Your mouth is involved with very many activities ranging from speaking, chewing, digestion and even singing, as you may want the activities to be numerous. All these involves movement of the mouth and its minor organs – tongue, teeth etc. during these processes you may happen to bite or develop a cut in mouth.
I have a Cut in Mouth, what should I do?
These cuts may involve injuries to the lip, flap under the upper lip (frenulum), tongue, inner cheeks, floor of the mouth, roof of the mouth (hard and soft palate), or back of the mouth (tonsils and throat)
Types of Mouth Injuries
- Cuts of the tongue or inside of the cheeks (due to accidentally biting them during eating) are the most common mouth injury. Bites of the tongue rarely need sutures. Even if they gape open a little, if the edges come together when the tongue is quiet, the cut should heal quickly.
- Cuts and bruises of the upper lip are usually due to falls. A tear of the piece of tissue connecting the upper lip to the gum is very common and always heals without treatment. It may bleed again, however, every time you pull the lip out to look at the bleeding site.
- Cuts of the lower lip are usually caused by catching it between the upper and lower teeth during a fall. Most of these cuts do not connect. These do not need treatment unless the outer cut is gaping.
- Potentially serious mouth injuries are those to the tonsil, soft palate, or back of the throat (as from falling with a pencil or toothbrush in the mouth).
Canker sore is the name for a painful, open sore in the mouth that is medically known as aphthous ulcer. The sores are not contagious and are small, shallow lesions that develop on the soft tissues in the mouth and gums. Canker sores may result from cut in mouth, viral infections, hormonal shifts, an abnormal immune system, or a diet low in nutrients.
Trauma in the mouth, or teeth, or on the lips may result to mouth ulcers and canker sores, which after the cut have been infected. Trauma related cuts may become inflamed, swell, and have potential to develop into mouth ulcer. Wrongly fit dentures are also known to cause cut in mouth and mouth redness. Any kind of trauma to the mouth, lips or tongue can as well cause mouth cuts which appear red as a result of inflammation and swelling around the site of the injury.
Cuts that appear in the mouth from hot or spicy foods, chewing tobacco or smoking can cause mouth ulcers as well. Mouth ulcers may also result from specific medications, such as chemotherapy. The underlying conditions that are common causes of mouth ulcers include deficiencies in certain nutrients and minerals and also hormonal imbalances.
What does it mean when a Cut in Mouth Turned White
White patches in the mouth are a common symptom of infection, inflammation, trauma, malignancy, and other underlying conditions and diseases. Cut that turn white usually result from pathogens, such as bacteria, viruses and fungi, which inflame the lining of the mouth causing swelling, redness, and ulcer formation.
Ulcers most commonly occur on the inside of the mouth but may also occur on the tongue and lips, or in association with more generalized conditions, such as cancer. Allergic reactions to food and other substances may cause inflammation, swelling, and development of mouth white patches.
Trauma to the mouth, gums or teeth may result in mouth white patches. Trauma-related cuts become inflamed, swell, and have the potential develop into a mouth ulcer that is white in appearance.
White cuts or leukoplakia is a medical term for a precancerous condition that usually occurs on the tongue or lining of the cheek. This condition also appear as white cut in mouth and is caused by chronic irritation rather than infection. Leukoplakia itself is noncancerous but up to 20% of such patches will eventually develop cancer if left untreated
Chewing tobacco or smoking, particularly pipe smoking, can cause mouth white patches. Mouth white patches may result from specific medications, including chemotherapy. Underlying conditions that are common causes of mouth white patches include inflammatory bowel diseases, alcoholism, and cancer.
White cuts in the mouth may be associated with several other symptoms including:
- Bad breath
- Bleeding gums
- Oval shaped sore
- Raised, red lesions
- Receding gums
- Red spot or bump that develops into an open ulcer
- Sore that heals without scarring in one to two weeks
- Sore that may contain pus
- Sore throat
- Thickened or hardened areas
- Tongue soreness
- Ulcer with white or yellow centre
In other cases, a cut in mouth with white patches may occur with other symptoms that might indicate a serious condition that should be evaluated immediately in an emergency setting. Seek immediate medical care if you, or someone you are with, have mouth white patches along with other serious symptoms including:
- Bleeding
- Difficulty breathing
- Extreme difficulty eating or drinking
- Headache
- High fever (higher than 101 degrees Fahrenheit)
- Pain not controlled with self-care measures
- Recurring ulcers, with new ones developing before old ones heal
- Swelling of throat or tongue
- Unusually large mouth ulcers
Causes cut in mouth white patches
White cuts in the mouth result from infections caused by bacteria, viruses and fungi on the existing mouth injuries. Infections of the skin around the mouth, mucous membranes inside the mouth, gums, and tongue are common causes of mouth white patches.
Damage that occur in the mouth can be the result of chewing on the cheeks, excessive teeth brushing, trauma, or dentures that are not fitted properly. Each of these can cause inflammation, redness, and possibly white cuts on them in the mouth. Mouth white patches can also result from underlying conditions, such as cancer and gum disease.
How to Heal Cut in Mouth Faster
Cuts in mouth is something that may occur to anyone. This kind of injury can be as a result of hot foods and accidents. Although it may be very painful, cuts in mouth commonly heal without any medical treatments. A cut in mouth usually may heal within days, but during the process, you will definitely experience uncomfortable and painful eating and talking activities.
Healing cuts in mouth
The truth is that most cuts in the mouth will heal without specific medical treatments. However, there are some methods which can be done to speed up the healing process and to minimize the caused pain. These include the following:
Stop the bleeding
More often, cuts on the mouth lining which is caused by the teeth cause minor bleeding. Before treating the cut in mouth, this bleeding need to be stopped first. Some procedures can be done to do this. This include:
- Rinse the mouth with water and gargle for several seconds, focusing on the bleeding area.
- Give the bleeding area a sufficient pressure. You might need to let the mouth bleed, since this is the natural way done by the body to cleanse a wound.
- Put an ice cube wrapped in a cloth onto the injured area. This will constrict the blood vessels and stop the bleeding. Do not apply the ice too long, though, as it may trigger burns.
Reducing pain
Injuries that occur in the mouth normally heal faster than other injuries located on the other parts of the body. However, this problem can cause an excruciating pain while eating, talking, or even opening the mouth. Thus, an important part of healing the mouth cuts will be reducing the caused pain. Some of the remedies that are proven to reduce pain caused by cuts in mouth are;
- Avoiding salty, spicy, or dry foods which may irritate the cuts and make the pain worse. Eating soft foods during the healing process will be helpful in improving the condition.
- Take in a lot of fluids, as it will keep the mouth lubricated. Dry mouth lining will worsen the pain, not to mention cause unpleasant odour.
- Brush your teeth gently as it can help reducing the caused pain. Use soft-bristle toothbrush to prevent it from irritating the cut mouth lining.
- Sucking an ice cube or applying it onto the injured area can be relieving. However, do not put the ice directly on the mouth lining as it may cause an ice burn. Instead, wrap it with a thin cloth first and apply it onto the cut afterwards.
- Avoiding alcoholic and caffeinated drinks as it may aggravate the pain. Instead, drink a glass of warm water with additional drops of lemon or lime. Sufficient amount of water is also beneficial in reducing pain caused by cuts in mouth.
Promoting healing
Consuming more fruits and vegetables loaded with vitamin C and antioxidants, which will promote faster healing of a cut in mouth. Oranges, mangos, grapes, or blueberries will give you the benefits of healing the wound properly and quickly.
- Rinsing the mouth with non-alcoholic mouthwash is also believed to kill infesting bacteria which may aggravate the cut. Do this twice a day, holding the mouthwash on the cut area to give a sharper effect.
- Gargling the mouth with saline solution—or a cup of warm water added with a teaspoon of salt is also a good remedy for promoting healing in mouth cuts. Salt is a natural antiseptic which is going to cleanse the mouth lining as well as bacteria, which may inhibit healing.
- Apply aloe Vera gel directly onto the cut to give a soothing effect and to heal the cut. You can also consume the aloe as a cocktail. This will give you an additional amount of vitamin E, which is necessary in wound healing.
Preventing cuts in mouth
Most frequently, cuts in mouth is caused by accidental bites on the mouth lining, which instantly causes injuries. Some other accidents, such as stroking a tooth brush onto the gum also often happen. Thus, to prevent your mouth from getting cut, be sure to do all the activities gently.
Stress is also known as a trigger that aggravates mouth injuries. Thus, it is important to control your stress level in order to promote faster healing for the mouth injuries.
How to Heal a Cut on your Gums
Cuts on the gums can sometimes be mistaken for dental infection. In fact, dental infection is caused by an infection inside the tooth, near the tooth root, while a cut on the gum is located on the gum itself, causing visible, painful inflammation. While dental infection is often triggered by bacteria infestation in tooth root, cuts on the gum are commonly caused by the accumulation of plaque built under the gum line and injuries on the gums.
How to treat gum infection from cuts at home
Dental infection needs close medical attention, since the problem does not only affect the tooth and it root, but may also influence the nerve system and thus, in severely bad cases, can be life-threatening. However, gum infection that result from cut in mouth, although may also be serious, can be self-treated at home with proper treatments and remedies. To treat gum infection at home:
Rinse your mouth to alleviate the pain
A cut in mouth gums is painful and may trigger tingling and throbbing sensation on the gum. To relieve this pain, rinse the mouth with saline solution made from a mixture of warm water and salt. You can also use herbal mouthwash and 3-percent hydrogen peroxide to rinse the mouth. While rinsing, pass on the inflamed gum and gargle the solution for several minutes to help kill the bacteria.
Make sure there is no food leftover on your teeth and the gum line
Foods that remain on gums may harden and develop into plaque around the teeth and the gum lines. If this plaque is accumulated and hardens, it causes irritation to the gum where it sits on. As a result, this area swells and pus-filled abscess may form which will require dental abscess treatment.
You have to always make sure you brush your teeth properly and thoroughly after meals so that there is no food left there. When brushing the already-inflamed gum, it is important to do it gently using soft-bristled toothbrush, so that it will not irritate the affected gum further.
Prevent the a cut in mouth from getting worse by avoiding sugary foods and drinks
Sugary foods and drinks will increase your tartar build-up, which may contribute to plaque formation. It is important to stop consuming sugary foods as it may aggravate the infection site. Replace these sugary drinks such as soda with a glass of warm peppermint tea. Peppermint is beneficial for bacteria killing and the warmth of the tea will alleviate the caused pain.
Improve red and inflamed gum with aloe Vera
Aloe Vera can be easily found and is affordable. It is also a natural anti-inflammatory agent that help brings down an inflammation. In addition, aloe Vera that is massaged over an infected gum will give a soothing effect that reduces caused pain.
Reduce pain and inflammation using warm compresses
Warm compresses also have a significant role in improving gum infection. Apply the compress on the infected gum and leave it for some minutes until the pain subsides and the inflamed gum becomes more tenderized. Warm compresses will promote blood circulation to the infection site and thus, improve its condition.
Prevent the infection from getting worse by not draining the discharge
In most cases, you are going to see pus-like discharge under an infected gum that develop from a cut in mouth and may be tempted to drain it. This will not eliminate the problem and instead, may aggravate the infected gum, making the inflammation worse. Bring down the inflammation by putting warm compresses on it, instead of attempting on draining the discharge.
Getting rid of formed ulcers on gum by applying clover oil
Clover oil is a good antibacterial, which also possesses antibacterial and pain killing characteristics. Thus, if you are developing ulcers on gum as a result of the infection, applying the oil can really help. Dab this oil onto the ulcers and let it sit for 5 minutes before rinsing your mouth with warm water. Repeat the treatment several times a day or whenever the pain comes.
Rinse the mouth with saline water after every meal
Food leftovers can possibly make the cut on gums infection worse. In order to avoid this, it is essential to rinse the teeth and gum with saline water after eating. This will get rid of food leftovers and bacteria from the mouth and thus, prevent the infection from getting worse.
How to Treat an Infected Cut in Mouth
Oral mucositis or esophagitis may also be called mouth sores as they result from infected cut in mouth. It can range in severity from a red, sore mouth and/or gums to very painful open sores, causing a patient to be unable to eat.
Patients receiving radiation therapy to the head and neck area or those receiving certain types of chemotherapy are at risk to develop mucositis.
Other causes of mucositis include infection, dehydration, poor mouth care, and oxygen therapy, excessive use of alcohol and/or tobacco, as they all cause mouth injuries and lack of protein in the diet.
This condition may result in several problems including pain, nutritional problems related to the inability to eat, and increased risk of infection due to open sores in the oral and throat mucosa (lining). It has a significant effect on the patient’s quality of life and can be dose limiting.
How Are Mouth Sores Treated?
Infected cuts in mouth generally may heal on their own although others may require treatment. Continuing to perform good mouth care can help speed the healing process along. If mouth pain is interfering with eating and swallowing, your oncologist may prescribe a mouth rinse, which temporarily numbs the mouth or an oral pain medication.
To add on that, if an infected cut in mouth result in weight loss from poor intake of food and fluids is a concern, you may be referred to a nutritionist. If necessary, your oncologist may decide to delay further treatments until the mouth sores have healed.
Reasons for a Cut in Mouth not Healing
Your mouth is a very sensitive area and you’ll soon be aware if you suffer a cut to your gums or other soft tissue like your tongue. However, it’s important to know that some cuts in your mouth may need to be diagnosed by the dentist to make sure you haven’t damaged any important structures.
A cut in mouth, also known as a laceration, generally happens in conjunction with other dental emergency situations, such as a knocked-out tooth or cracked or broken tooth.
When dealing with a cut in the mouth that don’t heal, it is very important to make sure that the bleeding from the wound is controlled. Uncontrolled bleeding may result in shock, which may cause death if not treated immediately.
Cuts in the mouth that do not go away are a sign of infection, which may signify a serious condition. The infection may range from a mild one to a more serious one like oral cancer. In a situation where bleeding is continuing, you may need to take steps to stop bleeding before you can reach medical attention.
For these kind of cuts in the mouth, you may need to go and see your dentist who will carry an examination to verify the underlying condition, and corrective treatment thereafter.
To control bleeding caused by dental trauma:
- Wash your hands and put on a pair of non-latex medical gloves. You can usually find non-latex gloves in a first-Aid kit. If gloves are not available, wash your hands thoroughly.
- Lay the person down and elevate their head. Doing this will help prevent an additional injury from fainting, and elevating the head should help slow the bleeding.
- Gently clean debris from the area of the cut. Most cuts involving the inside of the mouth generally do not involve debris. If an object is stuck in the area of the cut, do not try to remove it.