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Dr. Andrew Rynne
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Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Could Be The Skin Tag On The Cheek Lining Post Biting The Jaw ?

I noticed a skin tag on the lining of my cheek on the left side. I only noticed it because I bit my jaw and decided to take a look at it. I have never seen anything like this before and I do not have a history of any type of oral abnormalities. Could you help by identifying what exactly this is?
Fri, 20 Apr 2012
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Dentist 's  Response
Hello,
Welcome to Healthcare magic!
The skin lining on the cheek lining could be nothing but a result of Cheek Biting. Some people have habitual cheek biting which leads to such problems. There's nothing to worry about it. However certain researchers have reported that these are potential sites for development of Oral cancer, but chances are very dim.
If you are worried you can consult your local dentist who will examine and also round off any sharp cusps that may be causing this problem.
The easiest of remedies include paying attention when you bite or chewing sugar free gum to align your bite to normal to some extent.
Hope this helps.
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Dentist Dr. Sushant Benjamin's  Response
Hi,
Welcome to HCM.
Do not worry, since you do not have a history of any oral abnormalities, then it is probably just a line of oedematous tissue, developed due to chronic physiological irritation of the Buccal Mucosa rubbing on the line of occlusal contact of the maxillary and mandibular teeth, called the "Linea Alba", which is completely physiological, and no treatement is required for the same.
However, if you have a chronic habit of biting on your cheek, then it is a lesion called "Morsicatio Buccarum", (commonly known as "Chronic Cheek Biting"), which has, though very rarely, still been sometimes reported to be a pre-malignant lesion also, so you need to be careful.
Consult a good dentist, who will tell yo the proper treatement.
Surgical excision of the white tissue tag may be a good option, but incase there is less space between your cheeks and teeth, then there is still going to be more irritation of the wound by the teeth, which will delay healing and can still cause an oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma, so, not going for any surgical treatement, and just using a proper Oral screen would be a better idea.
Also, incase you are over-weight with puffy cheeks, then shedding-off the extra pounds will also help, as when the "Buccal pad of fat" lessens, it will then increase the area between your teeth and buccal mucosa (cheek mucosa), eliminating the impingement of your buccal mucosa on to your teeth.
Wish you all the best.
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Dentist, Periodontics Dr. Arati C Koregol's  Response
hello
thanks for the concern
its not a serious thing ,so dont worry. this is called as LINEA ALBA, Usually occurs due to continuous cheek bite or due to plunger cusp ofsome teeth may iminge and cause this .this will subside by it self. you can consult dentist to rule out the things and treatment of plunger cusp if any.
Take care
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  User's Response
There is nothing to worry. Its due to cheek biting. Get it excised by a dentist.
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What Could Be The Skin Tag On The Cheek Lining Post Biting The Jaw ?

Hello, Welcome to Healthcare magic! The skin lining on the cheek lining could be nothing but a result of Cheek Biting. Some people have habitual cheek biting which leads to such problems. There s nothing to worry about it. However certain researchers have reported that these are potential sites for development of Oral cancer, but chances are very dim. If you are worried you can consult your local dentist who will examine and also round off any sharp cusps that may be causing this problem. The easiest of remedies include paying attention when you bite or chewing sugar free gum to align your bite to normal to some extent. Hope this helps.