Jump to content
  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.




  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):



    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):


  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Biting Inside Of My Cheeks


mamaloca2

Recommended Posts

mamaloca2 Apprentice

Does anyone kno wif there is a connection between Celiac disease and habitual biting of the inside of the mouth. I have done it since I was a kid and now my son who is only four does it. Does anyone else have this problem?


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



chrissy Collaborator

sounds more like an obsessive-complulsive behavior-----and OCD can run in families.

jennyj Collaborator

Wow. I have done this as long as I can remember. My dad used to say "Jenny stop it," all the time. I tend to do it when I am very nrevous or watching TV. I don't know if there is a connection but you are not alone.

Kellygirl Rookie
Wow. I have done this as long as I can remember. My dad used to say "Jenny stop it," all the time. I tend to do it when I am very nrevous or watching TV. I don't know if there is a connection but you are not alone.

Yep I am obsessive complusive and I do it all the time, even while sleeping. I am celiac too, but I never really questioned if they go together or not!

Kelly

mamaloca2 Apprentice
sounds more like an obsessive-complulsive behavior-----and OCD can run in families.

I don't have any other traits that are OCD. And I only really bite them when a am stressed. I just noticed when I got glutened that I did it much more, and thought there could be a connection.

mamaloca2 Apprentice
Wow. I have done this as long as I can remember. My dad used to say "Jenny stop it," all the time. I tend to do it when I am very nrevous or watching TV. I don't know if there is a connection but you are not alone.

Us too! Even if it's not related to celiac, seems like there's got to be something more to it. Thanks for your reply!

RiceGuy Collaborator

I used to have similar sorts of stuff happen, but by accident. Usually it was my lip that got chomped :angry: Thankfully, this has subsided/disappeared, and I believe the key was a sublingual methylcobalamin (vitamin B12) supplement. Either that or it just took time, but I notice that my teeth are straighter too, and no longer have the aching that would come and go.

Still a bit of teeth clenching, but not as bad as it used to be.


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



ravenwoodglass Mentor

I actually trained myself to do this. On gluten or under great stress I am a teeth grinder. I have broken them in my sleep, those good old celiac teeth, and I do it to keep from grinding. Perhaps a mouth guard might help you and your son, your dentist can give you one with the best fit. Another thing that helps, at least for me, is a hot compress on my cheek before bed. When I get glutened it helps my muscles to relax and I don't do as much grinding and biting. Plus it feels very soothing.

cmom Contributor

I used to accidentally bite the inside of my mouth and once I did it, it seemed like I did it several times, each time very painful. Hadn't thought much about it until reading these posts. That's a good thing cause that means it "ain't " happenin' anymore!!!!!!

zakismom Newbie

I used to do this all the time! I also used to bite my lip until it turned into a bump. I don't do it as much but I do know that if I get glutened I get a mouth sore.

Rusla Enthusiast

I do this all the time, although it could be not just an ocd but in some cases a tourettes thing.

Stargirl* Newbie

Hi.

I am a long time lurker, first time poster. ;)

My daughter bites the inside of her cheeks and lips. I have put it down to the mouth ulcers she used to have until the gluten intolerance diagnosis.

  • 4 weeks later...
mwahlman Newbie

You may be refering to TMJ. I was recently diagnosed with this by my dentist, around the same time as my Celiac Diagnosis.

I am unsure if the two are directly related, or if I just have been lucky finding medical professionals who arent qwacks lately.

"TemporoMandibular Joint and muscle disorders" The following article goes over the specifics:

Open Original Shared Link

Does anyone kno wif there is a connection between Celiac disease and habitual biting of the inside of the mouth. I have done it since I was a kid and now my son who is only four does it. Does anyone else have this problem?
lob6796 Contributor
Does anyone kno wif there is a connection between Celiac disease and habitual biting of the inside of the mouth. I have done it since I was a kid and now my son who is only four does it. Does anyone else have this problem?

Interesting, I would have never connected the two. I do it alot (ugh the scars!), and my mom, who never knew she did it, went to a special dentist the other day and the lady goes "wow, you really bite your mouth alot, huh?" The dentist said she is probably doing it in her sleep without realizing it. I have Celiac, and she is suspected of having it.

Guhlia Rising Star

I am mildly OCD and I compulsively scratch my lips with my teeth. I'm assuming this is about the same as what you guys are talking about. Luckily, most of my OCD symptoms disappeared when I went gluten free. Unfortunately, this one hasn't gone away completely. It has gotten better though since going gluten free. I think there's definitely a connection with OCD and gluten.

Ursa Major Collaborator

I have Tourette's syndrome and Asperger Syndrome, and I have always done that, too. It isn't possible to determine if in my case it is a tic, OCD (which I have mildly, but not enough for a separate diagnosis, as EVERYBODY with TS and AS has some compulsive behaviours) or a stim (self-stimulating behaviour, typical for people on the autistic spectrum).

But I do know that I don't do things like that as much as I used to when still eating gluten, and my tics have decreased as well.

JamiD Apprentice

*reluctantly raises hand*

Gawd, I'm doing it right now.

I've habitually chewed/bit my inside cheeks and lips since I was a teen. I do it more when I'm not physically busy.

Never been diagnosed w/ OCD and I would say that if I have it, it is mild.

  • 3 weeks later...
glutenfreek Newbie

Add one more person with celiac and bites their tongue...literally. I have wondered about OCD, never been diagnosed, but that doesn't mean much. Like others have mentioned I remember doing this as a child, my grandmother did it and so does my father. I have tried to stop numerous times, hence why I am on this site right now, seeing if anybody has ever been successful in kicking this nasty habit. I used to grind my teeth too and my dentist made me a mouth guard, (Wal Mart sells a mouth guard that you mold to your teeth at home, fairly easy to do and only $20). This stopped my grinding but I am having trouble with biting my tongue still. It is sooooo irritating, I do it in my sleep and sub consciously. I don't understand why I do this, I absolutely hate it, my tongue is sore all the time and looks repulsive I want to stop! Any suggestions or advice would be appreciated.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):





    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):




  • Recent Activity

    1. - tiffanygosci posted a topic in Introduce Yourself / Share Stuff
      0

      Celiac support is hard to find

    2. - cristiana replied to hjayne19's topic in Traveling with Celiac Disease
      2

      Mallorca Guide

    3. - hjayne19 replied to hjayne19's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      7

      Insomnia help

    4. - cristiana replied to hjayne19's topic in Traveling with Celiac Disease
      2

      Mallorca Guide

    5. - trents replied to hjayne19's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      7

      Insomnia help

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):
  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      132,943
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    KELLYDAMON
    Newest Member
    KELLYDAMON
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):
  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):
  • Who's Online (See full list)

    • There are no registered users currently online
  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • tiffanygosci
      I have been feeling so lonely in this celiac disease journey (which I've only been on for over 4 months). I have one friend who is celiac, and she has been a great help to me. I got diagnosed at the beginning of October 2025, so I got hit with all the major food holidays. I think I navigated them well, but I did make a couple mistakes along the way regarding CC. I have been Googling "celiac support groups" for the last couple days and there is nothing in the Northern Illinois area. I might reach out to my GI and dietician, who are through NW Medicine, to see if there are any groups near me. I cannot join any social media groups because I deleted my FB and IG last year and I have no desire to have them back (although I almost made a FB because I'm desperate to connect with more celiacs). I'm glad I have this forum. I am praying God will lead me to more people to relate to. In my opinion, celiac disease is like the only food- related autoimmune disease and it's so isolating. Thanks for walking alongside of me! I'm glad I know how to help my body but it's still not easy to deal with.
    • cristiana
      Forgot to add...  Quite a lot of 'tapas' are gluten free. Ones to look for:  Tortilla de patata (a thick omelette made with potatoes and onions) should be 'sin gluten', and chorizo cooked in red wine makes a nice dish.  Look out for sobrasada, which is very Mallorcan, a softer type of sausage/pate which you can spread on gluten free crispbread which you should be able to buy for supermarkets.  Until very recently we could not buy it here in the UK but we've managed to find a local source, and Lidl have started to sell it in tubs, too. Here's more info on it: Sobrasada is a soft, spreadable, cured pork sausage from Spain's Balearic Islands (like Mallorca), distinguished by its reddish color from paprika, sweet-spicy flavor, and pâté-like texture, perfect for spreading on toast, cooking into dishes like eggs or pasta, or drizzling with honey. Its unique texture comes from the island's humid climate preventing full drying, resulting in a semi-soft sausage that's gently aged, unlike drier mainland chorizo.
    • hjayne19
      Hi @cristiana   Thank you so much for your reply. This is so helpful. I definitely suffer from anxiety mostly related to health. Brain fog definelty doesn’t help this when it comes. I find my 4 am wake ups are potentially more food related if that’s a possibility (eating enough carbs with protein and fats) and if I eat a small snack before bed to hold throughout the night. I just haven’t been able to help the sudden increase in more days where I can’t fall asleep for hours - it’s those racing thoughts like you describe. I feel like a machine that’s running and can’t shut down.    I will try the epsom salt bath that’s a great suggestion. I think I’m probably working through some other food triggers that may be contributing as well with brain fog.    Anyways sorry to go off. It feels so reassuring finding this community and being able to chat with others. I was definitely feeling a bit crazy until I realized there are many others going through the same thing. 
    • cristiana
      Hi Jayne Great choice for a gluten-free cycling holiday, I know the island well. The words you need to look for are 'sin gluten' when you are out and about.   I think you will be amazed at how many packets and canned goods are clearly labelled 'sin gluten' in the supermarkets - many more than one sees here - often in quite large type.  There seems to be a thought in the UK that if you label something gluten free it will affect flavour etc and will put people off buying it!  However, in the case of Spain, it is almost as if the the Spanish see it as an endorsement of quality and flavour!  There is a supermarket called Mercadona and they label their produce very clearly. Paella should be gluten free so long as the chef use the right stock such as Knorr or a gluten-free homemade stock - you can check.  Most Mallorquins in catering speak English but if not, ask, "Contiene gluten?"  Tumbet is a wonderful dish if you like peppers, tomato, aubergines, garlic and olive oil!  A sort of variation on ratatouille.   Slow roast lamb shank should be safe, and there are endless fish dishes to choose from and salads.  Flan is made with eggs, sugar and caramel, and should be gluten-free.  Lots of gluten-free ice cream and sorbets, they should be clearly labelled. If you want specific restaurant recommendations, feel free to PM me. Cristiana    
    • trents
      One thing to keep in mind is that it's pretty safe to take a B-complex since B vitamins are water soluble. You just pee out any excess. 
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.