A few weeks ago, I woke up with my tongue feeling sore and painful. The first thing I did was look at myself in the mirror. I realized I had possibly bit my tongue while sleeping.
As a theologian, I love looking at several things from a spiritual point of view. So I decided to read different mythological books about tongue biting.
I interacted with as many resources as possible and gained insightful information about tongue biting and its spiritual meaning. During our weekly online Christian topics discussion, one of the members asked about the spiritual meaning of biting your tongue while asleep.
This question raised concern among other members, and they were curious to know the spiritual meaning behind tongue biting.
Since I had done enough research on this topic, I educated them about the different spiritual meanings associated with tongue biting. So, let’s look at the spiritual meaning of biting your tongue when you sleep.
Biting your tongue while sleeping is a physical act, although some people associate spiritual meanings to this act. Some people interpret biting your tongue while sleeping as a sign of fear, confusion, betrayal, or negative emotions.
In today’s article, I will look at why you keep biting your tongue when you sleep. I’ll also look at the spiritual meaning of biting your tongue in a dream, what you can do if you keep biting your tongue in your sleep, and if it is a bad sign if you keep biting your tongue when you sleep. Keep reading to learn more.
Reasons why you keep biting your tongue when you sleep
Curved edges along the sides of the tongue are a common issue among some individuals caused by tongue biting when you sleep.
The easiest way to tell that you have such a condition is if there is a raised, white line on the sides of your tongue. Today, we will look at some possible reasons you might be biting your tongue when you sleep.
Anxiety
High levels of stress can force someone to clench their teeth so hard to the extent of biting their tongue. This can occur either during the day or at night when you sleep. When sleeping, this action can be unknowingly and might result in tongue biting.
Muscle spasm
All humans experience muscle spasms at some point. Some common causes include dehydration and stress. It is a condition that can happen to any muscle of your body.
It causes trembling of the chin when you are asleep and can cause the jaw to clench and bite your tongue; the effect of this condition can be severe or minor.
Enlarged tongue
Some people have an enlarged tongue due to either medical or genetic conditions. When the tongue is too large, such individuals have the possibility of biting the tongue because it protrudes through the teeth. This can occur when they are asleep or bored during the day.
Sleep Bruxism
Sleep bruxism is widely spread among children and young adults. Most children experience teeth grinding as a result of the newly developing teeth, stress that they don’t know yet how to handle, and some other factors that cause this involuntary behavior.
We all know teenagers have a lot of stress, but some don’t know how to tackle them, so at night or even during the day, they tend to grind unknowingly. It might happen without your consent until you realize you have a swollen tongue.
Drug use
Ingestion of chemicals such as nicotine confuses your brain; they keep the mind awake even when you are sleeping. As a result, the brainwaves remain in alert mode, and you might end up unconsciously moving your jaw muscles, thus biting your tongue.
Biblical meaning of biting your tongue when you sleep
Well, the scripture does not address the subject of biting the tongue when asleep directly, but it tackles it in some other ways. The Bible says in Proverbs 17:128 that even a fool is considered wise when they bite their tongue.
This serves as a reminder for us to consider and rethink what we utter, and if it is something that will cause pain to others, it is better to avoid uttering it.
Sometimes, it might be difficult for some of us to keep what we want to say within when we are provoked, but we should always remember that the Bible warns us against this. In James 3:1-5, the tongue is likened to fire and deadly poison, and one can bless or curse by it. This means that, biblically, our tongues hold much power at the spiritual level.
Moreover, Proverbs 18:21 teaches us that the word of the tongue can change one’s life, for it has the power to kill or make alive.
Every word we utter will come to judgment according to the teachings of Jesus in Matthew 12:36-37. In addition, according to Ephesians 4:29, we are only supposed to speak what is constructive to others, and it is our responsibility to turn our words into blessings and not curse others.
Spiritual meaning of biting the tongue in a dream
Regarding dreaming, there are a lot of beliefs surrounding what an individual dreams of, and it varies in different religions and spiritually. So, let’s look at some spiritual beliefs associated with biting your tongue in a dream;
Learn to keep secrets
Some people interpret biting your tongue in a dream as an inability to keep secrets. They believe this might be a warning from your subconscious to check on those you trust with your private information.
Conflict with your spouse
In some cultures, biting your tongue in your dream is interpreted that you might get into a disagreement with your partner; they attach this mostly to married couples.
Therefore, they believe that if you do so and you are married, it is best to discover any potential problems that could arise and solve them beforehand. However, it is key to note that arguments are normal in any relationship.
Release of negative energy
Other people believe that biting your tongue in your dream is your body’s way of releasing bad energy from your system.
They believe that you may have hatred within you that might have developed towards others, creating negative vibrations within your body. They believe that the universe may be causing you to bite your tongue in your dreams to release the negative energy.
Sorrow in the family
Other people associate biting your tongue in the dream with grief. They believe that one can bite their tongue in a dream if the death of a family member has occurred or they are feeling restricted within their family.
The desire for expression
There may be scenarios when we feel low and lack the ability and power to express ourselves. Some people believe that if you are in this state and dream about biting your tongue, it can be a wake-up call for you to find the energy within and express yourself wisely.
Many believe that biting your tongue can be a way of silencing your negative ways and rethinking how to express them.
Biting tongue in sleep superstitions
Different interpretations surround the idea of tongue biting. Here are some superstitions about it;
Someone is thinking about you
Some people interpret biting your tongue to mean someone is most likely thinking about you, and they are possibly praising your good actions. They view tongue-biting as a way of holding back words of praise.
Another common belief associated with tongue biting is that someone is really yearning to meet you in person. However, in Filipino culture, when one bites their tongue while sleeping, it is a sign of gossip.
Betrayal
Some believe that when you bite your tongue while sleeping, someone close to you is about to betray you. Some view this act as a sign of self-dishonesty. They believe this could be a simple action or a more serious and complicated one, like betraying a friend or family member.
Fear
Some people interpret biting your tongue while asleep as an indication that fear is dominating your life. They believe that if you do so, you need to work and find the route course of the fear within you to live a fear-free life.
Negative emotion
Some cultures believe that holding negative emotions such as fear, anger, hatred, and frustration might be the reason why you bite your tongue at night while you sleep.
They believe that if you experience tongue biting when sleeping, you need to find ways of getting rid of negative emotions because they can bring havoc in your life with time, if not instantly.
Confusion
Some cultures associate biting your tongue while sleeping with confusion. They believe that this could mean that it is high time to ask yourself what is making you confused, if there is something that you are afraid of facing, or maybe you are avoiding doing something.
They believe that it is important you get to the bottom of your confusion, figure out the cause of the confusion, and work on resolving it.
What can you do when you keep biting your tongue in your sleep?
You might be biting your tongue frequently when you sleep and are wondering what you can do in such cases; here are a few tips on how to handle this issue.
Wear upper and lower mouthguards
A mouthguard is one of the effective preventive tools against biting your tongue when you are asleep. Moreso, if you are suffering from bruxism, a mouthguard would be helpful in protecting your tongue against your teeth.
Purchasing a well-fitting mouthguard is key as they need to fit in your mouth and teeth to restrict movements in the mouth, making it impossible to brux in a way that could cause damage to your tongue.
Relaxation technique
Anxiety or nervousness can result in tongue biting when asleep or even in a state of boredom. Taking deep breaths and meditating is a relaxing technique that can help calm your mind, helping to minimize this occurrence.
Braces
In the case of Malocclusion, you can wear braces to prevent biting your tongue while sleeping. Malocclusion is a condition that results from gaps between the teeth, crowding, or any other condition where your dental formula is not well lined up. Braces will help align the teeth, reducing the risk of biting your tongue.
A Sleep Study
If you suspect that you are suffering from seizures in your sleep, please visit a neurologist. They will perform a sleep study to find out what is happening in your brain when you are in a state of unconsciousness.
They will help you determine the several possible causes of tongue biting during sleep and give possible solutions.
What does it mean when you bite your tongue during the day?
Some cultures believe that biting your tongue during the day could be a sign that you must let go of the past, embrace the new you, and take charge of your life. They believe it is a way of the universe trying to awaken the sleeping you if you are being swayed and pushed out of the way by the situations and trouble in life.
They believe that one of the ways the universe uses can be forcing or triggering your facial muscles to bite your tongue during the day to act as a reminder for you to take back your life under control.
Is it a bad sign if I keep biting my tongue when I sleep?
Well, everyone does bite their tongue at least once in a while. If your case is persistent and keeps on repeating itself during sleep, you might have an underlying medical condition that needs to be checked and responded to.
If you are not sure what is causing you to bite your tongue frequently, it is important for you to undergo a sleep study.
On the other hand, depending on the different myths and spiritual meanings you ascribe to, biting your tongue when sleeping could be interpreted as positive or as a bad sign.
However, the Bible warns us against believing in any kind of superstition or myth. According to Colossians 2:8-10, the Bible warns us as Christians not to base our faith on rituals and man-made myths.
Therefore, we should not be deceived by earthly superstitions and myths; rather, we should use the Bible as our gospel truth.
As a devout Christian, I have always been passionate about the Christian faith. This inspired me to pursue a degree in Religious studies and a Masters in Theology in college. I have also been privileged to teach 4 Christian courses in a college and university. Since I am dedicated to spreading the word of God, I am actively involved in the Church. Additionally, I share his word online and cover diverse topics on the Christian faith through my platform. You can read more about me on the about us page.
