BitingFilter

June 27, 2006 8:47 AM

How to bite without leaving long-lasting bruises?

I like biting people. People I make out with like being bitten. I like being bitten.

I've noticed that some people who I make out with can bite my neck and not leave a bruise. Or can bite my neck and leave a bruise that only lasts for several hours.

I am jealous of this ability. How do I do it?

posted by anonymous to Human Relations (15 answers total)

Don't bite so hard.
posted by Optimus Chyme at 8:53 AM on June 27, 2006

Practise on your own arm, applying varying degrees of bite pressure and/or suction, until you can judge in advance what degree of bruising your bite will cause.
posted by flabdablet at 8:57 AM on June 27, 2006

There's bite and there's grind. A simple chomp is going to leave more of a mark than a grind due to broken blood vessels under the skin. (Or I could have it reversed.) Plenty of saliva seems to help lubricate things.

Either way - grinding and chewing is MUCH more fun :)
posted by zerokey at 8:57 AM on June 27, 2006

Yeah, what optimus said. It's not a magic trick. The harder you bite, the more damage you do, the longer it takes to heal.

Also, don't keep biting in the same place. Move around. The longer you bite one spot, the more damage you do, the longer it takes to heal.

See? Not complicated.
posted by kingjoeshmoe at 8:58 AM on June 27, 2006

Be more gentle.

Try covering your teeth with your lips, and biting with your lips rather than with your teeth.

Don't bite so hard.
posted by raedyn at 8:58 AM on June 27, 2006

It's not necessarily just about how hard - it's about how deep. If you keep it shallow you should be able to make a bruise that won't last so long. A lot of the duration of a bad bruise is blood coming up to the surface from deeper damage. Individuals vary a lot though, someone with thin pale skin is going to look bruised more easily, but it should be possible to give them a bruise that only lasts a short time.
posted by crabintheocean at 9:02 AM on June 27, 2006

Try covering your teeth with your lips, and biting with your lips rather than with your teeth.

Oh heavens, that's no fun.
posted by redfoxtail at 9:10 AM on June 27, 2006

Oh heavens, that's no fun. - redfoxtail

Different stroke for different folks.
posted by raedyn at 9:18 AM on June 27, 2006

Some people just bruise badly too, making what might be a gentle nibble look like some sort of attack. Places where there are lots of blood vessels near the skin are worse for bruising. Places with a little bit of fat, less so. So, necks and breasts bruise much more than ears, ankles, butts and shoulders. Grinding, working an area and strong suction can really bring out a bruise. Not so deep [but sharp] nibbling, focusing on areas like tendons, and moving around somewhat area all help. Additionally, the state of your skin can matter. When skin is already warm and flushed it's easier to start a little bruise going. When it's colder, less so. If you've got a long-term partner, there are nutritional things you can do to minimize bruising potential.
posted by jessamyn at 9:23 AM on June 27, 2006

Some of us think the bruises are part of the fun. But ask first before you leave them in a visible place - or be creative and put them in places that won't be visible in the workplace.
posted by matildaben at 9:27 AM on June 27, 2006

I think this is valid because it may help to answer the bruising part - Jessamyn, what nutritional things can one do to minimize bruising? I am like a ripe frigging banana (see my previous question about hickeys).
posted by tristeza at 9:46 AM on June 27, 2006

I'm not sure this will help, but...

One thing I learned from jujitsu is that the skin gets stronger... for the first few weeks you have bruises all over, especially around the neck from being choked.

After a while though, the skin gets stronger, and you stop bruising. Perhaps the more someone is bitten the less bruising they experience.
posted by ewkpates at 9:47 AM on June 27, 2006

I defer to the experts on this. They say Vitamin C, no aspirin, staying hydrated, no heat. Also, arnica, ice massages, and/or vitamin K cream applied topically if you're not totally successful at preventing them.
posted by jessamyn at 11:01 AM on June 27, 2006

Mod note: a few comments removed. please feel free to continue the ethics of biting conversation on metatalk
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 11:21 AM on June 27, 2006

IANAD but IIRC one of the symptoms of anemia is bruising easily. For those who bruise easily, try getting more soluble iron in your diet (dark leafy greens, etc.).

as far as 'hickeys' go, it's not merely the bite pressure that breaks the blood vessels, it's also the suction. the skin of the throat / neck is very thin and the capillaries break easily... so just don't bite OR suck quite so hard.

ymmv.
posted by lonefrontranger at 2:03 PM on June 27, 2006