Accidentally biting your lip during a meal isn’t uncommon. This level of lip injury proves more of an inconvenience. There are also times when an accident, oral trauma or blow to the face can cause a lip injury that merits first aid.
In times such as these, Dr. Christopher M. Spelman offers these basic first-aid tips to minimize complications or help you prepare for professional treatment.
If your lip starts to swell, you can hold a cold compress on the area for 15 minutes at a time. You shouldn’t hold the cold compress to your lip for longer than 20 minutes as excess cold can also irritate sensitive tissues and impede blood flow. You can improvise a cold compress with a bag of frozen vegetables that is wrapped in a tea towel.
Minor bleeding can often be controlled by applying modest pressure to a bandage or sterile gauze pad. If the bleeding doesn’t cease within 20 minutes, you should seek emergency care. This is often a sign that the wound requires care by a physician.
If you’ve suffered a lip injury in Hopewell, New Jersey, you can always call 609-466-1332 to seek professional advice from a member of our Orlando Family Dentistry, LLC staff.