Most mouth and tongue cuts heal on their own without stitches. Use saltwater rinses and cold compresses to relieve mouth pain and swelling and to reduce the chance of infection.
Rinsing the mouth with saltwater
If a person has a tongue injury, keeping the wound clean could promote healing. The American Dental Association (ADA) suggest a gentle saltwater rinse may reduce the risk of infection. To create a rinse, add half a teaspoon of salt to a small glass of warm water.
The time it takes a tongue laceration to heal varies depending on the severity of the injury. Minor lacerations can heal quickly, whereas severe injuries may take several weeks to heal. If a doctor closes a laceration with absorbable stitches, these may take 4–8 weeks for the body to absorb.
Apply a cold compress to the injured area. Or suck on a piece of ice or a flavoured ice pop. Rinse your wound with warm salt water right after meals. These rinses may relieve some pain.
A very irritated mouth, which may result from brushing your tongue too much or too hard, using abrasive toothpastes, overusing mouthwashes, or having too many acidic foods or drinks. Dentures that don't fit well may cause irritation that can make symptoms worse.
Oral wounds heal faster and with less scar formation than skin wounds. One of the key factors involved is saliva, which promotes wound healing in several ways.
Mouth Tissue Is Different Than Skin Tissue
Also, the mucous membrane in your tongue and cheeks is a bit simpler than typical skin cells. This means that the repair process is easier for your body and doesn't take as much time as healing other types of wounds.
Unlike organ or skin tissue, the oral tissue tends to repair itself very quickly.
This is because salt water is known for its natural healing properties. The at-home remedy can also be used to ease discomfort from mouth sores while aiding the recovery process. Salt water speeds wound healing by reducing inflammation and bacteria in the mouth.
If ulcers are interfering with your normal daily activities, or have persisted for 2 weeks, see your dentist or an oral medicine specialist. In some cases, you may need blood tests if it's suspected that you have an underlying deficiency (such as an iron, folate or vitamin B deficiency) or an inflammatory condition.
If the injury was minor, it might heal on its own within 5-7 days. But if the injury is severe with bleeding and pain, you may need to see your dentist. Your doctor may give you stitches and medication to soothe the discomfort. Your injury may need several days or even months to heal completely.
Does mouthwash clean your tongue? Mouthwash can be helpful in maintaining oral health, but it isn't a substitute for brushing and flossing. Rinsing with antiseptic mouthwash kills bacteria in the mouth, but can't remove bacteria hiding in the crevices of the tongue.
Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is a burning sensation on your tongue, roof of your mouth or lips. It can happen anywhere in your mouth or throat. BMS often starts seemingly out of nowhere. It may feel like your tongue is being burned by a hot liquid like coffee.
Sugar is a little-known pain reliever available in your own pantry. A spoonful may help the medicine go down, but a tiny sprinkle over the tongue can also dull the pain when you've burned your tongue.
Avoid foods and drinks that make mouth sores worse. o Avoid citrus fruits and juices, salty or spicy foods, and acidic foods like tomatoes. o Do not drink carbonated or caffeinated drinks. o Refrain from having beer, wine, liquor, or any other type of alcohol.
Saltwater Rinse: Although salt may aggravate the pain, a saltwater rinse can help speed up the healing process by drying out the sores. Combine a ½ cup of warm water with a teaspoon of salt. Let salt dissolve completely. Swish around inside your mouth for up to 30 seconds, then spit out.
Mouth sores often go away in 10 to 14 days, even if you do not do anything. They sometimes last up to 6 weeks. The following steps can make you feel better: Avoid hot beverages and foods, spicy and salty foods, and citrus.
avoiding acidic, spicy, or salty foods. avoiding hard or crunchy foods. avoiding eating too fast or chewing gum, as this may cause a person to bite the sore accidentally.
One of the main causes of mouth sores is emotional stress. If you are stressed, anxious or upset this can trigger an outbreak. The two kinds of sores that can manifest are canker sores or cold sores.
Any ulcer that lasts longer than three weeks should be looked at by your dentist. Ulcers caused by cancer usually appear on or under the tongue, but may occasionally appear somewhere else in the mouth. Cancer of the mouth is usually linked to heavy smoking and drinking. Doing both together greatly increases the risk.
A saltwater rinse can be performed three to four times a week, but it is important that you don't go beyond this because salt contains sodium, and too much sodium can impact your tooth enamel negatively.