Accidentally biting your tongue might be one of the most unpleasant habits out there. Our tongue is a very sensitive organ, so biting it can be even excruciatingly painful.
To avoid pain, you can find out what underlying issues are causing it. You’ve surely had situations when you’d find yourself wondering: “why do I keep accidentally biting my tongue?” If you are familiar with this issue, read on to find out the reasons behind it.
1. Bruxism
Bruxism is one of the most well-known causes of tongue biting. This condition causes you to grind your teeth and can also be accompanied by biting your tongue or the inside of your cheek. That can happen to you both while awake and during sleep, when you are less likely to control your jaw.
Fortunately, something that will help is wearing a mouthguard at night. Also, in view of the fact that bruxism might be caused by stress, a healthier lifestyle is always a good idea.
2. Seizures
If you are suffering from a neurological condition like epilepsy, you might accidentally bite down on your tongue when having a seizure. In such cases, make sure to consult your doctor and take the necessary medication to prevent seizures.
3. Eating Too Fast
If you are a fast eater, then you do not need to ask yourself: “Why do I keep accidentally biting my tongue?” because the answer is obvious — and the problem is easy to solve. Biting your tongue due to chewing too quickly can be fixed by training yourself to be more mindful. Try not to eat too fast and enjoy every bite. Being mindful in other activities as well will benefit you tremendously!
4. Substance Abuse
Certain substances are well-known for causing tongue biting. For example, using MDMA is often accompanied by bruxism. The higher the dose is, the more likely it is to cause you to bite your tongue. We strongly advise against any substance abuse, so steering clear of drugs is the best remedy in this case.
5. Malocclusion
Malocclusion is a misalignment of the teeth, and it causes many dental issues. If you have an overbite, for example, you might bite your tongue much more frequently than people whose teeth are aligned perfectly. One thing that could help is fixing your misalignment by getting braces. There are also lesser-known options, like Invisalign Braces.
6. Athletic Activities
If you enjoy sports, you know that there are some that can cause you to bite your tongue accidentally. Whether it’s American football, hockey, or basketball, the sport only needs to involve fast movements, and you will experience tongue biting much more often.
The best prevention is getting a mouthguard. For certain sports, it’s also necessary to wear a mask or a helmet, which should prevent all kinds of injuries, including tongue biting. Do your best to protect yourself and enjoy sports painlessly!
7. Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is not the actual cause of tongue biting, but people with it might experience it more often. To be precise, scientists are not quite in agreement concerning the correlation between sleep apnea and bruxism, so they see sleep apnea as a risk factor for bruxism.
Follow your doctor’s instructions to control this issue — you may be advised to get a CPAP machine, which works by delivering air to avoid having your airway collapse when you breathe in.
8. Facial Muscle Spasms
Facial muscle spasms are usually seen in children, and there are many possible causes like stress, physical activity, and stimulants. Those with the condition are unable to control their muscles when sleeping, causing them to bite their tongues and preventing a good night’s sleep.
The best way to treat it is to have a healthier lifestyle. That means getting enough sleep, eating healthy food, avoiding caffeine, and doing plenty of exercise.
9. Lyme Disease
This infectious disease is still not well-understood. Signs that you have it include:
• hair loss
• a painful neck
• fatigue
• problems with your sleep and vision
• fever
• headache
Since it also seems to cause problems with reflexes, that’s why you might experience tongue biting.
Even though there seem to be different opinions, doctors still treat most cases of Lyme disease with oral or intravenous antibiotics. They should clear the infection and stop you from accidentally biting your tongue.
