Why Do I Bite My Tongue in My Sleep – How to Stop It
Waking up in pain? Find out Why Do I Bite My Tongue in My Sleep. Learn about the most common causes, risk factors, and prevention measures here.
Having a swollen, sore, bleeding tongue in the morning is a sore and baffling start to the day. Having done it, you probably have wondered, why do I bite my tongue in my sleep?
It is a scary experience, especially when you do not recall how it occurred. Although it may seem frightening, understanding the underlying reason is the initial step towards relief. In most cases, uncontrollable mouth or facial movements during sleep cause this problem. These movements usually accompany conditions such as teeth grinding (bruxism), muscle twitches, or, in rare cases, nocturnal seizures.
This guide helps decompose the possible causes of tongue biting during the night, identify symptoms, and take measures to prevent it.
What Is Bite Tongue in My Sleep?
Sleep-related tongue biting is a self-explanatory term:
a painful, involuntary damage to the tongue that occurs while sleeping. Researchers have indicated that the underlying condition causing the jaw movement tends to associate with certain risk factors.
Medical professionals do not perceive this as an isolated condition. Rather, they attribute it to a symptom or a result of other underlying problems. It is nothing but a message from your body that something is interfering with your sleep stability.
Successful Social Life: Why Do I Bite My Tongue in My Sleep?
As a rule, to answer the question “Why do I bite my tongue in my sleep?” you need to examine your sleep health in general. Various key perpetrators are identified in clinical research.
1. Bruxing Teeth (Sleep Bruxism).
This forms one of the most frequent causes of tongue injury in individuals who wake up. Sleep bruxism is the rhythmic clenching or grinding of the teeth during sleep.
How it occurs: When such potent contractions take place, you may have your tongue caught between your molars.
Effect: You will still be sore on the sides of the tongue, or you will have specific scalloped edges where your teeth indent the tissue.
2. Facial Muscle Twitches
There are other individuals who have short-term, intermittent muscle spasms in the face and the jaw. Make these sentences in the active voice
The mechanism: The involuntary twitches may cause the jaw to close quickly.
• The effect: Due to the suddenness and unpredictability of this movement, it is the tongue that is usually affected by the impact.
3. Nocturnal Seizures
Tongue biting is a certain symptom of nocturnal epilepsy, although it is not as widespread as grinding.
• The details: In cases of a tonic-clonic or focal seizure, the jaw muscles will tighten.
• Major distinction: When compared to casual grinding, seizure-related biting usually damages the side (lateral) of the tongue, and it can be very severe.
4. Dental Problems and Structural Problems.
The issue is physical, not necessarily neurological.
• Misaligned teeth: In case the teeth do not fit together perfectly (malocclusion), then the tongue can be placed in a vulnerable position.
Anatomy: A congested mouth, a tongue that is larger than usual, or a small jaw may contribute to the risk of accidental biting.
5. Sleep Apnea
Interestingly, sleep bruxism is often comorbid with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). When you find it difficult to breathe at night, your body will, as a result, turn on the jaw muscles to open the airway and thus leave you with a bite.
Recognizing the Symptoms of Bite Tongue in My Sleep
What makes you know that you are biting your tongue other than because it hurts? The symptoms vary depending on the severity of the bite.
• Morning Pain: You had been feeling that your tongue was stinging or in deep pain.
• Observable Marks: You can observe the presence of indentations, redness, swelling, and even the presence of ulcers.
• Bleeding: During severe attacks, you can either taste blood or have blood on your pillow.
• Poor Sleep: The pain may shock you out of sleep and cause disjointed sleep and tiredness in the daytime.
• Jaw Soreness: It could be that the jaw is feeling tight or sore when you wake in case it is as a result of bruxism.
Who Is Most at Risk Bite Tongue in My Sleep?
Some aspects predispose you to become a victim of this painful night event. It has been indicated that risk factors tend to be associated with the underlying condition that causes the jaw movement.
• Stress and Anxiety: Stress among people is a significant cause of teeth grinding. When you are facing a hard period, you may observe that the number of tongue injuries increases.
Medications: There are drugs that can cause bruxism, especially antidepressants.
Neurological conditions: Epileptic people or people with movement disorders are more likely to bite someone.
Age: Sleep bruxism among adults is, of course, a problem, but in children, it is also quite common.
• Anatomy: Individuals who have a certain shape of their jaw or crowding of their teeth can naturally experience more difficulties in maintaining a safe position of the tongue during sleep.
Prevention and Treatment Strategy of Bite Tongue in My Sleep.
It takes treatment of the movement that causes the bite to stop the bite. These are some broad measures that can be used to reduce the number and severity of injuries.
Use a Dental Appliance
The splints or night guards that are specifically made are the most common defense.
How they work: These machines provide a kind of physical barrier between the upper and lower teeth.
• The advantage: Although you may be grinding or clenching, the guard will prevent your tongue from being exposed to the edges of sharp teeth.
Manage Your Stress
Relaxation can be unexpectedly useful since stress is the cause of bruxism.
• Attempt to relax by meditating, reading before going to bed, or doing breathing exercises.
• Sleep anxiety and jaw tension can also be reduced by reducing caffeine and alcohol consumption.
Treat Uncover Underlying Sleep Disorders.
It is important to have sleep apnea testing if you are a heavy snorer and/or pause breathing while asleep. Teeth grinding usually resolves with treatment of apnea using either weight management therapy or CPAP.
Protect the Tongue Directly
In many persistent cases, dentists may recommend specialized intraoral devices to protect the tongue. A long-term solution can also be orthodontic treatment to straighten misaligned teeth and create more space in the mouth.
What is time to See a doctor
An occasional accidental bite is normal; however, when injuries are frequent, it is necessary to seek professional help. You need to consult the doctor if:
• You are subject to a lot of bleeding or serious wounds.
• You have a suspicion of a seizure (some of the symptoms include bedwetting, being confused after waking up, or observing convulsions).
• You always have headaches in the morning or pain in your jaw.
• There is an over daytime sleepiness.
It has been advised that unexplained or repetitive injuries be evaluated by a health professional, such as a dentist, neurologist, or sleep expert. They can use tools such as detailed history-taking and sleep studies (polysomnography) to identify the specific cause.
Conclusion
The question is, why do I bite my tongue in my sleep? shows a worry which runs deeper than a sore mouth; it is the quality of your sleep. It may be due to stress-induced grinding, dental alignment, or there may be some underlying medical problem, such as epilepsy. It is important to find out the cause of the condition.
Neglect not the undying pain. In case you have a habit of waking up with a tongue injury, then you should see a sleep expert or dentist. By making the correct diagnosis and possibly purchasing a basic night guard, you will be able to safeguard your tongue and resume pain-free, peaceful sleep.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is biting of the tongue when asleep an inevitable symptom of epilepsy?
No. Although biting the side of the tongue is a time-honored indication of some seizures, there are numerous individuals who bite their tongues because of non-epileptic reasons, such as tooth grinding (bruxism) or muscle spasms. It should not be assumed that it is epilepsy without a medical diagnosis.
2. What makes physicians determine the cause?
Physicians would normally take a gradual approach. They begin with an elaborate history and physical examination. In case of necessity, they can refer to the sleep study video and EEG monitoring. This helps them differentiate between rhythmic grinding, random twitches, and seizures.
3. Is it just stress that can make me bite my tongue when I get into bed?
A major cause is stress, as it is the main cause of sleep bruxism. Nevertheless, the stress is not a singular factor, as it often collaborates with other problems, such as sleep apnea or medication side effects, to result in the grinding that cuts your tongue.
4. Do tongue biters stop with the full capability of a night guard?
Night guards protect your teeth and minimize the effects of grinding. Nevertheless, they might not be able to prevent tongue damage in all situations, particularly when the cause is a seizure or a serious movement disorder of the face. They are constituents of a management plan, not necessarily a panacea.
5. Is sleep bruxism common?
Yes, it is relatively common. It has been estimated that approximately 8-16% of the adult population is grinders, and the percentage is even higher in children. It is something that many people do unconsciously until they develop symptoms, such as tooth wear or tongue pain.