2019, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chewing-my-cheek/837758/1 "2019-07-28T15:40:51Z")
Chewing My Cheek Like some older men, I’ve developed the tendency to chew my cheek and bite my lip. I guess it’s that the cartilage loosens with age ad comes between the teeth. (In my case on the right side.)Always annoying and occasionally painful. Is there any way to avoid this. (Hypnosis, cognitive therapy and the like don’t work, at least for me). I know it’s a long shot, but any hints? ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chewing-my-cheek/837758/2 "2019-07-29T16:13:08Z")
Your anatomy seems to be very different than mine. What cartilage do you have in your cheeks and lips? ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chewing-my-cheek/837758/3 "2019-07-29T16:24:00Z")
Has your dental.health changed? Maybe a trip to your Dentist would be a good idea. ---
**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chewing-my-cheek/837758/4 "2019-07-29T16:37:26Z")
I did it a lot as a kid and young adult, but rarely do it now. For me it was a stress thing. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chewing-my-cheek/837758/5 "2019-07-29T17:09:34Z")
Since the OP is looking for advice, let’s move this to IMHO. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chewing-my-cheek/837758/6 "2019-07-29T18:19:21Z")
I started this same thread a few years back. 🙂 Unfortunately, I’m still shredding up my cheeks. I went to a therapist/hypnotist and she was no help. With me, it’s anxiety and I haven’t found the cure for that. ---
**Author:** ![divemaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/divemaster/32/78_2.png) [@divemaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/divemaster)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chewing-my-cheek/837758/7 "2019-07-29T18:30:55Z")
I’m sorry I can’t answer your question–I can only add my own anecdote. I don’t do it consciously, but about once a week I’ll wake up in the middle of the night having just bit the hell out of the side of my cheek in my sleep. I don’t grind my teeth. Perhaps this is a similar thing? ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2019, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chewing-my-cheek/837758/8 "2019-07-30T18:26:21Z")
I believe the OP is talking about accidentally biting the inside of the mouth while eating as opposed to a nervous habit. If I am correct in that assumption, the only thing I can think of which may cause it to become more of an issue as one ages is a gradual change in tooth alignment. Perhaps a chat with your dentist may shed dome light on your issue. [sub]In the meantime, coat the inside of your mouth in bacon grease. if you are going to bite your cheek, you may as well enjoy the flavor![/sub] ---
**Author:** ![peedin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peedin/32/14095_2.png) [@peedin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peedin)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2019, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chewing-my-cheek/837758/9 "2019-07-31T16:43:54Z")
Ask you dentist for a day time brux appliance. I grind and grit my teeth constantly, and also bite the inside of my cheek. The appliance slips over my teeth (much like Invisalign braces) and makes me aware of what I’m doing with my mouth. ---
**Author:** ![Blisters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Blisters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blisters)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2019, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chewing-my-cheek/837758/10 "2019-08-02T03:51:35Z")
I do this when I’m anxious and have not found a great way to stop. I just try and catch myself doing it and stop (over and over again) I am not an older man…not sure what being an older man would have to do with it (?) ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2019, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chewing-my-cheek/837758/11 "2019-08-02T04:02:22Z")
Do you have dentures or missing teeth? These can sometimes contribute. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2019, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chewing-my-cheek/837758/12 "2019-08-02T05:09:51Z")
I’ve been chewing my lips on and off as a nervous habit since I can remember. Eating anything vinegar-y while it’s healing is the WORST. ☹ I’ve found that when I get the urge, I chew gum. Could that help? (Nowadays I only really seem to do so when I’m really drunk.) ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2019, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chewing-my-cheek/837758/13 "2019-08-02T20:12:36Z")
Dehydration is common as we age, and can make our lips and cheeks less full, more sunken. Look in the mirror and stick out your tongue. If there is a crease down the middle of it then drink 8oz. of water every 30 min. until it is broad and flat. Make a habit of addressing this every morning. There now, isn’t that better? Chewing the sides of your tongue instead? LOL! Aging sucks. ¯\_(ツ)\_/¯ ---
**Author:** ![CelticKnot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/celticknot/32/3392_2.png) [@CelticKnot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CelticKnot)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2019, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chewing-my-cheek/837758/14 "2019-08-02T20:50:00Z")
I frequently chomp on my lips or my cheek as I eat. Or even if I’m not eating. I hate that. This is why I never chew gum. I hit flesh more often than gum. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2019, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chewing-my-cheek/837758/15 "2019-08-02T22:14:27Z")
> [@P-man](#): > > I did it a lot as a kid and young adult, but rarely do it now. For me it was a stress thing. This. But, I have traded it for picking my cuticles and dry skin.