Getting a cut in your mouth is very easy, thanks to those delicate tissues. Your day to day activities such as kitchen work, playing sports, or accidentally biting your tongue or cheek can cause an oral injury.
Your mouth doesn’t have much space, but it contains many blood vessels. This means that even minor cuts or scrapes in your mouth can bleed heavily.
Most oral cuts or injuries aren’t a cause of concern, and you can easily treat them at home. Taking proper care is important to prevent infection and scarring.
Keep reading to find out how to treat a cut in your mouth and when to see a doctor or dentist.
Managing cut inside your mouth
The following will help manage the cuts on the gums, tongue, inner cheeks, and mouth’s roof.
- Thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water before touching the wound.
- Rinse the cut with water to get rid of the blood or any debris
- To minimize the bleeding, take a clean towel and press the wound. Keep pressing until the blood stops coming out.
- To soothe the pain and inflammation due to injury, suck on ice cubes or a popsicle.
- Applying any cream or gel on the cut inside the mouth isn’t a good idea. Keep an eye on the wound daily and see a doctor if it’s worsening.
Home remedies
The following home remedies can help minimize soreness and inflammation due to oral injuries.
- Rinse the cut in your mouth with salt water to promote healing
- Garlic has been used over the years as a remedy for oral cuts. It can kill bacteria and save the wound from infection. Avoid chewing garlic if your cut is still open.
- Stay away from citrus or spicy foods as they can irritate the cut.
- Suck on the ice chips or hold an ice pack outside the face near the injury to reduce pain and swelling
Possible Risks
Infection
Whenever there’s a cut or injury, infection can develop. Harmful viruses and bacteria can enter the exposed tissues of the body and blood, resulting in irritation and severe complications.
Scarring
A cut on the lip can change the mouth’s shape and ruin your beautiful smile. If the injury is significant, a doctor may recommend stitches so your cut can heal evenly.
When to see a doctor
Most of the time, you can take care of your wound at home, but see a doctor if:
- bleeding continues even after 10 minutes
- cut inside the mouth is very deep
- size of the cut is more than ½ inch
- cause of the cut was a puncture from a human or animal bite. Or it was from rusty metal.
- the cut has jagged edges
- you’re unable to remove the debris
- there is discoloration around the wound, and it looks reddish or feels warm to the touch
Cut in your mouth: treatment
Stitches
If the cut is severe, stitches may be needed to stop the bleeding. If your lip is damaged, stitches will help keep the lip in shape.
Antibiotics
If bacteria have compromised your wound, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics. When taking antibiotics, complete the entire course and don’t stop the treatment if you start feeling better.
Tetanus shot
If the cause of your cut was a puncture, visit your doctor immediately and get a tetanus shot.
Cut in mouth healing time
The good news here is that the cuts inside the mouth get better way faster than a cut on any other body part. These wounds heal by themselves and don’t usually require stitches.
The reason behind this speedy recovery is the rich supply of blood in the mouth. Additionally, saliva helps with the healing and contains proteins that promote tissue repair.
Keeping your cut clean is the key to fast recovery. Also, be careful around the affected area to prevent further issues.
How to prevent getting cuts inside the mouth?
Injuries can come uninvited, but here are some ways you can prevent them from occurring.
- chew your foods slowly to avoid tongue or cheek bites
- take care of your braces and mouth by following the advice of your dentist
- avoid running while holding a sharp object
- try wearing a mouthguard when playing sports like basketball or soccer
- avoid opening packages with teeth
- don’t chew on pencils, pens, or anything similar
Summing Up
It’s easy to care for oral injuries at home. Keep the cut clean and check it regularly. If the injury is severe or you notice any signs of infection, see your doctor or dentist.