Compulsive lip/cheek chewing

[hotCheeseBURNS]

I was told off by a new dentist today for chewing the inside of my mouth, something which I have always done as long as I can remember.
Does anyone know how I can stop it or what the danger is? I've tried chewing gum but unless I'm concentrating I still bite my lips.

[uberalice]

Watching with interest as I do this too.

[Dalrymps]

Hmm, I also do this, it's so addictive! Watching with interest...

[Bakersman]

I do too! Having lots of mouth ulcers because of it doesn't put me off so I'm doubtful of any other strategies.
Have wondered about hypnotherapy though but I;m a bit too much of a scaredy cat

[bodiddly]

I do this when I am worried about something .. it is a totally unconscious thing so I dont realise it until the inside of my mouth is in shreds!

[hotCheeseBURNS]

That's interesting that you're aware what triggers it bodiddly. As far as I can tell I do it all the time but that can't be true?...

My dentist is new and I couldn't really understand what he was saying because of his accent but it was something about the manky ripped up stuff in my cheeks harbouring bacteria and causing some problems when I'm older?

Hypnotherapy sounds expensive. Why scary though?

[bodiddly]

I definitely don't realise until after Ive done it but have definite ridges on the inside of my cheeks (albeit slight) even when I am not!

[hotCheeseBURNS]

Have you ever looked in the mirror while doing it? Not pretty!

[bodiddly]

no, cant say that I have .. doesnt bear thinking about now that you come to mention it!

[lottomayo]

I used to chew my cheeks lips and the inside of my lips to bleeding point all the time
I couldn't participate in a couple science class experiments because when the teacher swabbed my mouthe all he got was pieces of cheek amd lip
But I recently got my tongue web pierced and have been playing with that instead
It is just another obsessive habbit but at least it doesn't damage your cheeks and teeth I think
Try a lip or tongue web or tongue piercing something mute related to distract you
Sorry if my spelling is bad I hope its understandable

[bratley]

Me too!
I just realised I was doing it as I read the thread title!
I've watched myself doing it and it is really not a good look!
I go through phases of doing it, I can go a few weeks withour doing it then once I start, thats it, I'll keep going until I'm bleeding.
I've also woken up on a morning to find blood on my lip where I've bitten it during the night in my sleep.
DH is forever shouting at me for it. We'll be sat watching tv and I'll hear 'stop it, now'.
Wish I knew the cure, like OP says, I don't know I'm doing it a lot of the time, and have to concentrate really hard not to do it.