How to Get Rid of a Cut on Your Tongue
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Cuts and sores inside the mouth can be extremely painful, but most of the time they're not a reason for great concern. Most of the causes of cuts in the mouth aren't serious; these include biting your cheek or lip, braces, or poorly fitting dentures. Sometimes a broken tooth can cause a cut in the mouth.
No matter what caused the mouth injury, you need to care for it so it doesn't become worse or get infected. Here some advice on how to heal a cut in your mouth.
Stopping Bleeding in the Mouth
If you have a deep cut in your mouth, you may have significant bleeding. Even small cuts can bleed a lot because of the many blood vessels in the mouth. As long as the cut isn't serious enough to require emergency care, you can try to stop the bleeding yourself. First, make sure your hands are clean, and then apply pressure to the cut with a clean cloth, gauze or other clean material. If the cut continues to bleed, ensure the blood flows forward out of the mouth—don't swallow it, which can cause vomiting.
It's important to apply steady pressure to the cut for 15 minutes without lifting the material to check to see whether the cut has stopped bleeding. If there's enough blood to seep through the material, add another layer of material on top, rather than removing the first layer to replace it. Use this treatment for cuts in the mouth, cheek, inner lip and tongue.
Smaller or shallower cuts in the mouth will usually stop bleeding after 15 minutes but may ooze blood for up to 45 minutes. If significant bleeding continues after 15 minutes, you may need medical care. Sucking on an ice cube or ice pop can help reduce swelling.
Treating a Cut in the Mouth
After any bleeding in the mouth has stopped, you'll need to care for the cut until it heals. The treatment for the cut in your mouth may vary, depending on how deep the wound is. If your cut is serious enough to need medical attention, you might need stitches. In this case, a doctor will typically use stitches that dissolve so you don't have to go back and get them removed. Be sure to follow all after-care instructions your doctor gives you. These instructions on how to heal a cut in the mouth at home may include:
- Swish with a hydrogen peroxide–water solution, or dab a drop or two of undiluted hydrogen peroxide directly on the cut. Alternatively, your doctor might prescribe an antiseptic mouth rinse for you. Make sure to clean the cut after you eat.
- Don't remove any bandages for 24 hours. After that, change the dressing daily to keep it clean and dry.
- Use an over-the-counter painkiller or numbing liquid, such as those for teething babies, to help ease any discomfort.
- Call your doctor if your stitches come out earlier than expected or if the cut starts coming open again.
Remember, every mouth cut is different, so follow your doctor's specific home-care instructions for your situation.
Preventing Infection in a Cut in the Mouth
Some cuts in the mouth can get infected, so your doctor might prescribe an antibiotic to prevent this complication. If you're at risk of tetanus due to the object that cut your mouth (something dirty or rusty), your doctor may also recommend getting a tetanus shot.
To prevent the cut in your mouth from getting infected, make sure to wash your hands before cleaning the cut. Call your doctor if you notice any of these signs of infection:
- Fever
- Increasing pain around the cut
- Redness or swelling around the cut
- Pus oozing from the cut
- A bad smell from the cut
A cut in the mouth can be painful and even frightening at first, but these injuries typically heal quickly and without complications. Seek urgent or emergency care if a bleeding cut in the mouth is accompanied by difficulty breathing, trouble swallowing, or any other signs of serious injury.
How to Get Rid of a Cut on Your Tongue
Source: https://www.healthgrades.com/right-care/oral-health/what-to-do-for-a-cut-in-your-mouth