Mouth Injury

When To Call

Call 911 Now

• Major bleeding that can't be stopped
• Trouble breathing
• You think your child has a life-threatening emergency

Go to ER Now

• Minor bleeding (more than oozing) won't stop after 10 minutes of direct pressure
• Injury to back of the mouth caused by long object (such as a pencil)
• Large deep cut that will need many stitches

Call Doctor or Seek Care Now

• Gaping cut of tongue or inside the mouth that may need stitches
• Gaping cut of the lip that may need stitches
• Severe pain and not better 2 hours after taking pain medicine
• Trouble swallowing fluids or spit
• Can't fully open or close the mouth
• Fever and mouth looks infected. Signs are increasing pain or swelling after 48 hours. Note: it's normal for a healing wound in the mouth to be white.
• You think your child has a serious injury
• You think your child needs to be seen, and the problem is urgent

Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours

• Mouth looks infected and no fever
• You think your child needs to be seen, but the problem is not urgent

Contact Doctor During Office Hours

• You have other questions or concerns

Self Care at Home

• Minor mouth injury

Care Advice

1. Upper Lip and Frenulum Bleeding - How To Stop:
   • Cuts of the inside of the upper lip are very common.
   • Often, the piece of tissue that connects the upper lip to the upper gum is torn. This tissue is called the upper labial frenulum.
   • The main symptom is oozing tiny amounts of blood.
   • This cut always heals perfectly without sutures.
   • For bleeding from the frenulum, use direct pressure. Press the outer lip against the teeth for 10 minutes.
   • Caution: Once bleeding has stopped, don't pull the lip out to look at it. Reason: The bleeding will start up again.
   • It's safe to look at it after 3 days.
2. Lower Lip Bleeding - How to Stop:
   • Most children who fall and bite their lower lip have 2 cuts. They have cuts to both the outside and inside of the lip.
   • Catching the lower lip between the upper and lower teeth causes the 2 cuts. This tends to happen in children with an overbite.
   • Most of these small cuts do not connect with each other.
   • For bleeding from the lip, use direct pressure. Press the outer lip against the teeth for 10 minutes.
3. Tongue Bleeding - How to Stop:
   • Bites of the tongue rarely need sutures.
   • Even if they gape open a little, tongue cuts usually heal quickly. If the edges come together when the tongue is still, it needs no treatment.
   • For tongue bleeding, try to press on the bleeding site with a sterile gauze. You can also use a piece of clean cloth. Do this for 5 minutes if it's practical.
   • Cuts of the tongue normally tend to ooze a little blood for several hours. This is due to the rich blood supply in the mouth.
   • For constant oozing of blood, can use a moistened tea bag for 10 minutes. (Reason: tannic acid released from the tea bag may stop the oozing).
4. Cold for Pain:
   • Put a piece of ice or popsicle on the spot that was injured.
   • You can also use a cold wet washcloth.
   • Do this for 20 minutes.
5. Pain Medicine:
   • To help with the pain, give an acetaminophen product (such as Tylenol).
   • Another choice is an ibuprofen product (such as Advil).
   • Use as needed.
6. Soft Diet:
   • Try to get your child to drink adequate fluids.
   • Goal: Keep your child well hydrated.
   • Cold drinks, milk shakes, popsicles, slushes, and sherbet are good choices.
   • Solids. Offer a soft diet. Also avoid foods that need much chewing. Avoid citrus, salty, or spicy foods.
   • Rinse the wound with warm water right away after meals.
7. What to Expect:
   • Small cuts and scrapes inside the mouth heal up in 3 or 4 days.
   • Infections of mouth injuries are rare.
8. Call Your Doctor If:
   • Pain becomes severe
   • Mouth looks infected (mainly increasing pain or swelling after 48 hours)
   • Fever occurs
   • You think your child needs to be seen
   • Your child becomes worse

And remember, contact your doctor if your child develops any of the 'Call Your Doctor' symptoms.