Most tongue injuries are very minor and they generally occur when you accidentally nip your tongue when chewing gum or eating food. Unfortunately, there are a few rare times when an accident or blow to the face can cause more significant damage. For these instances, your dentist, Dr. Sean Ky, recommends these basic tips so you can offer quality first aid to an injured tongue.
You can use lukewarm saltwater to rinse away any blood or debris lingering in your mouth. This can also help soothe injured tissues. Avoid using antiseptic mouthwash as it can easily irritate the tongue injury. If your tongue is bleeding excessively, you shouldn’t swallow the blood as this can upset your stomach.
If your tongue is bleeding, you can wrap it in a few layers of sterile gauze and apply light pressure. If you can’t easily hold the gauze with fingers, you might want to try pressing it to the roof of your mouth.
If after 20 to 30 minutes the bleeding persists or if you feel that the pain is getting worse, you should strongly consider going the emergency room or a nearby urgent care facility for more advanced treatment.
If you are struggling to provide quality first aid to a tongue injury in Pasadena, California, you can always call Sean T. Ky at 626-792-0448 to seek further advice.
