In some cases, physical conditions can cause a person to bite their lips when they use their mouth for talking or chewing. In other cases, the cause can be psychological. People may bite their lip as a physical response to an emotional state, such as stress, fear, or anxiety.
Many people repeatedly bite their lip (or cheeks or tongue) as a way to deal with nerves or stress. It's a habit that some may find relieving, although sometimes also painful.
Chronic lip biting is a common nervous habit triggered by anxiety, which may signal psychological or mental health issues. When people are nervous, it is normal for many to bite their lower lips. Lip biting can become a habit for some people, affecting their daily lives (also called chronic lip biting).
Chronic lip biting is a common anxiety symptom and can even be an example of a body-focused repetitive behavior, or BFRB. Once you identify your biting as a nervous habit, you can start to consciously adjust your behavior, and even reach out to friends and family for support.
Psychological causes
Chronic lip biting is one example of a body-focused repetitive behavior, or BFRB. This term refers to any repetitive self-directed behavior that damages the skin, hair, or nails. BFRBs occur as a coping mechanism in situations where a person is feeling uncomfortable or anxious.
An abundance of accidental bites could be a sign of something more serious like a misaligned bite (malocclusion) or even TMJ (temporomandibular joint disorder). When teeth don't align properly, the likelihood of your cheek, lip, or tongue getting in between them increases.
Cheek biting may occasionally be a harmless accident or the result of misaligned teeth, but many people experience chronic cheek biting. Chronic cheek biting is a body-focused repetitive behavior that relates to obsessive-compulsive disorder. Doctors prescribe psychotherapy to help people resolve chronic cheek biting.
Cheek biting, also known as morsicatio buccarum, is a chronic condition characterised by repetitively biting the inside of the mouth. Cheek biting, similar to nail biting, is a stress-related habit that stems from anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorder, and if left untreated, can lead to serious health concerns.
Chewing is a common stim, so addressing the need to chew is very important. Chewing is such a great way to calm and organise the sensory system.
Chewing gum: If cheek biting is a habit, chewing gum may help to provide a distraction. Sugar-free gum is better for dental health. Breathing techniques: A person can try breathing techniques whenever they feel the urge to bite their cheek.
Lip-biting can be a sign of flirtatiousness, of course, but it can also signify that someone is anxious, lacking confidence or simply concentrating on something.
Skin picking disorder is related to obsessive compulsive disorder, where the person cannot stop themselves carrying out a particular action. It can be triggered by: boredom. stress or anxiety.
Teeth Grinding (Bruxism) and Jaw Clenching.
It's a nervous or angry habit for some, but the overall reasons are not fully understood. Over time, grinding (bruxing) and clenching can lead to damaged, worn down and sensitive teeth, jaw problems and facial pain.
What It Means: Lower lip biting is used to display sexual attraction. Biting the lip can bring blood flow to our lips, making them appear redder. Lip biting can also act as a pacifier if it's done repeatedly.
Do you bite your partner's lips while kissing? Don't be surprised because it's quite a common practice. According to Kamasutra, it's a sign of passion and increases blood flow which in turn helps a person to get aroused.
Biting Nails
This habit indicates nerves or insecurity. Whether this means they are nervous about talking to you or just in general, this can be a telling body language cue. It can show that you might be making them nervous (which can be a good or bad thing).
You might chew on your pens or rock back and forth in your seat when you're anxious. This phenomenon is called stimming, and it's a normal part of living with adult attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Hypersensitivity #1: Hearing Someone Chew.
It's a real thing, called misophonia — the dislike or even hatred of small, routine sounds, such as someone chewing, slurping, yawning, or breathing. It's often an ADHD comorbidity.
Stimming can take many different forms: visual: staring off into space, drawing, spinning things like pens or coins. verbal/auditory: repeating sounds, excessive giggling, constantly clearing throat. tactile: rubbing fingers, chewing/biting nails, chewing the inside of cheeks.
Body-focused repetitive behavior disorder is characterized by body-focused repetitive behaviors (eg, nail biting, lip biting, cheek chewing) and attempts to stop the behaviors. (hair-pulling disorder) and excoriation (skin-picking) disorder.
People can bite their cheek when eating too fast, talking while eating, or getting into a fight or an accident. Depression or anxiety-related biting. Like biting your nails, you might automatically bite your inner cheek as a reaction to being stressed, anxious, or depressed. Tooth deflection in the dental arch.
A common (but rarely discussed) comorbid diagnosis related to ADHD is body-focused repetitive behavior (BFRB), with symptoms ranging from nail biting to hair pulling to cheek biting that children and adults can't control.
The most common forms of stimming, both in neurotypical and neurodivergent people include humming, swaying side to side, biting nails, biting the inside of the cheek, tapping fingers or toes, and rubbing the skin.