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It’s not unheard of for a hard fall or blow to the face to injure your lip or cause you to bite down on it very hard. If the injury to your lip is severe you should consider going to the emergency room.

It’s important to determine the extent of the injury to your lip. You can use a warm, wet washcloth to gently wipe away any blood. If you have blood or debris in your mouth you can rinse it away with lukewarm salt water. This can also help soothe injured tissues.

If your lip starts swelling, you can try holding a cold compress on the area for 15 minutes at a time. A cold compress can be made quickly, by placing crushed ice in a zip-top bag wrapped in a washcloth or tea towel.

If bleeding persists, you lightly press sterile gauze to the wound. If the bleeding hasn’t stopped after 15 to 20 minutes, you should strongly consider going to the emergency room. This usually means the wound will require further treatment and possibly stitches.

If you have questions about the best way to handle the issue or would like to schedule an appointment should call us at 702-564-2526.