It’s relatively common for someone to nip their lip while eating or chewing. This rarely results in any significant injury. However, there are times when a fall or blow to the face has made someone seriously injure their lip.
If your tongue is bleeding excessively, or if you’ve suffered additional oral trauma, your dentist, Dr. John S. Grisham, recommends seeking emergency care. If the tongue injury is not severe, there are a few basic first-aid tips to help treat the problem.
You can use lukewarm saltwater to rinse away any blood or debris lingering in your mouth. This can also help soothe injured tissues. You shouldn’t use antiseptic mouthwash as it can easily irritate the tongue injury. If your tongue is bleeding excessively, you shouldn’t swallow the blood as this can upset your stomach.
If your tongue is bleeding, you can wrap it in a few layers of sterile gauze and apply light pressure. If you can’t easily hold the gauze with your fingers, you could try pressing your tongue to the roof of your mouth.
If the bleeding persists after 20 minutes or if you feel that the pain is getting worse, you should strongly consider going to the emergency room or a nearby urgent care facility for more advanced treatment.
If you have recently suffered a tongue injury in Littleton, New Hampshire, or if you have oral first-aid questions, you can always call John S. Grisham, DDS at 603-444-2100 for advice from your dentist.