Have you ever accidentally bitten the inside of your lip? It can be a painful experience. Oral injuries can happen to anyone, whether they’re an adult or a child. Even though a lip injury can hurt, it doesn’t always require medical attention — you can treat it at home! So if you accidentally bit the inside of your lip, keep reading this blog.
Causes for Biting the Inside of Your Lip
Firstly, let us discuss what might make you bite the inside of your lip. You might get an oral injury in these situations:
- Eating
- Talking
- Accidents like falls or collision
- Playing sports
- Seizure
- Stress
Process After You Bit the Inside of Your Lip
Your teeth press into the skin when you bite your lip. Since your lips have many nerve endings, contact with teeth can hurt. You might experience a lot of pain. Additionally, you might notice a lot of bleeding if your teeth puncture the skin. This is because the lips have a rich blood supply.
Other than pain and bleeding, you might also experience these symptoms:
- Swelling
- Redness
- Sensitivity
A severe injury might result in cuts, bumps, mucoceles, or canker sores.
How to Treat the Oral Injury If You Bit the Inside of Your Lip?
The bite mark might be easier to treat than you think. Although the oral injury might bleed a lot due to the rich blood supply in your lips, it heals quickly for that reason too.
If you have a lip bite, here is what to do:
- Inspect the wound to see if there is any dirt or debris. Do this, especially if you have bit the inside of your lip due to an accident. Go to an oral healthcare provider straight away in case you find something stuck inside the cut.
- Clean the injured area gently with a clean cloth. Avoid rubbing or scrubbing the wound.
- Run cool water on your lip to rinse it.
- Place a clean, sanitized cloth or gauze on the bite. Then, apply pressure for around 5 to 10 minutes. Repeat the process with a new gauze if the bleeding continues.
- Apply cold compresses to the affected region. Cover an ice pack or ice cube with a fresh cloth and press it on the wound. This will help lessen the swelling.
Prevention Tips for Lip Bites
Here are some useful tips to prevent infection and manage the symptoms if you bit the inside of your lip:
- Saltwater Rinses: Take a solution of one teaspoon of non-iodized salt in a cup of warm water. Swish it in your mouth for 4 minutes to disinfect the wound. This will help protect the area from bacteria and reduce pain.
- Cold Compress: Place an ice cube on the bite to minimize swelling. Or you can wrap an ice pack in a clean cloth and gently press it against the wound.
- OTC Medications: Ibuprofen, aspirin, and other over-the-counter medication aid in healing pain and swelling.
- Oral Antiseptic Gel: Use an OTC oral antiseptic gel to prevent the risk of infection. Furthermore, some gels also lessen the pain.
What Should I Do?
It can be painful to deal with the wound if you ever bit the inside of your lip. Luckily, you can take prevention steps to avoid complications. Dial (281) 667-0607 to contact our Katy Cypress Oral Surgery team and get treated.