Xylophagia

Not to be confused with Xylophagy

Xylophagia is a condition involving the consumption of wood. It is one form of the eating disorder known as pica. People who suffer from this eating disorder usually consume things like paper, pencils, tree bark or other items made of wood. In addition to psychological disorders, people may eat wood as part of their religious beliefs.

Young children may exhibit xylophagia, but it is not normally associated with psychological issues; it is typical of the standard oral fixation of infants.

The most popular form of xylophagia is the consumption of paper.

Human behavior

Pencil chewing is sometimes related to xylophagia, due not so much with pencils being wood, but to the soft resilient character of the wood. At various ages, the behavior easily substitutes teething rings, pacifiers, folded paper, plastic tokens, rods, pens, hard cloth objects, hanks of hair, finger nails, and fingers. It is also sometimes associated with dental pain from dental root or ligament damage or infection, in which case tap sensitivity can be noted. It is rarely associated with diurnal bruxism & jaw pain or headache. See pediatric dentistry.

Pencil chewing can also be associated with people who have trouble quitting smoking.