I often bite my tongue. What's going on?

It is estimated that more than 90% of people have experienced biting their tongue. We often see people suddenly uttering "ouch" and showing a painful expression while eating. That must be because they bit their tongue! When we were young, we often heard that people bit their tongue because they wanted to eat meat. So what is going on?

It's normal to bite occasionally

Some people bite their tongue because they eat while talking, and they eat and talk fast. Biting your tongue occasionally may be due to lack of concentration and is normal.

Bad teeth?

If you clench your teeth, most people's upper teeth will cover the outside of the lower teeth. This is because our upper dental arch is a larger horseshoe shape, and the lower dental arch is a smaller horseshoe shape. Our tongue is protected by the "little horseshoe" of the lower dental arch. When eating normally, the upper teeth bite the outside of the lower teeth, and the tongue is safer.

But some people are born unlucky, with a smaller upper dental arch, so when they bite down, it is closer to the tongue, making it easier to bite. Doctors do have a way to deal with this kind of improper bite. By wearing braces for a period of time and adjusting the alignment of the teeth, the tongue can be saved from the fate of being damaged.

Enlarged tongue?

When teeth bite the tongue, besides the teeth, of course the tongue may also be the reason. There is some truth in the saying “Fat people bite their tongues and thin people bite their cheeks”, because fat people are more likely to have enlarged tongues, making them more likely to be bitten. Some people are born with larger tongues, and when they open their mouths, their tongues extend beyond their teeth. For some people, because a tooth has been missing for a long time, the tongue area next to this tooth has gradually grown larger, making the chance of being bitten a little higher.

Unconsciously grinding your teeth during sleep?

In addition to biting the tongue while eating, some people bite their tongue while sleeping at night. When we eat during the day, our teeth move consciously and our tongue cooperates consciously. When we sleep at night, some people's teeth move unconsciously, and if the tongue does not know how to avoid it at this time, it will be bitten by the teeth. People with bruxism have their teeth edges sharpened, making it easier for them to bite their tongue and do so more severely.

Repeated biting may increase tongue cancer risk?

Tongue cancer originates from the mucosal surface, and more than 90% of them are squamous cell carcinomas, which can cause ulcers, irregular white spots or orange peel-like protrusions. They are related to the patient's eating habits such as chewing betel nuts, smoking, drinking or eating spicy foods. But some people have a normal diet, do not smoke or drink, and the reason is that their tongue is repeatedly injured and the long-term stimulation causes cancer. Ulcers caused by persistent and repeated biting contribute to the development of tongue cancer. If a wound in the mouth or on the tongue does not heal for two weeks, or if the wound develops irregular white spots or orange peel-like protrusions, it is best to see a doctor promptly.

How to prevent tongue cancer?

The first thing to do is of course to pay attention to oral hygiene, brush your teeth in the morning and evening, and rinse your mouth after meals; have an oral examination once or twice a year, and if you find any tooth or periodontal disease, treat it in time; if you have caries, fill it early; the residual crowns and roots that can be repaired and used should be dealt with in time; the residual crowns and roots that are difficult to cure or use should be removed in time, and dentures should be placed on time, even if there is no inflammation or pain; people who grind their teeth at night for a long time or are older can easily have their teeth sharpened, and this should be corrected in time; in addition, quit smoking and limit alcohol consumption, increase exercise, and improve nutrition.

Can tongue biting be a sign of mental illness?

There may also be neurological reasons. If you are under too much stress, or are physically tired or lack rest, your nervous system may not be able to control your muscles normally for chewing, so it is easy to bite your tongue when eating.

If the elderly like to bite their tongue, you should be more vigilant. There is a disease called lacunar infarction. In addition to biting the tongue while eating, its early symptoms include slower and longer swallowing movements, drooling, unconsciously dropping tea cups or bowls when holding them, and inability to whistle. These are minor symptoms that are easily overlooked. This disease can cause infarction of local microvessels in the brain, ischemia and necrosis of brain tissue, and thus make the tongue lose its ability to move flexibly.

Lacunar infarction is a special type of cerebral infarction with a high incidence rate. It often occurs in elderly people with hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes. The number of such patients accounts for nearly 70% of the total number of cerebral infarction patients. If you find that the elderly person often bites his tongue recently, or has dizziness, headache, unsteady walking, slurred speech, etc., you should seek medical attention immediately.

How to deal with biting your tongue?

1. Generally speaking, an occasional bite on the tongue or cheek will heal in about a week and does not require medical attention. If there is hematoma in the wound, but the mucosa is not broken, no special treatment is needed, and the hematoma will be absorbed naturally;

2. If the mucous membrane is bitten and ulcers appear, in addition to avoiding irritating food, you can also use mucous membrane protectants, such as oral cream, mucous membrane coating, watermelon frost spray, etc., which can both relieve pain and accelerate wound healing;

3. In addition, pay attention to oral hygiene, grind down the sharp parts of decayed and rotten teeth, and repair them in time; if the mucosal protrusions on the cheeks are often bitten, mucosal resection surgery can also be performed.