Lip injuries can range in severity. Most are minor and relate to some oral accident like nipping your lip while eating a quick snack or chewing gum. However, there are other times when a more serious issue could cause a very serious lip injury, that requires timely first aid, and possibly the attention of a trained oral care specialist.
In a situation like this, our dentist and team offer a few key insights to help manage the pain and determine the need for more advanced treatment.
The first step is to assess the severity of the wound. If you have blood on your lip, you can use a warm, wet washcloth to gently wipe it away. Any blood or debris in your mouth can then be rinsed away with lukewarm salt water.
In a situation where your lip is bleeding uncontrollably, it might require stitches or further treatment at the emergency room or a nearby urgent care facility.
You can try holding a cold compress on the area for up to 20 minutes at a time. This might help to reduce any latent swelling. If you don’t have one immediately at hand, you can improvise a cold compress by placing crushed ice in a zip-top bag wrapped in a washcloth or tea towel.
If the bleeding persists, you can try to control the bleeding by holding some sterile gauze to the wound. If the bleeding hasn’t stopped after 20 minutes, the wound likely requires professional treatment in the emergency room or an urgent care clinic.
If you have suffered a significant lip injury in the Colonial Heights, Virginia, area and you need help assessing it, or need further treatment, you can always call 804-526-0231 to consult with Dr. Tom G. Schleicher.