Chewing the inside of my mouth

[Hope]

I have read plenty about people biting their cheeks or lips, especially when eating, but I am constantly chewing the inside corners of my lips and sometimes my cheeks. It is driving me mad. I wake in the night with some part of the inside of my mouth between my teeth! Has anyone any advice on how to stop? I tried a gum-shield but I have an severe gag reflex so that is not an option. It's not painful, just annoying and I have scar tissue around the inside of my lips.

[Ellie]

Hope Do you think your jaw muscles are in spasm or weak to the point that your jaw is slightly out of place and has affected your bite?

IDK how feasible a dental appointment is, but a dentist could hopefully identify the issue, always a good place to start...

I have a small, very thin gum shield, which is nowhere near as big as a sports-type and barely extends onto my gums, so doesn't cause me to gag and, during the day, my neck brace has the added benefit of keeping my jaw from sagging and moving out of its ideal alignment 👍👍 xx

[John D]

Hope I have the same problem. My tongue also gets clamped between my teeth which sometimes draws blood. Releasing it takes few seconds which can be a painful experience.

Was your gum shield made for you or is it something you bought from a sports shop or the like?The only thing I have found that helps is a gum-shield made by my dentist for £300 which seems to be the going rate round here whoever makes it - dentist or hospital. It’s not a perfect solution and I don’t use it all the time but I haven’t come across anything else. I occasionally use Bonjela to relieve soreness in my mouth.

[matthew55]

Get a dentist to make mouth guard

[Hope]

Thanks everyone, I am due a checkup with the dentist soon so will see what he says.