How long tongue heal

Very often, home treatment is all that a person needs to manage a bit tongue. The following steps can serve as a guideline:. It is essential to keep the wound clean, so be sure to rinse the mouth after every meal, using a solution made from 1 cup of water and 1 teaspoon of salt.

Sometimes, a doctor will have difficulty determining whether a tongue bite is severe enough to require stitches, particularly when children are involved. One study only recommended stitches for tongue wounds that are bigger than 2 centimeters cm long, unless they affect the tip of the tongue. It is not always possible to prevent tongue biting.

However, the following safety tips can make it less likely for a person to bite their tongue accidentally:. Individuals with conditions that may cause seizures should work with their healthcare teams to make sure they and their loved ones know what to do to protect their tongues during a seizure. If sleep apnea or teeth grinding are causing tongue biting, working with sleep specialists or dentists can help people find practices to manage these issues.

Most of the time, a bit tongue heals on its own in a few days. Complications tend to arise only with more severe injuries. They require prompt medical treatment and may include:.

The time it takes a bit tongue to heal depends on the severity of the injury. Most heal quickly, within a few days or a week, but if a person needs stitches or a doctor has re-attached a piece of the tongue, the recovery will take longer. Or participating in a heavy-contact sport. Be careful. And sometimes, it could be an issue with your jaw alignment. Talk to your dentist. Whatever the cause, you'll want to implement a tongue bite treatment as quickly as possible to soothe your pain and start the healing.

Here's what you should know. Usually, it's the initial sting of your bite that you want to address. It could have created some wound or cut on your tongue that needs to be treated. And with that, swelling and bleeding are possible. Here are a few things you can do depending on your tongue bite situation:. When biting your tongue goes from an unfortunate incident to a painful habit, something else may be at play.

It's possible the swelling from the initial bite makes it easier for you to bite it every so often repeatedly. It could be an enlarged tongue or a misaligned jaw you're dealing with. Whatever the case, tend to it with the at-home treatments outlined above. If you're worried it is an alignment issue, see your dentist for their professional opinion.

When the inevitable burnt tongue does happen, use the remedies above to make your time with a burnt tongue a little more bearable. Alex Rhee. Are you requesting to view the testimonials of real patients of Chemong Family Dental? YES NO. Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Are you a new or current patient? If you are not taking a prescription pain medicine, ask your doctor if you can take an over-the-counter medicine. Apply a cold compress to the injured area. Or suck on a piece of ice or a flavoured ice pop. Rinse your wound with warm salt water right after meals. These rinses may relieve some pain.

To make a saltwater solution, mix 1 tsp of salt in 1 cup of warm water. For example, call if: You have trouble breathing.

Call your doctor or nurse call line now or seek immediate medical care if: You have new or worse bleeding. You have symptoms of infection, such as: Increased pain, swelling, warmth, or redness. Red streaks leading from the area. Pus draining from the area.

A fever.