Care Advice
- Stop Any Bleeding - Upper lip and Frenulum:
- Cuts of the inside of the upper lip are very common.
- Usually the piece of tissue that connects the upper lip to the upper gum (upper labial frenulum) is torn.
- The main symptom is oozing tiny amounts of blood.
- This cut always heals perfectly without sutures.
- For bleeding of the inner lip or tissue that connects it to the gum, press the bleeding site against the teeth for 10 minutes.
- Caution: Once bleeding from inside the lip stops, don't pull the lip out again to look at it (Reason: the bleeding will start up again).
- For bleeding from the tongue, squeeze or press the bleeding site with a sterile gauze or piece of clean cloth for 10 minutes.
- It's safe to look at it after 3 days
- Stop the Bleeding - Lower lip
- Most children who fall and bite their lower lip cause cuts to both the outside and inside of the lip.
- Two cuts occur because the lower lip is trapped between the upper and lower teeth during the fall (especially in children with an overbite).
- These small cuts do not connect with each other.
- For bleeding from the lip, press the overlying outer lip against the teeth for 10 minutes.
- Stop the Bleeding -Tongue:
- Bites of the tongue rarely need sutures.
- Even if they gape open a little, if the edges come together when the tongue is quiet, the cut should heal quickly.
- For initial bleeding from the tongue, try to squeeze or press the bleeding site with a sterile gauze (or piece of clean cloth) for 5 minutes if it's practical.
- Cuts of the tongue normally tend to ooze a little blood for several hours (Reason: rich blood supply)
- For persistent oozing of blood, can apply a moistened tea bag for 10 minutes.(Reason: tannic acid released from the tea bag may stop the oozing).
- Local Cold: Put a piece of ice or popsicle on the area that was injured for 20 minutes.
- Pain Medicine: If there is pain, give acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol) or ibuprofen.
- Soft Diet:
- Encourage favorite fluids to prevent dehydration. Cold drinks, milkshakes and popsicles are especially good.
- Offer a soft diet. (Avoid foods that need much chewing)
- Avoid any salty or citrus foods that might sting.
- Rinse the wound with warm water immediately after meals.
- Expected Course: Small cuts and scrapes inside the mouth heal up in 3 or 4 days. Infections of mouth injuries are rare.
- Call Your Doctor If:
- Pain becomes severe
- Area looks infected (mainly increasing pain or swelling after 48 hours)
- Fever occurs
- Your child becomes worse
And remember, contact your doctor if your child develops any of the "Call Your Doctor" symptoms.
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Disclaimer: This information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. It is provided for educational purposes only. You assume full responsibility for how you choose to use this information. For more information, click here.
Author and Senior Reviewer: Barton D. Schmitt, M.D.
Last Reviewed: 6/1/2011
Last Revised: 8/1/2011
Content Set: Pediatric HouseCalls Symptom Checker
Copyright 1994-2012 Barton D. Schmitt, M.D.
