Treating cuts on your child’s lips or tongue can be a harrowing experience as any parent or caregiver will tell you. It’s hard on the child and the adult.
Injuries to the lip and tongue tend to be common, occurring often through childhood play or sporting activity.
They can be quite frightening due to their tendency to bleed a lot and swell dramatically. This is thanks to a high degree of blood flow to the area which is good news to as this means healing is quicker.
There are a few steps you can take to ensure the wound heals quickly and without scarring.
1. Keep the wound clean and dry.
2. Avoid feeding your child any food likely to aggravate the wound, including anything spicy.
3. Check the area every day for any signs it’s not healing properly.
You should take your child to a healthcare professional if
1. Bleeding persists after applying pressure to the area for five minutes.
2. The wound crosses from the lip area into the cheek
3. The cut looks deep, as it may require stitches.
4. The wound is embedded with dirt or gravel or needs extra cleaning.
5. The tongue is punctured.
Take a First Aid Class today to ensure you know what to do to keep your child safe, prevent harm or help him if an accident occurs.
Dr. Oluwatosin Osikoya is the Founder of Levande Healthcare Company. She facilitates First Aid Classes to enable Parents, Carers of Children, Schools and Businesses get the knowledge, skills and tools to handle any medical emergency.
