Anxiety is a common condition that affects millions of people. It involves feeling nervous, worried, tense, or afraid about things that are happening or might happen in the future. Anxiety can range from mild to severe and cause both mental and physical symptoms. One physical symptom some people with anxiety experience is tongue biting. But can anxiety actually lead to or cause tongue biting?
What causes tongue biting?
There are a few potential causes of tongue biting including:
- Accidental biting – This can happen while talking, eating, or swallowing.
- Oral habits – Some people chronically bite, chew on, or play with their tongue which can lead to sores or cuts.
- Malocclusion – When the teeth don’t align properly, the tongue can get caught between them and get bitten.
- Mouth injuries – Cuts, sores, or dental issues in the mouth make it more likely to bite the tongue.
- Seizures – Tongue biting is common during certain types of seizures.
- Sleep disorders – Some sleep disorders are associated with tongue biting.
- Neurological conditions – Diseases that affect the brain and nerves like Parkinson’s disease can cause tongue biting.
- Medications – Certain medications have tongue biting as a side effect.
Can anxiety directly cause tongue biting?
Anxiety itself does not directly make someone bite their tongue. However, anxiety can indirectly lead to tongue biting in a few different ways:
- Muscle tension – When anxious, people often tense up their muscles including those in the jaw, face, and tongue. This can make accidental biting more likely.
- Poor focus – Anxiety can cause difficulty concentrating which makes people more prone to accidental biting.
- Dry mouth – Anxiety and stress can reduce saliva flow leading to a dry mouth and increased risk of biting the tongue.
- Breathing changes – Quick, shallow “chest breathing” during anxiety may disrupt normal swallowing making biting more likely.
- Medication side effects – Anti-anxiety meds like benzodiazepines can cause side effects like slurred speech and lack of coordination which increase the risk of biting.
While anxiety itself won’t directly make someone bite their tongue, it can indirectly contribute in those ways.
Other oral habits related to anxiety
In addition to tongue biting, anxiety and stress can lead to other oral habits including:
- Cheek biting
- Lip biting or chewing
- Grinding teeth
- Clenching jaw
- Picking at lips, tongue, or inside of mouth
- Chewing on pens or pencils
These habits may develop subconsciously as a way to relieve anxiety and distract from worried thoughts. The habits can become so ingrained they persist even when anxiety is under control.
Treatments for anxiety-related tongue biting
If anxiety seems to be contributing to tongue biting, there are some treatment approaches that may help:
- Counseling – Cognitive behavioral therapy helps identify and change thought patterns contributing to anxiety. This can reduce anxious behaviors like tongue biting.
- Relaxation techniques – Things like meditation, yoga, deep breathing, and progressive muscle relation can relieve anxiety and tension that leads to oral habits.
- Jaw and tongue exercises – Exercises to strengthen jaw and tongue muscles may make biting less likely.
- Mouthguards and tongue sleeves – Wearing a mouthguard or sleeve on the tongue provides a barrier to lessen biting.
- Medications – Anti-anxiety meds, muscle relaxers, or anticonvulsants may be prescribed in some cases.
The most effective approach is usually a combination of mental health and dental treatments tailored to each person.
When to see a doctor
In most cases tongue biting related to anxiety doesn’t require medical care. But see a doctor or dentist if:
- Biting becomes severe and leads to bleeding, pain, or injury
- It interferes with eating, swallowing or speech
- Biting is chronic and won’t respond to basic treatments
- Other concerning symptoms develop like numbness, swelling, or lesions
Persistent, severe, or worrisome tongue biting warrants an evaluation to identify any underlying conditions needing treatment.
Preventing anxiety-related tongue biting
Here are some tips that can help prevent anxiety-induced tongue biting:
- Get anxiety under control through medications, therapy, or self-help strategies
- Learn relaxation techniques like deep breathing exercises or progressive muscle relaxation
- Become more aware of the habit and catch yourself before biting tongue
- Find a healthy substitute like chewing gum to occupy the mouth
- Use a mouthguard or tongue sleeve as needed for prevention
- Correct any dental alignment issues that may cause biting
- Stay hydrated and use saliva substitutes if you have dry mouth
Conclusion
Anxiety itself doesn’t directly make someone bite their tongue. But anxiety can lead to muscle tension, poor focus, dry mouth, and other effects that may result in accidental tongue biting. The biting can become a long-term habit. Treatment involves managing anxiety, adjusting oral habits, and using devices like mouthguards if needed. Pay attention if tongue biting becomes severe or chronic and see a professional to identify any underlying factors that require care.