First comes the horrible crunching sensation, quickly followed by a burst of pain. "Oh no, I bit my tongue!" Whether it happens while you're eating, playing sports or otherwise, biting your tongue is upsetting and uncomfortable. Fortunately, tongue injuries are rarely serious and you can often treat them at home.
I Bit My Tongue. What Now?
Remedies for a Bitten Tongue
The cut or puncture wound that results from biting your tongue often heals by itself without medical treatment. However, the rich blood supply to the tongue may cause the wound to bleed or swell. To control the bleeding, firmly press a clean cloth to the affected area for five minutes or longer. Alternatively, wrap the cloth around crushed ice before pressing it to the wound, which might help control the swelling and pain.
To clean a wound on your tongue, rinse your mouth with a solution of one part water to one part hydrogen peroxide. Don't swallow the solution. Additionally, Government of Alberta recommends rinsing your mouth with warm salt water after meals to help relieve the pain. Make the mixture by dissolving 1 teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water, then swish the liquid in your mouth and spit it out.
Regardless of whether the wound has been treated or not, be aware of the signs of an infection. If you experience increased redness, develop a fever or notice pus in the wound after the injury, you may have an infection, according to the Government of Alberta. A physician can prescribe antibiotics to help treat a tongue infection.
Bit My Tongue Again!
Sometimes biting your tongue becomes a bad habit. When the wound swells, it can be hard to avoid biting the same place again.
Especially if you have a condition like an enlarged tongue or misaligned jaw, tongue injuries may happen more than once. Start by applying home treatments to the tongue wound and speak to your dentist if you're concerned you're repeatedly biting your tongue because your bite is misaligned. In that case, orthodontics may be in order.
When to Seek Further Treatment
Biting your tongue while eating is not often cause for concern, but be especially careful if you're treating a tongue wound from a sports injury or other accident. When a tongue injury results in heavy bleeding or an infection, it's time to seek medical treatment. Occasionally, the cut may be so deep or wide that it needs dissolving sutures, or stitches, to hold it together while it heals.
Biting your tongue is one of life's downsides, but the consequences aren't usually serious. Treat your injury with home remedies to reduce the bleeding and pain and to help keep the cut clean. If the wound on your tongue won't stop bleeding or you spot signs of an infection, see a medical professional immediately.
This article is intended to promote understanding of and knowledge about general oral health topics. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your dentist or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.
