It’s relatively common for someone to accidentally bite their tongue while eating food or chewing gum. While this might give you a zap of pain, it rarely results in a drastic injury. There are some unusual situations however, when a fall, blow to the face or other accident can cause a significant tongue injury. In extreme cases some people have even bitten through their tongue.
At the dental practice of Ronald Hauptman, DDS and Bahar Rowhani, DDS and the team in Falls Church, Virginia, we offer some basic first aid considerations to help you manage your tongue injury.
— First, you can use lukewarm salt water to rinse away any blood or debris lingering in your mouth. This can also help soothe injured tissues. Avoid using antiseptic mouthwash as it might irritate the wound on your tongue. Also, try not to swallow blood as this can upset your stomach.
— If the injury to your tongue is severe you should consider going straight to your local emergency room or urgent care facility.
— 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 your fingers, you could try pressing your tongue to the roof of your mouth.
— If the bleeding lasts longer than a half hour or you feel that the pain is getting worse, it likely warrants a trip to the emergency room to have the wound professionally treated.
If you have questions about the best way to deal with an injured tongue you can call our experienced team at 703-241-0666 to schedule an appointment with one of our skilled dentists. We are here to help keep your smile healthy and confident for all your dental needs.