Chronic tongue and lip biting while eating

Am right there with ya', chiefd67. Cheeks, tongue, and occasionally lips are at risk of self-cannibalism. 😀 It has gotten a lot worse over the last 2 years, so I spoke with my dentist about it and though he is a wonderful dentist with a terrific reputation, he repeated my question and immediately changed the subject. Huhn?

I have to be SO careful about how I chew, which is slow and controlled while making sure my jaws are properly aligned, though sometimes that doesn't work. You don't realize just how hard you bite until you bite yourself - YOUCH! I am actively seeking a remedy, but 10-1 it will be an elective surgery thing so my insurance probably won't cover it. But, we shall see.

Thank you!
I have major bone loss in my lower jaw and severe TMJ and extreme clenching because of anxiety. I am currently looking into mouth reconstruction but I have no idea what all it entails. I lost all my upper teeth for the same reason and currently wear an ill fitting denture with implants. SOOOOO frustrating and painful.
At least your reply is making sense of why I am doing to much biting into my lower lip and tongue.

I started having jaw pain about three years ago. Went to family doc she sent me to Ears nose throat doc. Basically she told me to live with it. It has times when there is more discomfort, a tight feeling, no clicking. Over the last 2-3 months I have begun to experience biting (nipping) front lower lip inside when chewing food. Any food, from meat to ice cream. I have slowed my chewing and I'm very careful when eating but it has gotten worse. I almost always take a small nip in the same spot. I chew so carefully that I don't even break the skin half the time. I'm 71 with a long history of disk issues in my neck and I've had two major spinal surgeries, the last in Feb 2020. They were from the middle of my back to the bottom. I have a lot metal in my spine and have continuing pain from my back into hips. My main questions are: Is the jaw issue causing the lip biting? Is it caused by my spinal problems? What doctor can figure this out. I'm not happy with my neurosurgeon's previous diagnosis which was supposed to alleviate pain in my hip. I had the hip replaced later because it was the worst pain. I've come to believe if you're older and go to a surgeon, they'll find something to cut because after a lifetime of wear and tear, there's something on an MRI that can verify the need for surgery. However, it might not work as planned.
Thanks for reading

I can relate. My bite changed because of too much growth hormone in my body caused by a benign tumor and now I bite my tongue all the time. Sometimes in my sleep. I think if a got braces for my top teeth that would fix the problem for me. My bottom teeth are all spaced nicely because my jaw grew but my top teeth are not lined up with the bottom teeth. You could ask an orthodontist if they might know why this is happening for you. They might have run across this with their patients. Good luck! Hopefully you can find solutions. Wish I could offer more.

I saw a new dentist in April and I got the same story about TMJ but what drew me to this site was the connection of biting to spinal issues. I have slowed my chewing so much, it seems to be working. Last night I had a no hitter for the first time in a month or so.

I will ask the new dentist about an orthodontist next month when I have my six month cleaning. Thank you Buffy.

I too suffer from biting my lip , in the same place, every time I eat. even when I chew slowly, I still bite my lip..I do this for months on end and just as suddenly as it appears it goes away for months, only to reappear again. this time is the first time I bite a different area.i consistently bite the new area and no where else. I don't know what causes it to start or stop and have not been able to pinpoint any common similarities throughout the years.i am at a disgusted loss , I just want it to stop forever.

Update from from my earlier post in April. The dentist I saw actually made a mistake on a filling. In July I saw the hygienist for the first time with this new office. I was told I had six cavities and one might need to be crowned. At this point I asked to see the senior dentist who is the long time owner of the practice. The first visit he filled three lower left teeth. About two days later I realized I hadn't bitten anything. This has continued. I told them about it and he said "that happens." My previous dentist missed all the work I needed. I had regular visits through the pandemic. Their hygienist was pretty bad the last two visits. My new hygienist is without a doubt the best I've ever had. I can't explain what changed but not biting something every time I chewed was worth a bundle. By the way, I left the other dentist for reasons not associated their work. I guess I liked not being told I had cavities when I did. I've also stopped sucking on sugary mints, brush and floss more often. I found a new dentist with a long history in the area and he teaches on the side at a local university. Only problem is he's 65 and likes to travel. Not sure how long I'll have him.

Hi! My dentist was always concerned about my “bite.” If it’s off, I will bite my lip or inside of cheek. I know it’s off now but I keep postponing making an appointment. I hope your issue gets resolved.

You should ask your dentist for a recommendation or ask him who they go to for dental care. To me that’s a pretty good recommendation right there.

I do this too! Very painful and no warning. I have had tmj for years but this biting started a few months ago. It feels like my bottom jaw thrusts forward and upward to clamp my bottom lip against my top teeth. Repeat... And it is swollen and bruised. I havea dental appt next week and will ask about it. Sorry that you have this pain too, but i am glad i am not alone.