First Aid for Bites or Cuts to a Child’s Tongue or Lip

By: Kay Leaming-Van Zandt, MD, FAAP

Bites or cuts to a child's lip or tongue are common. They often happen while eating, during a fall in an accident, or from an animal bite.

Even small cuts can bleed a lot, which can make it hard to tell how big the injury really is. Here is what parents and caregivers should do to help:

Check the wound for:

• A cut on the lip or tongue

• Bleeding

• Objects in the wound

Stop the bleeding:

• Wear medical gloves if available.

• Press a clean gauze or cloth firmly on the cut to stop the bleeding.

• Keep pressing for 10 minutes without checking to see if the bleeding has stopped.

Clean the wound:

• If the cut is inside the mouth, have your child rinse with cool water.

• If the cut is on the outer lip or face, gently wash it with warm water and soap. Do not scrub hard or rub back and forth.

Reduce pain and swelling:

• Give your child an over-the-counter medicine like acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain.

• Hold an ice pack or cold cloth wrapped in a towel on the outside of the lip or mouth.

• If it is safe for your child's age and development, give a popsicle or small ice cube to suck on. This can help reduce swelling.

When to seek medical care:

Your child should receive medical care for any injury that might need stitches.

A cut may need stitches if it is:

• Deep or large (bigger than 2 cm)
  

• Continues to bleed after 15 minutes of steady pressure

• Extends through the lip border or across the edge of the tongue