In order to keep their breathing steady, and prevent them from suffocating during sleep, most people unconsciously bite their tongues while sleeping. This action is also known as bruxism, which is a medical term for when you grind your teeth or bite your tongue in your sleep. It can lead to jaw pain and tooth damage if it goes untreated. Here are the most common reasons why people bite their tongues during sleep, and what you should do if you find yourself doing this habit often.
Why Do I Bite My Tongue When I Sleep?
I have been bitten by my tongue a couple of times and I am not sure if I do it on purpose. One time, I was sleeping and I woke up, put my hand on my face to wake myself up and I felt something odd. It was my tongue. It wasn’t in my mouth but it was very close to it. Not knowing where else to put the tip, I put it back in my mouth. That’s when I realized that it wasn’t a dream but that something weird had happened.
What Is The Purpose Of Biting Your Tongue?
The most common reason why people bite their tongues during sleep is to keep their breathing steady. This action helps prevent suffocation and aids in the process of ventilation during sleep. However, this can lead to other health problems.
For example, if you start biting your tongue frequently, it can cause inflammation in the soft tissue of the mouth and sinuses that can be painful or may lead to a chronic infection. It’s important to note that a person does not have to be conscious for this habit to work. One study found that more than 80 percent of people with bruxism don’t remember doing it at night.
If you find yourself biting your tongue when you go to bed, try these methods before reaching out for medical advice:
* Stop drinking coffee and alcohol too close to bedtime as they can make bruxism worse.
* Drink less water just before going to bed because it makes muscles tense up.
* Avoid taking naps during the day because you could fall asleep during your nap and wake up with a sore jaw.
* Take a break from certain positions in which you sleep by lying on your back or side instead of on your stomach.
* Avoid eating a full meal before going to sleep. This can make it difficult for you to sleep, which will increase the chances of bruxism
* Avoid using your teeth as a pacifier. If you find yourself doing this, it may be a sign that you’re not getting enough restful sleep.
* Make sure that you get enough exercise and sleep regularly. If you don’t, your mouth muscles may try to compensate for all of the time that you’re not sleeping.
* Bruxism is a habit that starts in childhood, so it’s important to encourage your child to talk to their dentist about it if they’re biting their tongues or grinding their teeth at night.
How Do You Know If You’re Doing This Habit Too Much?
There are a few signs that may indicate you’re doing this habit too much. These include:
-Excessive drooling or dribbling of saliva during sleep
-Morning headaches
-Waking up with a sore neck
-Slipping out of bed, or waking up with bed head
-Feeling sleepy during the day and not being able to get back to sleep
-Being unable to concentrate
-Losing interest in hobbies or activities you once enjoyed
-Trouble with your balance, posture, or hearing
-Over-reacting to things that you normally wouldn’t
-Trouble concentrating on things you used to be able to concentrate on
How To Rid Of Biting Tongues When Sleeping?
If you find yourself biting your tongue during sleep, follow these tips to overcome the problem:
Empty your mind
In order for teeth to relax, it’s important that you focus on something else instead of your teeth. Try closing your eyes and imagining a scene from a movie or TV show that you love. Allow yourself to get lost in the images and try not to think about anything else while doing it.
Use a mouthguard
If you’re suffering from bruxism, wearing a mouthguard could help reduce the pain that can come with this condition. If you wear one during nighttime sleep, you may find yourself waking up with less pain in the morning.
Use an anti-bruxism device
There are different types of devices designed to help people stop biting their tongues at night, but they all work just like regular mouthguards do – they keep your teeth in place while you sleep without restricting your breathing.
Use a tongue bite alarm
If you find yourself biting your tongue at night, it could be a sign that you’re grinding your teeth. There are different types of alarms for this purpose, but the most common type is the mouth guard that you can wear during sleep.
Use an anti-biting device
There are different types of devices designed to stop people from biting their tongues during sleep, but they all work just like regular mouthguards do – they keep your teeth in place while you sleep without restricting your breathing.
Eat a full meal before going to sleep
Eating a full meal before bedtime is not recommended because it can make it difficult for people to fall asleep at night and can lead to bruxism and other health problems as well. If you find yourself doing this habit, try eating something less filling instead of eating a full meal right before bedtime.
Use an anti-biting device
There are different types of devices designed to stop people from biting their tongues during sleep, but they all work just like regular mouthguards do – they keep your teeth in place while you sleep without restricting your breathing.
What Are The Most Common Reasons For Biting Your Tongue During Sleep?
Every night, we spend about an hour and a half of our lives unconscious. This is when your breathing controls are out of your control and you can’t speak or move. Your brain automatically puts up barriers to protect you from suffocating during sleep. One of these barriers is the act of biting your tongue while sleeping. It might be instinctive, but it’s not ideal for your teeth, jaw, and overall health. Here are some of the most common reasons people bite their tongues:
- To prevent them from suffocating during sleep
- To stimulate their jaw muscles
- To relieve pressure on the tongue
- To help reduce snoring
- Due to restless leg syndrome
- To help you feel more comfortable when you sleep on your back
- To prevent them from biting their fingers
- To prevent them from falling out of bed
- To prevent them from being too loud while they sleep
- Because it’s what they do naturally
What Can You Do To Prevent Yourself From Doing This Habit?
To prevent yourself from biting your tongue while sleeping, try these suggestions:
– If you drink decaffeinated coffee before bed, you will be less likely to grind your teeth.
– Try not to sleep on your back as this can cause bruxism.
– If you have problems sleeping, try to avoid watching TV or playing video games right before bed.
– Take an hour’s nap every day.
– Brush and floss your teeth after every meal.
– If you are a smoker, stop smoking before going to bed as this will make it more difficult for you to fall asleep.
– Be sure that if you have a denture in your mouth, it is adjusted properly and that there aren’t any gaps in the dentures or that they are loose.
Conclusion
Biting your tongue is not a good habit. It can cause damage to your teeth and jaw, which can lead to other problems in the future. If you do it often, try one of these tips to stop doing it.