What is Tongue Laceration

A tongue laceration is a cut on the tongue. Most cuts on the tongue heal without any problems. Minor cuts usually do not need stitches (sutures). A more serious cut may need stitches if:

• It goes all the way through the tongue.
• It is on the side of the tongue.

Very bad cuts may be treated with medicine to prevent infection (antibiotic medicine).

Follow these instructions at home:

Pay attention to any changes in your cut. Take these actions to help your tongue to heal.

• Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your doctor.
  • If you were prescribed an antibiotic medicine, take it as told by your doctor. Do not stop taking it even if you start to feel better.
  • If you were told to use a germ-killing (antiseptic) mouth rinse, use it exactly as told by your doctor.
• If your cut was closed with stitches, do not pull on them. Leave the stitches in place for as long as your doctor tells you to. Follow instructions from your doctor about:
  • How to care for your stitches.
  • When and how your stitches will need to be taken out.
• Rinse your mouth with water after each time that you eat.
• If directed, apply ice to your cut.
  • Cover an ice cube with a thin cloth.
  • Hold the covered ice cube on the cut for 1–3 minutes, if you can. Do this 4 times per day, for 1–2 days.
• After one day, use salt-water or other mouth rinses 4–6 times per day as told by your doctor. To make a salt-water mixture, completely dissolve ½–1 tsp of salt in 1 cup of warm water. Your doctor may tell you to use a mouth rinse that kills germs.
• If you did not injure your teeth, gently brush and floss them as usual.
  • Do not brush or floss loose or broken teeth.
  • Do not brush or floss teeth that have been put back in the right place by your doctor.
• Follow instructions from your doctor about what you cannot eat or drink. Do not eat hard or chewy foods until your cut has healed.
• Do not eat hot food or have any hot drinks while your mouth is numb.
• Keep all follow-up visits as told by your doctor. This is important.

Contact a doctor if:

• You have a fever.
• You have pus coming from your cut.
• A cut that was closed breaks open.

Get help right away if:

• You have bleeding that does not stop when you put pressure on it.
• You have trouble breathing.
• You have worse swelling or pain in your cut.
• You have worse swelling or pain in other parts of your mouth, neck, or face.