Your mouth has a variety of soft tissues including gums, cheek, lips, and other important oral structures necessary for the basic function of your mouth. Sometimes an accidental fall or sports injury can cause significant damage to an area of soft tissue in the mouth.
In times like this, you might need to apply some simple first-aid might help manage the pain, prevent further complications, and give you the necessary insights to determine the need for professional treatment.
The first step is to get a clear view of the traumatized soft tissues. If you need to clear away any dry blood or stray material from the lips or chin, you can gently wipe the area clean with a warm, wet wash cloth. If you have blood or other unwanted material in your mouth a gently lukewarm saltwater rinse might clear it away.
If an area is bleeding profusely, the best course of action is to seek treatment at the Emergency Room or Urgent Care Clinic. Lightly pressing some sterile gauze to the wound might be able to help slow or stop the bleeding.
If you’re concerned about swelling, you can apply a cold compress on the area for up to twenty minutes at a time. If you don’t have one close at hand, you can improvise one by placing crushed ice in a plastic bag wrapped in a washcloth or tea towel. Sometimes a bag of frozen vegetables can also fill in as an effective cold compress.
If you need help easing the pain, you could try taking a standard dosage of an anti-inflammatory medication, or gently rubbing a small amount of topical oral analgesic on the local tissues.
If you live in the Spring, Texas area and you’ve suffered a significant oral trauma, that requires further insight, you can call 832-616-8822 to speak to Dr. Priya or a staff member at Grand Trails Dental.