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Minor Injuries
If you experience a cut in your mouth, the first course of action is to stop the bleeding.
Mild Cuts
If the cut is relatively mild,try rinsing your mouth with a little ice water. This shrinks some of the smaller blood vessels, which slows bleeding, and can help reduce swelling and pain.
Applying acold compressto the outside of your cheek can have a similar effect. You might consider rolling an ice cube in your mouth until the bleeding stops and the pain recedes.
Deeper Cuts
If you don’t have gauze, some dentists endorse the use of a moistened tea bag; the tannins found in tea may act as a vasoconstrictor, effectively shrinking the blood vessels.
How to Stop Bleeding Gums
Pain Relief and Preventing Infection
Tylenol (acetaminophen) can provide short-term pain relief. Avoid aspirin, which can promote bleeding.
Once the bleeding stops, get a tube of antibiotic cream made especially for oral sores (like Orajel). Some have numbing agents that can help ease the pain.
To help the wound heal, some people will turn to home remedies that have antiseptic or antibacterial properties. These includeclove oil, which can be applied directly to the cut, or a poultice-like paste made of water and baking soda.
Don’t use any antibiotic creams in your mouth if they are not intended for internal use. Speak with the pharmacist if you are unsure.
While Healing
Avoid heavy brushing or flossing around the affected area. Alcohol-based mouthwashes can cause stinging. The same applies to acidic, spicy, crunchy, or excessively salty foods.
If you wear braces, get some orthodontic wax from the pharmacy and apply it over any brackets or wires near the cut. This will help prevent the reopening of the wound.
Emergency Situations
If you are unable to stop the bleeding or if the injury is clearly severe, you need to seek the appropriate medical care. Deep lacerations and heavy bleeding should be treated at the nearest emergency room.
Call 911 if you are feeling lightheaded or clammy, or have a rapid pulse and respiration.Dental emergenciesshould be treated at a dental clinic.
In an emergency room situation, priority will be placed on stopping the immediate bleeding. In some cases, stitches may be used. The stitches may either bedissolvableor will need to be removed in five days or so. You will typically be given an oral antibiotic and a mild painkiller to aid in your recovery.
If the laceration is deep, the doctor may order an X-ray or CT scan to establish the nature and extent of the injury. If you were given a blood transfusion or experience any signs of shock, you may be kept in the hospital overnight for observation.
If serious tooth damage also occurred, you will be referred to a dental surgeon for an appointment at a later date. Be sure to ask the hospital staff for a copy of the X-rays to take with you.
Tooth Injuries
Very often, tooth injuries go hand-in-hand with serious cuts inside the mouth.Some dental emergencies require immediate attention; others are more cosmetic and may be dealt with in a day or so.
Chipped Tooth
Partially Dislodged Tooth
If a tooth is partially dislodged, focus on controlling the bleeding first. You should then rush to the dentist as soon as possible to seek treatment. This may involve dental splinting, socket repair, or tooth replacement.
Dental repositioning and splinting of displaced teeth is much easier to accomplish shortly/immediately after the trauma. Waiting for too long makes this task challenging.
Broken Crown or Bridge
If adental crownfalls off or a bridge is broken, see your dentist as soon as possible. While you are waiting, replace the crown if you can with some denture glue or an over-the-counter dental cement. Do not use household glue.
Tooth Knocked Out
If possible, reinsert the tooth into the socket. If it is not, gently stuff some gauze into the tooth gap to stave the bleeding. Place the tooth in a container of milk, and rush to the dentist’s office.
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommends rinsing with saline and reimplanting immediately. The goal is to keep the cells around the root alive. If reimplantation is not possible, store in milk or Hanks solution to prevent dehydration of the tooth. Knocked-out teeth have the greatest chance of being saved if reinserted within an hour of the injury.
Care After Dental Treatment
Depending on the procedure used, the dentist may prescribe oral antibiotics andnonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)like Advil (ibuprofen) or Aleve (naproxen) to aid in the recovery.
If dental stitches are used, you would be asked to avoid smoking, alcohol, or sipping through a straw while you heal. In addition to eating soft foods, you will need to follow strict instructions on how to care for your surgical dressings.
Even though dental sutures typically dissolve on their own, you will still need to follow up with the dentist to assess how the wound is healing.
A Word From Verywell
Even if you are able to stop the bleeding from a mouth injury, it is still a good idea to see a dentist if the cut is deep or the pain is making it difficult to eat or sleep. However, if you experience fever, chills, swelling, redness, swollen lymph nodes, or abnormal drainage of the wound, see your dentist as a matter of urgency. You may have developed an infection in need of immediate care.
What Causes Bruised Gums and How to Treat Them
Frequently Asked Questions
During the healing process of, say, a wound in the tissue that lines the cheek, a blister orulcer(sore) may form. As this lesion breaks down, dead skin cells and food particles may cause it to turn white.
4 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Steele SK. “Controlling Gingival Bleeding With Tea Bags.” Oncol Nurs Forum. 1992 May;19(4):663.Bakland, L. Dental Trauma Guidelines.J Endodonics.2013:39(3):S6-S8. DOI:10.1016/j.joen.2012.10.021.Brand HS, Veerman EC.Saliva and wound healing.Chin J Dent Res. 2013;16(1):7-12.Merck Manual Consumer Version.Mouth sores and inflammation.
4 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Steele SK. “Controlling Gingival Bleeding With Tea Bags.” Oncol Nurs Forum. 1992 May;19(4):663.Bakland, L. Dental Trauma Guidelines.J Endodonics.2013:39(3):S6-S8. DOI:10.1016/j.joen.2012.10.021.Brand HS, Veerman EC.Saliva and wound healing.Chin J Dent Res. 2013;16(1):7-12.Merck Manual Consumer Version.Mouth sores and inflammation.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Steele SK. “Controlling Gingival Bleeding With Tea Bags.” Oncol Nurs Forum. 1992 May;19(4):663.Bakland, L. Dental Trauma Guidelines.J Endodonics.2013:39(3):S6-S8. DOI:10.1016/j.joen.2012.10.021.Brand HS, Veerman EC.Saliva and wound healing.Chin J Dent Res. 2013;16(1):7-12.Merck Manual Consumer Version.Mouth sores and inflammation.
Steele SK. “Controlling Gingival Bleeding With Tea Bags.” Oncol Nurs Forum. 1992 May;19(4):663.
Bakland, L. Dental Trauma Guidelines.J Endodonics.2013:39(3):S6-S8. DOI:10.1016/j.joen.2012.10.021.
Brand HS, Veerman EC.Saliva and wound healing.Chin J Dent Res. 2013;16(1):7-12.
Merck Manual Consumer Version.Mouth sores and inflammation.
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