Be Careful After you visit the Dentist. Your mouth may be Numb!
Topeka Oral Surgery advises against chewing or biting down right after your mouth is numbed for dental work. It may take 2-4 hrs for the numbing agent to wear off. Accidentally biting your tongue and lip are common concerns which usually heal on their own, but sometimes it can leave a scar.
Why It Happens
You might bite your tongue accidentally for several reasons, such as:
Trauma playing
Numbness from dental work
Falling
Sports injuries
Movements during sleep
Seizures
Kids are more prone to biting their tongues than adults because they are more active and their muscles are still developing.
How to Treat Tongue Wounds
Most tongue bites heal on their own in a few days and don’t need medical treatment. However, if the bite is serious, experts at Topeka Oral Surgerycan help. For severe bites, a doctor may have you rinse your mouth with water to see the injury better. If there’s swelling, applying ice wrapped in a cloth can help. In some cases, kids might need stitches for tongue bites longer than 2 cm that incorporate the lateral aspect of the tongue or tip. Common punctures of the tongue require no surgical intervention.
When to Seek Help
It can be hard to tell if a tongue bite is serious because even small ones can bleed a lot. Rarely, an untreated bite can get infected. Seek help if you notice signs of infection like:
Fever
Swelling or throbbing
Clear or white liquid from the wound
Also, get medical attention if:
Bleeding won’t stop
The bite is very large and go through the tip or lateral tongue
You have trouble opening your mouth, breathing, or swallowing
Pain doesn’t go away with regular pain medicine
A strong bite to the tongue, especially when it’s numb, can be serious. If the injury is bad, get help within 8 hours to prevent lasting damage.
Topeka Oral Surgery Can Help
Biting your tongue can be painful and sometimes dangerous. The experts at Topeka Oral Surgery are here to help when necessary. The tongue is hard to suture due to it being a strong muscle but large wounds should NOT be ignored.
