There are times when an accidental blow to the chin or jaw can cause you to bite down on your tongue. If the wound is substantial, and you are experiencing significant pain, you might need to apply some simple first-aid while seeking emergency care from one of our dentists, Dr. Kent Stapley and Dr. Nathan Kitchen.
Assessing the severity of the wound to your tongue can be helpful. If you have blood lingering in your mouth you can gently rinse it away with lukewarm saltwater. This might also help soothe your tongue and other injured soft tissues.
If the bleeding persists or you have bitten through your tongue, you should go to the emergency room. More moderate bleeding might be controlled by wrapping the tongue in a few layers of sterile gauze and applying light pressure. Taking the standard dose of an over-the-counter pain medication might also help reduce some of the pain while you are waiting to see our dentist or heading to the Emergency Room.
If you are in the Mesa, Arizona, area and you need help assessing a tongue injury, you can call 480-830-8946 to seek treatment at Dr. Kent Stapley & Dr. Nathan Kitchen. We are pleased to offer emergency dental care for our patients experiencing dental emergencies.Â