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1744544 tn?1311299862

Tongue Cewing

I chew my tongue, excessively, and I cant control it. This has been going on for almost 2 years now. I've been seen at several hospitals, I've switched my Primary Care Physician 4 times now, and I've done research, and I still can not find any answers to what has become a very painful annoyance in my life. I do this all day long, everyday, I stay up all night chewing it, and once I finally fall asleep, I wake up because I've hurt myself from chewing it in my sleep. I tried to change tooth paste, mouth wash, different foods and drinks, I chew gum, nothing seems to work and its damaging my teeth from the excessive chewing. People tell me that I can stop, but I honestly cant. I only chew the tip, and around the edge, and sometimes if I feel as if I have a 'swollen taste bud' on the top (close to the front) then I will chew the top as well. I feel as though I'm chewing off taste buds, and once I feel swelling, or as if the taste bud is growing back, I chew it over and over. I need answers, suggestions, anything, PLEASE!
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1744544 tn?1311299862
ContentedSammy-Thank you for the response.. I have tried several different 'distractions'.. I chew gum, candy, etc.. but I end up putting the gum in the back of my mouth while I chew my tongue.. The only way that I can explain this is, its like an itch you cant scratch, and you try and try and try and IF you finally reach it to scratch it, you scratch like crazy.. If I hold back from biting my tongue, then when I become distracted and end up chewing, I chew myself so violently that I begin to bleed.. I chew my taste buds off.. And once I feel the swelling or the taste bud growing back, I chew it again.. Its, odd?
Helpful - 0
1744544 tn?1311299862
ConnieMomOf2-Is this expensive? My Health Insurance does not cover Dental.. I suffer from Severe Periodia as well, and the my 2 bottom teeth, which are my 'teeth of choice' are suffering from this considering I have very weak gums and a very strong chew.. I'm desperate though....
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Go to the dentist.  You might have TMJ.  Your dentist will give you a mouth guard and this will prevent you from chewing/biting on your tongue.  I have the same problem, my tongue looks disgusting because of this.  I understand what youre going through.
Helpful - 0
1699033 tn?1514113133
When I read your post the first thing that popped into my head was OCD...Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.  There are many forms.  You are chewing your tongue to the point of hurting yourself and someone else may wash their hands so often they start to bleed.  I think the best thing for you to do is to see your general practitioner.  Explain the situation and ask if a referral to a psychologist and/or psychiatrist is in order.  Are you chewing your tongue for a reason?  What pops into your head as you are chewing?  
Helpful - 0
153783 tn?1314297724
Try to find something else to focus on, to me it sounds like a habit that you have become accustomed too, try chewing on a twizzler stick (stir stick). Some people bite there finger nails, hair ect.... do you find when you do this to your tongue it relaxes you at all? if it does like I said try to find something else that would relax you in another way? Its the only suggestion I can come up.
Helpful - 0
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