If you have injured your lip, it’s important to stay calm. Staying calm will help you handle the situation and even allow you to assess and aid the injury. Then, there are certain things you should do to improve the chances of a successful recovery. Our dentist, Dr. Todd Tibbs, is happy to tell you all about them.
First, you should try to wash the area. Washing the area with warm (not hot) water can help you clean the lip, reduce the chances of infection, assess the area, and remove debris that are causing additional pain. So, rinse the lip under the faucet or rub it clean with a wet washcloth. If cleaning the lip is too painful, don’t worry too much about it.
Second, you should try to stop the bleeding. This is an important step when caring for an injured lip. You need to place some sterile gauze or a clean towel over the injured area and apply light pressure. This will help clot the blood. If the gauze or towel fills with blood, it’s recommended to replace it with a new one.
Third, you should reduce swelling. This can help you relieve the pain you’re experiencing. So, grab an ice cube or ice pack, wrap it in a towel, and place it on the injured lip. Ice the area for 15 minutes at a time.
Now, remember that there are times when you should visit the Urgent Care facility or a doctor. Those times are when there is a fracture involved with the injury, the bleeding won’t stop, and the cut needs stitches.
Call Todd Tibbs at 704-633-1799 today if you have any questions or if you would like to know more about how to care for an injured lip in Salisbury, North Carolina. Our dental team will be more than happy to help you, and we look forward to hearing from you!