First-Aid Might Be Needed to Manage Pain and Complications from a Lip Injury

The mouth is a complex part of the human body with multiple types of soft tissues. Sometimes a simple household accident can result in a hard blow to the face that wounds the lip or cheek. If you find yourself in a situation like this, administering some simple first-aid measures can help minimize pain, control the bleeding, and help you determine the need for professional care.

If you have blood on your lip you can use a wet washcloth to gently wipe it away. If you have blood or unwanted debris in your mouth can then be gently rinsed away with lukewarm saltwater. This might also help to soothe other traumatized oral tissues in the area. If your lip is bleeding excessively or you are in severe pain, you should strongly consider seeking care at the Emergency Room or a nearby urgent care facility.

Gently holding a cold compress to the area for 15 to 20 minutes can help reduce swelling. If you don’t have one immediately at hand, you can improvise a cold compress with a bag of frozen vegetables wrapped in sterile gauze or a clean tea towel.

If the bleeding persists you can try to control the bleeding by pressing some sterile gauze to the wound. If the bleeding hasn’t stopped after 20 minutes, the wound likely needs a physician’s care.If you are in the West Seneca, New York, area and you need help assessing the severity of a lip injury, you can call 716-674-5256 to speak to Dr. Tammy Perison a staff member at Tammy Perison, DDS Family and Cosmetic Dental Care.