INJURY TO THE GUMS, LIPS, OR TONGUE

Is an injury to the gums, lips, or tongue a dental emergency? Soft tissue injuries are not commonly viewed as dental emergencies. The reason is that these typically heal quite well on their own without any medical intervention.

How you should handle an injury to the gums, lips, or tongue: Patients are always welcome to make an appointment with our team if they prefer, but most of the time, simply rinsing out the mouth with warm water and holding gauze on the area to stop the bleeding is enough. It is worth mentioning, however, that if the bleeding doesn’t stop after 10 minutes, you should get to your local ER for immediate medical attention.

If you are able to stop the bleeding while at home, you can then place a cold compress on the area to minimize discomfort and swelling.

How we treat injuries to the gums, lips, or tongue: If you choose to see your emergency dentist in Ft. Lauderdale, we will determine if you need stitches before discussing ways to avoid this type of injury in the future. If necessary, we may need to recommend that you receive a customized mouthguard, especially if the injury occurred as a result of playing sports.