Soft Tissue Oral Trauma Might Require Some Basic First-Aid

Sometimes an accidental blow to the face or mouth can carry enough force to cause significant trauma. This is more common to occur with athletes. Yet something as simple as a slip and fall in the home can also injure the lip, gums, or cheek.

If you or someone close at hand has just suffered a soft oral tissue injury, you might need to apply some simple first-aid measures. This can help to manage pain, and swelling while also assessing the need for professional intervention from the oral care specialists at Mowry Dental.

If you have dried blood, dirt, or other debris on the outside of your mouth, you might be able to gently wipe it away with a warm, wet washcloth. This can help you get a better view any traumatized soft tissues on the lip or chin. If you have unwanted material or lingering blood in your mouth you can rinse it away with a little lukewarm saltwater.

You might be able to minimize any swelling by applying a cold compress on the area for up to 20 minutes at a time. If you don’t have one readily at hand, you can improvise a cold compress by placing a bag of frozen vegetables in a zip-top bag wrapped in a tea towel.

If the traumatized tissues continue to bleed for more than half an hour, you should strongly consider going to the Emergency Room to seek professional treatment. If you live in the Fremont, California, area and you need help assessing or administering first-aid for soft tissue oral trauma, you can call 510.794.7900 to consult with Dr. Thi Hoang or a member of her staff.