Odd tongue sucking habit, PLEASE HELP!

[lving4today]

It sounds strange, but whenever I sleep or am in a restful state of mind, I suck on my tongue by tucking my teeth over my top teeth and suckle. Similar to thumb sucking, and I've doing it since I was little. I'm now 20 and now I'm more worried about dental issues than ever. My dentist said I have beautiful teeth, but I've become extremely paranoid.

I've tried retainers with small pokey things to prevent my tongue, but all that did was cause lacerations and I still continued. It makes it difficult because my tongue is in my mouth and most times then not its a subconscious habit and I can't control it.

I can't find any help with this and even my dentist wasn't sure if it'd cause damage.

I'd like to if it will affect my teeth in any way, if not I'll continue and just accept it because if I don't do it I cannot sleep at night.

Please someone help with some insight, I'm at my wit's end.

[paula12398]

I am 61 and have sucked my tongue all my life.  I have to force myself not do it in front of people or in public.  I didn't know anyone else in the world ever did this but me.  I'm glad to know there are others out there.

[oceanwavex]

Wow...so many of us... my story is that when I was a baby I got a huge cold sore and was unable to eat/drink but more importantly suck my dummy! As a substitute for this I started sucking my tongue and still do to this date aged 44(cannot stop it) so relaxing.

For all those that suck their tongue to sleep...can you with a cold and blocked nose??

It can be embrassing at times of tiredness as most of us wonder off into a trance like state of sucking our tongues and if you jaw slightly moves up and down like mine people can stare! Trying not to eat too much at lunch on a summers afternoon and start to doze off sucking your tongue...

[Mimi1515]

I also have the same situation as you. But how did you stop lisping?

[Sofikitou]

I am 26 year old since I can remember myself I sucked my tongue (the kind that you try to swallow it) I do it unconsciously when I am thinking or when I am about to sleep. In addition to the sucking I like to smell things for example when I was little I had a bunny and a doll with strange hair that I liked to smell when I grew older I smelled pillows and then my sleeves and in the summers my own skin (it stills calms me). I thought I was the only one with this strange habit and since I was little my parents where trying to stop me but two years ago I learnt that both were sucking their tongues since childhood so I guess it's in the family. I don;t have any dental problems from this habit in fact my teeth are perfect and I was never ashamed for it.

[poojaconda]

i love to do it especially when i smell things i love, like the AC smell from cars, machine smell and even the smell of rain. I just can't stop myself from it. It leaves me with a dry throat and sore tongue. Im happy to know that there are other people who do this. I thought i was the only one who did this.

[poojaconda]

i love to do it especially when i smell things i love, like the AC smell from cars, machine smell and even the smell of rain. I just cant stop myself from it. It leaves me with a dry throat and sore tongue. Im happy to know that there are other people who do this. I thought i was the only one who did this.

[Richard091960]

I have sucked my teeth for years. I think it started when my teeth felt a bit furry and I would try and clean them subconsciously by sucking on them. Well, years later it has had a really bad side effect. I have developed Leukoplakia on the underside of my tongue and have had to have two very painful surgeries, under local anesthetic to remove it. Four injections into the tongue is really nasty. Leukoplakia is damage to skin cells caused by constant trauma, in my case my tongue rubbing against the side of my teeth. If Leukoplakia is untreated it can become cancerous. I first became aware of it because I had a burning sensation under my tongue. When I looked carefully, I could see a milky white patch under my tongue. I went to the doctor and found out what it was. If you have chipped teeth or sharp edges on your teeth, get your dentist to smooth of fill. On my last surgery one of the stitches developed an abscess, extremely painfull, could hardly swallow for days. I am still waiting for the results on whether its cancerous or not. Dentists are meant to check your mouth for Leukoplakia, I am not sure they do. Be aware. If you can stop yourself sucking on your teeth, do it.

[Richard091960]

I have sucked my teeth for years. I think it started when my teeth felt a bit furry and I would try and clean them subconsciously by sucking on them. Well, years later it has had a really bad side effect. I have developed Leukoplakia on the underside of my tongue and have had to have two very painful surgeries, under local anesthetic to remove it. Four injections into the tongue is really nasty. Leukoplakia is damage to skin cells caused by constant trauma, in my case my tongue rubbing against the side of my teeth. If Leukoplakia is untreated it can become cancerous. I first became aware of it because I had a burning sensation under my tongue. When I looked carefully, I could see a milky white patch under my tongue. I went to the doctor and found out what it was. If you have chipped teeth or sharp edges on your teeth, get your dentist to smooth of fill. On my last surgery one of the stitches developed an abscess, extremely painfull, could hardly swallow for days. I am still waiting for the results on whether its cancerous or not. Dentists are meant to check your mouth for Leukoplakia, I am not sure they do. Be aware. If you can stop yourself sucking on your teeth, do it.