Chronic cheek chewing is a common factitial condition that is seen in patients who nibble on the lining of the mouth as a nervous, often unconscious, habit. In most cases, the patient uses the canine teeth to crush the superficial layers of the surface oral epithelium. Interestingly, no ulcerations are seen because biting through the entire thickness of the epithelium would be painful.
This condition usually is first seen in the second decade of life and seems to be less frequently encountered after the fourth decade.
Chronic cheek chewing is asymptomatic.
Related topic: Oral frictional hyperkeratosis
Chronic cheek chewing - Oral Mucosal Lesion
Alerts and Notices
Important News & Links
Synopsis
Codes
ICD10CM:
K13.79 – Other lesions of oral mucosa
SNOMEDCT:
59901004 – Cheek chewing
K13.79 – Other lesions of oral mucosa
SNOMEDCT:
59901004 – Cheek chewing
Look For
Subscription Required
Diagnostic Pearls
Subscription Required
Differential Diagnosis & Pitfalls
To perform a comparison, select diagnoses from the classic differential
Subscription Required
Best Tests
Subscription Required
Management Pearls
Subscription Required
Therapy
Subscription Required
References
Subscription Required
Last Updated:06/10/2018
Chronic cheek chewing - Oral Mucosal Lesion
