Lip Biting: Causes, Treatment, When To Seek Help, And More

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Mental Well-Being

Lip Biting

Medically reviewed by Cynthia Cobb, DNP, APRN, WHNP-BC, FAANP — Written by Julie Ryan Evans — Updated on September 18, 2018

Causes
Related conditions
Diagnosis
Treatment
Complications
Prevention
Outlook

Overview

Biting your lip from time to time isn’t a problem. However, in some cases, people are unable to control the habit, and it becomes what’s known as a body-focused repetitive behavior (BFRB).

While not specifically referred in the newest edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), chronic lip biting falls under “other specified obsessive-compulsive and related disorders,” specifically under BFRB.

A BFRB is different from someone who just occasionally exhibits a behavior, such as lip biting. For people with BFRBs, the behavior causes the person distress or interferes with their ability to function.

Severity can vary greatly. BFRBs aren’t considered a form of self-mutilation, like cutting. Even though some BFRBs result in bodily harm, people with BFRBs aren’t intentionally harming themselves.

What causes lip biting?

Stress and anxiety are typically related to lip biting. But there’s also some evidence that people may have a biological predisposition to BFRBs such as lip biting. Other factors that may be related to developing a BFRB include:

Age. Most BFRBs develop between the ages of 11 to 15.
Sex. Women are more likely to develop BFRBs than men.

Temperament and environment can also play a role in developing BFRBs.

According to the TLC Foundation for Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors, research indicates that most BFRBs aren’t related to trauma or other unresolved psychological issues.

In some cases, chronic lip biting is accidental and the result of a dental condition. These include:

Malocclusion

A malocclusion refers to a condition in which your bite is misaligned. This could make you more likely to bite your lip.

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder

TMJ disorder is a group of conditions that result in pain and dysfunction in the TMJ. This is the joint that connects your lower jaw to your skull. It can also cause people to accidentally bite their lip.

Related conditions

Other BFRBs

BFRBs refer to a group of related disorders in which people repeatedly touch their hair or body in a physically damaging way. Research from the TLC Foundation suggests that 3 percent or more of the population suffers from a BFRB. However, many cases are undiagnosed. Other BFRBs include:

trichotillomania, the uncontrollable pulling of hair
excoriation disorder, the compulsive picking of skin
onychophagia, chronic nail biting
chronic tongue chewing
trichophagia, the compulsive eating of hair

Diagnosing the underlying cause

If your lip biting feels accidental, see a dentist. They can evaluate whether you might have a dental condition that’s causing you to bite your lip.

If your lip biting is something you’re doing to relieve stress or gain some sense of pleasure that feels out of your control, seek out a mental health counselor. They’ll review your symptoms and your psychiatric and medical history to determine the best course of treatment.

Treatment for lip biting

Many people are unaware they’re biting their lip when they’re doing it. Becoming conscious of the behavior is often the first step. This can be achieved by training yourself to note the feelings that lead up to lip biting, or recording the behavior and circumstances at the time through journaling.

Other treatment options for habitual lip biting may include:

cognitive behavioral therapy
counseling
relaxation techniques
hypnosis
acupuncture
prescription sedatives
prosthetic shields or soft mouth guards
replacement behaviors, such as chewing gum instead

If lip biting is caused by dental issues, then treatment may include:

braces
surgery
removal of teeth
wires or plates to stabilize the jaw bone
jaw exercises
surgery

Complications of lip biting

When lip biting is persistent, it can lead to complications in some cases. These include:

redness
inflammation
painful sores
psychological stress, such as feelings of guilt and hopelessness

How to prevent lip biting

Managing stress through exercise, breathing exercises, and other healthy lifestyle choices may help prevent BFRBs in some cases. Practicing mindfulness when it comes to any behavior that starts to feel repetitive and redirecting the behavior may also help.

It’s also important to note that BFRBs can reoccur. Remain alert to symptoms even after you’ve been successfully treated for a BFRB. Typically, previously effective strategies can be employed again. In some cases, new treatment methods will need to be explored.

What’s the outlook?

If you bite your lip from time to time, it’s probably nothing to be worried about. However, there are instances of lip biting that can be harmful to your health and well-being. If you find that your lip biting is uncontrollable and you can’t stop it yourself, seek professional treatment. There are a variety of options to help you stop and live a full and healthy life.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Bhatia SK, et al. (2013). Habitual biting of oral mucosa: A conservative treatment approach. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4103%2F0976-237X.118357
Golomb R, et al. (2016). Expert consensus treatment guidelines: Body-focused repetitive behaviors.https://www.bfrb.org/storage/documents/Expert_Consensus_Treatment_Guidelines_2016w.pdf
Other body-focused repetitive behaviors. (n.d.).http://www.bfrb.org/learn-about-bfrbs/other-bfrbs
Siddiqui EU, et al. (2012). Prevalence of body-focused repetitive behaviors in three large medical colleges of karachi: A cross-sectional study. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-0500-5-614
Why do I bite my lip all the time? (2017). http://www.drwinans.com/2017/02/bite-lip-time/

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Medically reviewed by Cynthia Cobb, DNP, APRN, WHNP-BC, FAANP — Written by Julie Ryan Evans — Updated on September 18, 2018

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