r/ADHD • u/s33thru_st0rm • 1d ago
Questions/Advice how to stop drinking/snacking all day (oral fidgeting?)
i’m always in need of something engaging to my brain and mouth to drink/snack on throughout the day. i bite my cheeks and lips a lot when i don’t have anything to do with my mouth. i try to drink water, but it’s so bland and boring that it doesn’t motivate me to drink more than a few sips.
i know eating/drinking all day is bad for your teeth, especially with sugary things (which is me). i feel like im going crazy when i don’t have something interesting to taste tho, or i unconsciously end up shredding my mouth : ( any tips to lessen the harm of this, to engage my brain/body in different ways? i can’t chew gum because my work place doesn’t allow it. thank you in advance!!
6
u/lukewarmratpee 1d ago
Have you tried a fidget toy that you can bite? I’ve seen silicone ones that are on a string so you can wear them round your neck, or more discreet ones shaped like rings? It won’t solve the problem if you need to taste something but it may help with biting your cheeks/lips?
Or if taste is important, does your work allow you to have mints or hard sweets/candy as lots of these can be sugar free.
1
u/Avior_ec ADHD-PI (Primarily Inattentive) 1d ago
Hard candy has been my go-to. I have a few cheap favorites but I also like to try international and small brands for the variety. They're affordable and delicious, and usually last longer than gum. Obviously traditional hard candies aren't sugar free so it doesn't solve that problem but it's a start.
My other hack is dried edamame (soy beans), I buy these from the bulk bins at Winco for pretty cheap. They're pretty tasty while also healthy, not sugary, and low in calories. Somehow they take ages to eat. (I used to have them during my 15's working retail... it took me the entire 15 minutes to eat less than half a cup lol.) May also encourage you to drink water since they're dry.
I feel you on the lip/cheek biting though. I'll keep peeling at mine until they bleed and it hurts really bad but I still can't stop! I have on multiple occasions recently bit at them until my lips swelled up. Chapstick helps some when you aren't eating anything, especially if you don't like its flavor. (Blistex is my go-to, it smells like camphor but it works really well. The mint one smells better but is hard to find.)
3
2
u/Due_Breath2655 1d ago
i struggle with this as well and it’s very frustrating because yeah teeth health and also weight gain… i have tried cinnamon toothpicks which do some good for me but i hate the way they splinter in my mouth at a certain point in the chewing process. they are satisfying tho! i also use the flossers even tho they are bad environmentally… i drink hella bubbly water because it’s more interesting than still water. celery is good for the crunch but i know it’s loud for a work environment… i chew through mints like altoids super fast… i crunch ice and love that but its similarly obnoxious i gather from feedback of people around me, and not great for your teeth either. if i had an ice machine i would consume crushed ice all day, that’s the best texture imo. i drink a whole bunch of herbal teas in the evening so as not to over eat or drink too much booze. i’ve even tried those sensory chewies that they give kids on the spectrum but that texture drives me nuts and i just want to chew it till they are destroyed… am i a puppy or a squirrel?! when i try nuts i always eat too many and they hurt my belly/ digestion. i hope someone ends up having a brilliant idea that i haven’t thought of because i really haven’t found anything that truly curbs the issue for me!!
2
u/SinceWayLastMay 1d ago
I chew like an entire pack of gum a day because my mouth gets bored. Trident twist melon flavor. I buy it in bulk. I have been looking at oral stim toys for kids but I feel like those would get gross and full of spit. I also have a 42oz Owala that keeps my water icy cold all day and drink like 150oz water per day at least
2
u/RavenousMoon23 ADHD-PI (Primarily Inattentive) 1d ago
Have you tried gum? (Obviously not super sugary gum but the kind that can actually be beneficial to your teeth)
2
u/GodzillaSuit 1d ago
I really relate with this. My issue is that I like crunch, spicy/salty foods, so chewing gum or using a chewy doesn't really do it for me.
2
u/foggytreees 1d ago
I drink water with Mio water enhancer added to it. Tastes good and isn’t sugar-heavy.
Would you be allowed to chew on a necklace? I figure if you can’t have gum, you can’t chew on a necklace but there are specific fidget ones out there made for it.
1
u/BladeOfGrass- 1d ago
My tactic is to reduce all stimuli that makes me go in “automatic mode” (Music, videos, etc.). Then, I can rationalize my actions and fight back if any damn desire of eating comes by!
1
u/quietgrrrlriot ADHD-PI (Primarily Inattentive) 1d ago
I use those tumblers with a straw, for my water intake. For some reason I'm more motivated to keep hydrated that way.
1
u/Apprehensive-Bat-416 23h ago
My goodness would I love an answer to this.
I do know my other favorite fidget is shifting my balance. I have a standing desk with a wobble board.
1
u/Substantial-West3537 22h ago
I have this as well. I vape basically all day every day. I‘m now post surgery and am not allowed to and it‘s definitely not fun 🙃
•
u/AutoModerator 1d ago
Hi /u/s33thru_st0rm and thanks for posting on /r/ADHD!
Please take a second to read our rules if you haven't already.
/r/adhd news
This message is not a removal notification. It's just our way to keep everyone updated on r/adhd happenings.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.