How Cheek And Lip Biting Contributes To Teeth Misalignment

Cheek and lip biting is a frequent habit that a significant portion of the population exhibits without realizing it. It typically occurs during moments of stress, during distraction, or as an automatic reflex when deep in thought.



Infrequent lip or cheek trauma may appear benign, repetitive cheek or lip biting can contribute to the onset or exacerbation of malocclusion, which refers to the improper alignment of teeth and jaws.



As the habit continues, repeated pressure from the buccal and labial tissues against the teeth can cause dental displacement. This is particularly significant in children and adolescents whose jaws are still growing and are more easily influenced to external forces.



Persistent labial force can push front teeth backward, leading to overlapping teeth or an deep bite. In parallel, biting the inside of the cheeks can induce tissue irritation, which might modify the anatomical alignment of posterior dentition.



Occasionally, persistent oral self-injury can lead to the formation of fibrous tissue that further restricts normal jaw movement. This hinders normal dental arch formation and raises the risk of needing orthodontic treatment in the future.



Additionally, those with misaligned teeth may be more likely to experience repeated self-biting because crooked dentition create uneven surfaces that easily catch the oral membranes during mastication or talking.



This establishes a feedback loop: misaligned teeth cause trauma, and biting worsens malocclusion.



Ceasing self-biting requires conscious recognition and in many cases cognitive behavioral intervention or the application of orthodontic devices to reduce contact between cheeks.



Clinicians routinely assess for clinical indicators of self-inflicted injury when assessing bite patterns because it can be an important clue in determining etiological factors of a patient’s bite problems.



Intervening promptly, 墨田区 前歯矯正 during growth phases, can help prevent complex dental misalignments and minimize the requirement for extensive treatment down the line.