At Fresh Orthodontics in Brooklyn, we’ve had patients ask, “Why do I bite the inside of my cheek when eating?” If it’s something that has happened once or twice, you might just need to slow down and chew more carefully. But if you regularly bite the inside of your cheek or tongue while eating, it can actually be a sign of an underlying orthodontic issue.
In this post, we’ll discuss what could be behind this frustrating (and often painful) problem.
Why Do I Bite My Cheeks While Eating?
As we said, if it’s an occasional thing, you could simply be eating too fast. But if you’re asking yourself, “Why do I always bite the inside of my cheek?” then that’s a different story.
The most common culprit is a bad bite, technically called malocclusion. When the upper and lower teeth don’t come together correctly, either because of a narrow palate or misaligned teeth, it can impact your chewing. You may find that you bite your cheeks while eating.
What about biting your tongue when you eat? This is fairly common too. Often it’s because the tongue doesn’t have enough room to move freely in the mouth. Again, this is likely due to malocclusion.
Types of Malocclusion that Cause Tongue and Cheek Biting
Certain bite issues are more likely to cause you to bite your cheeks or tongue while eating. These include:
- Crossbite: When some of the upper teeth sit inside the lower teeth instead of outside, it’s called a crossbite. A crossbite, particularly a back crossbite (posterior crossbite), can cause you to shift your jaw to one side to bite and chew. Not only can this permanently change your facial structure, but it can result in biting your cheek or tongue too.
- Overjet or Excessive Overbite: When the upper teeth stick out too far forward or cover too much of the lower teeth, it increases the chances of accidental bites. Patients with a severe overbite, or deep bite, may find their bottom teeth bite into the roof of their mouth.
- Underbite: An underbite is when the lower teeth protrude in front of the upper teeth. This can also cause you to bite the inside of your cheek or tongue more frequently.
- Crowded Teeth: Misaligned or overlapping teeth can create irregular chewing patterns and leave your tongue without enough space, making it easier to chomp down on your cheek or tongue.
Why It’s Important to Fix the Problem
If you’ve ever bit the inside of your cheek, then you know it hurts! Aside from the discomfort, repeatedly biting the soft tissues of the mouth can lead to:
- Chronic irritation or swelling
- Painful sores or ulcers
- Tissue damage
- Changes to your eating or speaking habits
- Gum recession
Left untreated, these symptoms can interfere with your quality of life and ability to eat and chew comfortably. Not to mention, if the issue is due to a bite problem, that misalignment can also cause jaw pain, headaches, uneven tooth wear, and other oral health issues.
Treating Cheek and Tongue Biting
If you bite the inside of your cheek while eating, the first step is determining the underlying cause. Scheduling a consultation with an orthodontist can confirm or rule out malocclusion.
At Fresh Orthodontics, we offer modern braces and Spark™ clear aligners in Brooklyn. Both treatments are highly effective for straightening the teeth and aligning the bite, which will improve oral function, including chewing, and prevent you from biting your cheeks and tongue.
If the problem isn’t due to malocclusion, your dentist is a good resource to turn to. They can determine if it’s caused by a faulty dental restoration that’s impacting your bite or another condition.
The Bottom Line
If you took the time to Google “Why do I bite the inside of my cheek when eating?” or “Why do I bite my tongue while chewing?” it probably means you’re ready to get to the bottom of the problem. While it could be due to an issue with how the upper and lower teeth come together, the only way to know for certain is to visit a professional for an evaluation.
Book a Complimentary Consultation With Dr. Khanna
If you’re tired of biting your cheek and tongue, schedule a complimentary consultation with our Brooklyn orthodontist, Dr. Ankush Khanna. He’ll get to the root of the issue and create a personalized treatment plan that puts you on the path to a functional, pain-free bite.
