You were eating or talking to someone and end up accidentally biting your lip. Ouch! It can happen to anyone. But since it’s so common, there are some easy tips you can apply to help you learn how to heal a bitten lip inside.
In this article, we’ll talk about what happens when you accidentally cut or bite open your lip. Next, we’ll give you some clear advice on how you can treat the cut and help it heal quickly.
What Happens When I Accidentally Bite My Lip?
The skin on the inside of your mouth, including the lips, is very thin, delicate and sensitive. Because of this, even the tiniest scrape, poke or prod can break through it. The teeth, for example, can accidentally puncture the skin on the inside of your cheek or lip during normal activities such as eating or talking.
When you puncture the skin inside your mouth, it’s normal to be alarmed because these areas tend to bleed more freely than other parts of the body. This is to be expected, though, since there are blood vessels very close to the surface, giving them a characteristic pinkish hue. You might even taste the blood, and this might be scary to some.
Fortunately, however, there’s no need to worry – because these areas of skin are richly supplied with blood, they also tend to heal much faster than other, thicker skin on the rest of the body. All you need to do is treat it like any other wound: keep it clean and allow the area to heal naturally.
How To Heal A Bitten Lip Inside
If you have a bitten lip with a cut on the outside of your mouth, it’s relatively easy to keep it clean. Just use a clean cloth with some warm water to occasionally dab the area clean. You can use a droplet of mild soap, but don’t use too much, as this can dry out the delicate skin.
If you have a bitten lip on the inside, it’s slightly more involved. The inside of the mouth contains numerous bacteria that are constantly trying to infiltrate any cuts. So it’s more important to keep the area clean, and also to practice good oral hygiene to minimize the spread of bacteria.
Here are some things you can do to promote healing:
- Rinse with warm salt water a couple of times a day, particularly after meals.
- Use a solution of one part water to one part hydrogen peroxide, rinse and spit out. Don’t swallow!
- Maintain good oral hygiene by brushing your teeth properly, twice a day.
- Avoid spicy, acidic or very hot foods. You don’t want to irritate the cut further.
- Gently apply an ice pack or an ice cube wrapped in a paper towel on the cut. This can help reduce swelling.
Conclusion: What To Watch Out For
Normally, a bitten lip on the inside like this will heal within a week or two. However, you should keep an eye out for signs that the cut isn’t healing properly. If the cut doesn’t stop bleeding, develops a prominent hole, starts to sting or becomes more swollen, or develops redness, you should see a qualified dentist.
Lonestar Dental Center is your complete oral healthcare destination for various dental procedures and comprehensive exams. We provide excellent service from the very beginning of your time with us in Humble, TX. If you’d like to schedule an appointment or have any questions, please give us a call at (281) 233-0333.