Cheek Biting <br />Chronic cheek biting may be a sign of a mental health condition related to stress and anxiety. Treatment may include talk therapy, stress-relieving activities, and dental devices.<br />Chronic cheek biting, known as morsicatio buccarum, is characterized by repeatedly biting or chewing the inner lining (mucous membrane) of your mouth, such as the cheek, lips, and tongue.<br />It’s classified as a body-focused repetitive behavior (BFRB) in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5th Edition (DSM-5).<br />Occasional cheek biting may be a behavioral reaction to stressful periods likeTrusted Source adolescence and pregnancy.<br />However, BFRBs are behaviors that are repeated despite continuing attempts to stop them or experiencing injury and distress. They typically start in late childhood and may continue into adulthood.<br />There’s no precise data on the number of people with morsicatio buccarum, but a 2013 review found that 750 out of 1 million people may have chronic cheek biting.<br />Types of cheek biting<br />There are five primary types of cheek biting:<br />1. Periodic accidental: This refers to the occasional, accidental cheek bite. It’s not a cause for concern, but it may result in a canker sore.<br />2. Regular accidental: If you accidentally bite down on your cheeks regularly — and more often than you would like — your teeth may not be in proper alignment or there may be something wrong with your jaw. A dentist can help you develop a solution, such as braces.<br />3. During sleep: It’s possible to bite your cheek during sleep, such as nighttime teeth grinding. Using a mouth guard may help prevent direct contact of your teeth with your cheek.<br />4. Habitual: This is a semiconscious activity. It may be replaced by another, less damaging behavior.<br />5. BFRD: This is obsessive cheek biting that continues despite attempts to stop. It resembles other obsessive-compulsive behaviors, such as nail biting and hair pulling. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> Future University is the first university in Iraq.