What is Mouth Laceration

Mouth laceration is a deep cut inside your mouth. The cut may go into your lip or go all the way through your mouth and cheek. The cut may also affect your tongue, the insides of your cheeks, or the upper surface of your mouth (palate).

Mouth lacerations may bleed a lot and may need to be treated with stitches (sutures).

Follow these instructions at home:

Medicines

• Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your doctor.
• If you were given an antibiotic medicine, take or apply it as told by your doctor. Do not stop using the antibiotic even if you start to feel better.
• Do not drive or use heavy machinery while taking prescription pain medicine.

Wound care

• Check your wound every day for signs of infection. It is normal to have a white or gray patch over your wound while it heals. Watch for:
  • Redness.
  • Swelling.
  • Blood or pus.
• Gently gargle and rinse your mouth 4–6 times a day. Spit out the liquid. Do not swallow.
• Use the rinse solution as told by your doctor. The most used types of rinse include:
  • Antibacterial rinse (chlorhexidine).
  • Saline rinse.
• Do not poke the stitches with your tongue. Doing that can loosen them.
• If you have a cut on your lip:
  • Keep the wound fully dry for the first 24 hours, or as told by your doctor. After that time, you may take a shower or a bath. Do not get the wound soaked in water until after the stitches have been removed.
  • If you were given a bandage, change it at least once a day, or as told by your doctor. You should also change it if it gets wet or dirty.
  • Clean the wound once a day, or as told by your doctor.
  • After you clean the wound, put a thin layer of antibiotic ointment on it as told by your doctor. This ointment:
    • Helps to prevent infection.
    • Keeps the bandage from sticking to the wound.

General instructions

• Eat a soft diet. Avoid hot foods or liquids for a few days.
• Rinse your mouth after eating.
• Keep your mouth and teeth clean (oral hygiene). Gently brush your teeth with a soft toothbrush 2 times a day.
• Do not use any products that contain nicotine or tobacco, such as cigarettes and e-cigarettes. These can delay healing. If you need help quitting, ask your doctor.
• Keep all follow-up visits as told by your doctor. This is important.

Contact a doctor if:

• Medicine does not help your pain.
• You have a fever.
• You have redness, swelling, or pain on your wound that is getting worse.
• You have fresh bleeding or pus coming from your wound.
• You have swollen or tender glands in your throat.

Get help right away if:

• The edges of your wound break open.
• Your face or the area under your jaw gets swollen.
• You have trouble breathing or swallowing.

Summary

• A mouth laceration is a deep cut inside your mouth.
• Mouth lacerations may bleed a lot and may need to be treated with stitches.
• Check your wound every day for signs of infection.
• Contact a doctor if you have fresh bleeding or you notice that pus is coming out of your wound.