Please help me stop myself chewing my lower lip
January 8, 2012 2:05 PM Subscribe
Help! I can't stop biting my lower lip and it's driving me bonkers.
It started in the last few months, I think related to stress or boredom or a combination of the two... I hate the way I look when I do this (pretty much constantly), I've tried meditation, drinking more water etc., but does anyone have any tips to deal with this very annoying and ugly habit. Thanks!
It started in the last few months, I think related to stress or boredom or a combination of the two... I hate the way I look when I do this (pretty much constantly), I've tried meditation, drinking more water etc., but does anyone have any tips to deal with this very annoying and ugly habit. Thanks!
Response by poster: As soon as I noticed I was doing it, so about two months now...
posted by ebear at 2:32 PM on January 8, 2012
posted by ebear at 2:32 PM on January 8, 2012
Do you have any pending dental issues?
People with underbites tend to bite over there lip (chewing the lip basically) to feel like they are biting correctly. Or at least to "show" a normal bite on their face.
posted by Bodrik at 3:02 PM on January 8, 2012
People with underbites tend to bite over there lip (chewing the lip basically) to feel like they are biting correctly. Or at least to "show" a normal bite on their face.
posted by Bodrik at 3:02 PM on January 8, 2012
Apply lip balm regularly. When you go to bite, you'll feel/taste the balm there and it will remind you to stop. Usually you'll wind up rubbing your lips together balmily instead.
posted by hermitosis at 3:19 PM on January 8, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by hermitosis at 3:19 PM on January 8, 2012 [1 favorite]
If you aren't using a good moisturizing lip balm, start. It will keep your lips from drying. If your lips are dry, you may have a tendency to nibble on them. The emollient feel may also help you remember not to bother your lips. A light application of plain vaseline will be fine, and some people have difficulties with the stuff with too many "helpful" ingredients. If you find yourself trying to fix your lips by chewing, substitute the urge by putting on a little balm.
You can also scare yourself a little -- get a photo of your face and draw marionette lines on it. Those are the wrinkles and creases that extend downward from the edge of your lips, and lip chewing will increase them. Keep that photo handy whenever you feel the urge.
But really, like any habit, you have to be stronger than your urge.
posted by sageleaf at 3:21 PM on January 8, 2012
You can also scare yourself a little -- get a photo of your face and draw marionette lines on it. Those are the wrinkles and creases that extend downward from the edge of your lips, and lip chewing will increase them. Keep that photo handy whenever you feel the urge.
But really, like any habit, you have to be stronger than your urge.
posted by sageleaf at 3:21 PM on January 8, 2012
I agree with the lip balm suggestion, but make sure to get one that doesn't taste good.
posted by Ruki at 4:34 PM on January 8, 2012
posted by Ruki at 4:34 PM on January 8, 2012
I have this problem. Ditto the lip balm suggestion, but honestly, for me flavor isn't the thing so much as color. Two reasons: a) you won't want to bite your lips because it'll smear them, and b) you'll get lip balm on your teeth.
Lots of places make this -- I use Burt's Bees personally, but I'm sure you can find others.
posted by dekathelon at 7:05 PM on January 8, 2012 [1 favorite]
Lots of places make this -- I use Burt's Bees personally, but I'm sure you can find others.
posted by dekathelon at 7:05 PM on January 8, 2012 [1 favorite]
Stress, sure. Have you tried taking fish oil and limiting vegetable oils? This can help reduce systemic inflammation, which tends to go hand-in-hand with things like this.
posted by Earl the Polliwog at 2:47 PM on January 10, 2012
posted by Earl the Polliwog at 2:47 PM on January 10, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by neuromodulator at 2:20 PM on January 8, 2012