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