Have you ever woken up to a painful tongue because apparently, you have involuntarily bitten it while sleeping? Ask many different dentists, and they would tell you the same: it is a normal habit observed in some people. However, just because it is normal does not mean that it is healthy. This disorder can bring danger to one’s oral health. 

The teeth are a sharp part of the mouth. If a patient continuously performs this dangerous habit, they might end up with jerks and sudden movements while sleeping, resulting in head injuries, eye injuries, brain injuries, and of course, tongue pain and injury. 

This article will help you understand why such a thing happens and what you can do to prevent it.

Why You Bite Your Tongue at Night

Again, the biting of the tongue happens involuntarily to most people, and they occur for different reasons. Here are some of the most common ones:

The Patient Experiences Night Seizure 

Night or nocturnal seizures are the seizures that take place when a person is sleeping at night. When a person experiences this, they could also:

  • Wake up at an unusual time at night without any reason
  • Urinate as they sleep 
  • Shake their body as they sleep
  • Bite their tongue in the process

Usually, this condition happens to people with epilepsy. During the whole process, their muscle stiffens, causing them to do the mentioned effects unconsciously.

The Patient Has Rhythmic Movement Disorder

This kind of condition is often observed in children. The kids with this disorder find themselves banging their heads and rocking their bodies as they sleep. Usually, these actions take place before bedtime. Because they have no control over their bodies during the attacks, they end up biting their tongue in the process.

They Have a Habit of Grinding Their Teeth 

This condition is also known as bruxism, wherein the person asleep does not know that they are clenching their jaws at night and rubbing their upper and lower teeth aggressively. This habit harms the health of the teeth and jaw. At the same time, it also could potentially damage the tongue since it can get caught in between the teeth during the grinding process.

Signs That You Have Biting Your Tongue While Sleeping

Since the tongue biting happens at night while the patient is unconscious, they would not always know that they are making the habit unless someone else points it out. However, some symptoms could help them assess themselves. If you have experienced any of these upon waking up, you might want to get yourself checked for tongue-biting tendencies. 

  • You wake up to a bleeding tongue
  • If not bleeding, the tongue is either swelling or red
  • There are marks or grazes on your tongue
  • The edges of your tongue look raw and scalloped
  • There is an ulcer on your tongue
  • Your tongue is painful

Conclusion

As soon as you realize that you are biting your tongue at night, make sure to visit your dentist as soon as possible. Your dentist can help you determine the cause behind your tongue-biting activity and determine the best treatment for you. Usually, they would recommend you use a mouthguard to protect your teeth from grinding on each other. While doing that, your tongue is also protected against getting bitten by your sharp teeth.

If you have no dentist yet and are looking for an affordable dentist in Edmonton, you are on the right page. Edmonton Smiles is focused on providing quality, comfort, and affordability with exceptional dentistry services for our patients. Contact us today to learn about our services. 

Posted in Dental News & Advice