What should you do if you fall and cut your soft tissue—gums, cheeks, lips, etc.—with your teeth? What would you do if your child fell and cut themselves? Of course, you could contact a dentist, but as you probably know, many of these cuts don’t need professional help. But, when should you call a dentist—and what can you do from home?
Unfortunately, soft tissue injuries are more common than you might expect. In fact, nearly 40% of accidents with adults occur during sports. Fortunately, you can avoid this problem, by simply wearing a mouth guard. This will protect your soft tissue and your teeth. In reality, if you don’t wear a mouthguard, you are also more likely to chip or fracture your teeth—which can lead to more soft tissue injuries.
In younger children, the most common cause of soft tissue injuries is falling. This is especially common when your child is learning to walk. This can also damage unerupted teeth. Unfortunately, there isn’t much you can do to prevent this type of injury.
Fortunately, there are a few things you can do after a soft tissue injury happens. First, rinse your mouth with a salt-water solution. Next, place a piece of wet gauze or tea bag against the cut. Hold that piece of gauze in place for about twenty minutes. Next, hold a cold compress against the outside of your mouth for ten minutes. If the bleeding still doesn’t stop, please contact Dr. Stephen Huber or go to an emergency room. While you travel, keep putting pressure on the cut with gauze.
If you are interested in learning more, please contact Stephen Huber at 913-543-3751. We’re eager to hear from you.