Hi folks, I've got a question and an answer would really ease my mind.
I've chronically chewed on the inside of my cheek and tounge since I was very young. A couple of years ago I was at a dentist who saw the damage and told me that chewing on myself like that can lead to mouth cancer. Is this true? I've never heard of it anywhere else, but it was from a dentist so I just assumed it is. If anyone knows....
Thanks so much.

Hi rhinestOne

Chronic irritation to the lining of the mouth, e.g. due to poorly fitting dentures, may increase a person's risk for oral cancer . So stop chewing your cheek :banghead: !

But how do you stop the habit ?
Chewing the cheek is associated with clenching activity. My patients have found the following technique helpful :

The Relaxation - Autosuggestion Method
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1. Lay down on your back with the palms of your hands on your abdomen.
2. Close your eyes and breathe in slowly and deeply through your nose.
2. As you breathe out slowly, feel yourself beginning to relax; feel the tension leaving your body.
3. Now breathe in and out slowly and regularly, at whatever rate is comfortable for you. You should feel your abdomen rise as you breathe in and fall as you breathe out. (abdominal breathing). Do this for a couple of minutes.
4. Become aware of your breathing. As you breathe out, say the word, """ONE""", silently to yourself. Breathe easily and naturally.
5. Continue for 10 to 20 minutes. You may open your eyes to check the time, but do not use an alarm.
6. End with a slow deep breath. As you breathe out say to yourself """I feel relaxed."""
7. Tell yourself, �I will get a good night�s sleep�,
�I will not chew on my cheek or clench on my teeth because I don�t want to have a sore cheek or aching jaw.

Do not worry about whether you are successful in achieving a deep level of relaxation. Maintain a passive attitude and permit relaxation to occur at its own pace. When distracting thoughts occur, try to ignore them by not dwelling upon them and return to repeating """ONE.""" With practice, the response should come with little effort. Practice the technique once or twice daily, but not within 2 hours after any meal, since the digestive processes seem to interfere with the elicitation of the Relaxation Response.
- The Relaxation Response, Herbert Benson, M.D.
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===============How it works===============
Your mind is suggestible when it is in a relaxed state.
Your self-hypnotic suggestion will cause your subconscious mind to monitor any clenching and biting activity at night. When clenching is detected you will wake up alerted to the undesired behaviour. Once awake, you will relax your muscles and stop chewing your cheek and clenching on your teeth.

You will soon learn to stop clenching and have uninterrupted sleep. The sleeping brain is capable of responding to the clenching and modifying ingrained patterns of behaviour. After the first couple of days you will seldom awaken because your response will be so quick you will not be awakened. Patients report better sleep, and being more rested while using this method to control clenching.

This nighttime retraining carries over into the day. You will catch yourself and be able to control any daytime chewing/clenching habit. When clenching is stopped the muscles relax, the joints are off loaded, and the symptoms of TMJ go away as the joint and muscles are allowed to heal.

This method is safe & effective, non-invasive and reversible. It is easy to use and low cost.

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TREATMENT PROTOCOL
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You will need to practice the method nightly for 6-8 weeks. Treatment length will vary between patients. Factors that affect treatment length include how long you have had your problem and how quickly you respond to behaviour modification.

Consistent nightly practice will promote rapid treatment progress. Skipping nights will slow your progress .

Hope that helps you stop clenching/chewing your cheek. Let me know how you do.

Best wishes
Vinod :coffee:

I really appreciate your confirmation and advice, Dr. Joshi. I will practice the techniques you described since I know now I'm doing harm to myself. Thanks again.

-Rhinest0ne

Hi


Will the good doc explain to me why that should cause cancer damage I agree but Cancer how the hell can that be and surely removal of the chewing even if it was cancer would stop it

Hello Blitz

Even chronic physical irritation may make cells more susceptible to becoming cancerous. That statement does not mean that a cancer will surely occur, just that it could! So chewing your cheek is not advised .

This statement caused some worry about the the possibility of breast cancer to a lady considering a system for breast enlargement developed by a plastic surgeon that uses negative pressure over time .

Best wishes
Vinod :coffee: izza:

Hi Doc

Thnaks for your reply, how about this is it possible to have a lesion in your mouth for years and years without it turning into anything nasty by this I mean eurythplakia or such. If thats the case why do they take all these pesky things out is to avi]oid it becoming nasty or what I have great respect for all you people who work with what i call