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Emergency!

Lip, cheek or tongue injury

A cut or bite to the lip, cheek, tongue or gum. This page explains what to do first, what not to do, and what a dentist or doctor may do. If there is a lot of bleeding, call 911.

If this is happening right now

Press clean gauze or cloth firmly on the cut and keep pressing for 10 minutes without lifting it to check. Call 911 if your child is not waking up or acting normally, has trouble opening and closing the mouth, has trouble breathing or swallowing, has severe neck pain, or has a lot of bleeding. Get medical care for any cut that may need stitches (see the steps below).

What to do right now

Follow these steps in order.

  • Check that your child is awake, breathing normally and acting like themselves. If not, call 911.
  • Wear medical gloves if you have them. Press a clean gauze pad or cloth firmly on the cut.
  • Keep pressing for 10 minutes without lifting the gauze to check whether the bleeding has stopped.
  • For a cut inside the mouth, have your child rinse with cool water. For a cut on the outside of the lip or face, wash gently with warm water and soap.
  • Hold a cold pack or cold cloth, wrapped in a towel, against the outside of the lip or mouth to ease pain and swelling. If your child’s age and development allow, a popsicle or a small piece of ice can also help with swelling.
  • If a tooth or a piece of tooth is missing and cannot be found, tell the dentist or doctor right away. An X-ray may be needed to make sure it was not breathed in, swallowed or left in the lip.
  • See a doctor for any cut that might need stitches. A cut may need stitches if it is deep or large (bigger than 2 cm, about three-quarters of an inch), keeps bleeding after 15 minutes of steady pressure, or goes through the edge of the lip or across the edge of the tongue.
  • Before giving any pain reliever, ask your dentist, doctor or pharmacist which one is right for your child.
  • Ask your doctor whether your child’s tetanus shots are up to date, especially if the cut may have gotten dirty.

What not to do

Keep these in mind while you get care.

  • Do not lift the gauze every few seconds to check. Keep pressing for the full 10 minutes.
  • Do not scrub or rub back and forth on a cut on the outer lip or face.
  • Do not wait and hope if the cut may need stitches or the bleeding has not slowed after 15 minutes of steady pressure.
  • Do not give a pain reliever without asking first.

What has happened

The lip, cheek, tongue or gum has been cut, bitten or torn. Soft tissue injuries in the mouth often accompany an injury to a tooth, and the two are assessed together rather than separately.

One specific point is worth knowing. If a tooth or part of a tooth is also missing and has not been found, the AAPD states that radiographs are required to rule out its having been inhaled or coming to rest within the surrounding tissues — and it gives a fragment embedded in a lip laceration as the example. A soft tissue injury alongside a missing piece of tooth is therefore a reason to be seen.

What the dentist may do

The AAPD states that soft tissue injuries may require debridement — cleaning the wound — and primary closure. It describes initial care for orofacial trauma as focusing on pain control, controlling bleeding, cleaning the wound, accounting for any missing teeth, and confirming tetanus immunity, which is why you may be asked about vaccinations.

Where an injury is complex, the AAPD notes that consultation with or referral to a specialist may help. Any assessment of your child’s injury belongs with the clinician who can see it.

Cozy says

Your mouth got hurt. A grown-up will take care of it and get you checked if you need it.

There is a lot of blood. What should I do?

There is a lot of blood. What should I do? Call 911 if there is a lot of bleeding. Otherwise press firmly with clean gauze or cloth for 10 minutes without checking, and get medical care if 15 minutes of steady pressure has not slowed the bleeding. A web page cannot judge your child, so if you are worried, call your dentist or doctor. See also Bleeding after dental trauma.

Questions families ask

It might. The American Academy of Pediatrics says a cut may need stitches if it is deep or large (bigger than 2 cm), keeps bleeding after 15 minutes of steady pressure, or goes through the edge of the lip or across the edge of the tongue. Any cut that might need stitches should be seen by a doctor. Only a clinician who can see the cut can decide. The AAPD also notes that soft tissue injuries may need cleaning (debridement) and closing (primary closure).

It is precisely why this gets checked. The AAPD states that when a tooth or fragment remains unaccounted for, radiographs are required to rule out aspiration or presence within surrounding tissues, giving a fragment embedded in a lip laceration as its example. Mention it when you call.

Because it forms part of the AAPD’s description of initial care for orofacial trauma, which includes confirmation of tetanus immunity alongside pain control, bleeding control, wound cleansing and accounting for missing teeth. It is a routine question rather than a sign of concern.

Where this comes from

The first-aid steps follow the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) HealthyChildren page below. The dentist section, the missing-tooth point and the pain-reliever caution come from the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) documents in the list, and the tetanus point from the IADT guideline. The order of the steps and the wording of the do-not list are general safety wording based on these sources.

Review status: pending. No named reviewer or review date yet.

Other emergencies

See all Emergency topics

This website is for education only and does not replace care from your dentist, physician, or emergency services.