Hello beautiful people, today’s case of the day is a patient who bites their inner cheeks a lot, and they ended up with fibrotic tissue because of it. I am going to explain what that means, why it turns into a cycle, and what we do about it.
Dr Rami Haidar | 17th August 2026 | Excellence Medical Boutique, Dubai
Fibrotic tissue inside the cheek is firm, scar like thickening of the lining of the mouth that develops where the tissue has been injured repeatedly. The cheek lining heals quickly, but healing that happens over and over in the same place lays down fibrous tissue rather than returning the area to smooth mucosa. Over time it becomes raised, pale, and noticeably firmer than the tissue around it.
In the case shown alongside this tip, the cause was habitual inner cheek biting. Where a raised area of fibrous tissue forms in the line of the bite, it is often described clinically as a traumatic fibroma, and it is one of the most common soft tissue findings inside the mouth.
The problem is self reinforcing. Once fibrous tissue has lifted above the surface of the cheek lining, it sits directly in the path of the teeth. It catches between them more easily than flat mucosa would, so it gets bitten more often, which drives more fibrosis and makes the raised area larger still. As Dr Rami Haidar puts it, the bigger these areas get, the more the patient ends up biting.
Treatment usually involves removing the fibrous tissue and reshaping the area so the cheek lining sits flat again, which is a minor intraoral procedure carried out under local anesthetic. The goal is mechanical rather than cosmetic. A smooth surface gives the teeth nothing to catch, which interrupts the cycle at its source.
Removing the tissue is not the whole treatment. If the reason for the trauma is still present, fibrosis can return in the same place, so assessment also looks at clenching and grinding, an overactive masseter, how the teeth meet, and any sharp edge on a tooth or filling.
Any lump, thickened patch, or ulcer inside the mouth that has not resolved within two weeks should be assessed by a dentist, doctor, or oral and maxillofacial surgeon. Most of these findings turn out to be benign and trauma related, but appearance alone is not enough to confirm what a lesion is, which is why removed tissue may be sent for histological examination when clinically indicated.
Repeated inner cheek biting does not simply leave a sore spot. It creates firm tissue that sits proud of the surface, gets caught in the bite, and drives further biting, which is why these areas tend to grow rather than settle. Removing the fibrotic tissue restores a smooth surface, and looking at why the biting started is what stops it returning.
Soft tissue inside the mouth is core Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery territory rather than an aesthetic add on. Dr Rami Haidar is a UK trained Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon who has practiced for more than a decade across Riyadh, Bahrain, and now Dubai, so the same practitioner who assesses facial proportions is also trained to operate inside the mouth and to understand how the bite, the chewing muscles, and the jaw joint interact.
If you bite your inner cheeks, have noticed a firm raised area inside your mouth, or clench and grind at night, book a consultation with Dr Rami Haidar at Excellence Medical Boutique in Jumeirah, Dubai, where assessment covers the tissue, the bite, and the chewing muscles.
Fibrotic tissue inside the cheek is usually caused by repeated trauma to the same area of the mouth lining, most commonly habitual inner cheek biting. Instead of healing back to smooth mucosa, the tissue lays down fibrous scar tissue and becomes firm and raised. Sharp tooth edges, restorations, clenching and grinding can all contribute to the trauma.
Most raised areas caused by cheek biting are benign and related to trauma rather than to anything more serious. Appearance alone is not enough to confirm a diagnosis, so any lump, patch or ulcer inside the mouth that has not resolved within two weeks should be assessed, and tissue that is removed may be sent for histological examination when clinically indicated.
Once fibrous tissue has formed it does not usually settle back to normal mucosa while the trauma continues, because the raised area sits in the line of the bite and keeps being injured. Established fibrous tissue often needs to be removed for the surface to become smooth again.
It can, if the cause of the trauma has not been addressed. This is why assessment looks at clenching, grinding, masseter activity, and how the teeth meet, rather than only at the lesion itself. Management often combines removal with steps that reduce the underlying biting.
The two frequently occur together, because both reflect how the jaw and chewing muscles are behaving. Patients who clench or grind often have an overactive masseter and may bite their cheeks as well. Where that connection is present, reducing masseter overactivity may be discussed as part of a broader plan.
Located in the heart of Jumeirah, Dubai, Excellence Medical Boutique is more than a clinic, it’s a destination. A sanctuary where innovation, expertise and care come together to enhance your natural beauty and confidence. Excellence Medical Boutique is conveniently located on 197 Jumeira St, Jumeirah, Jumeirah 1, Dubai. This makes it easy for patients travelling from across Dubai to visit for consultation and treatment.
