If you participate in vigorous athletics or contact sports then your body and mouth are at increased risk of suffering oral trauma. Sometimes an accidental blow to the face can cause significant trauma to your lip. In these situations applying some basic first-aid will help minimize pain and other complications while you assess the need for professional care.
If you need to get a better view of the injury, you can use a warm, wet washcloth to gently wipe away any blood. If you have material in your mouth you can rinse it away with a little lukewarm salt water.
If your lip starts swelling, you can apply a cold compress on the area for 20 minutes at a time. If you don’t have a cold compress on hand, you can improvise one by placing crushed ice in a zip-top bag wrapped in a washcloth or tea towel.
If the injured lip continues to bleed you can lightly press sterile gauze to the wound. If it hasn’t stopped after 20 minutes, you should strongly consider going to the Emergency Room to seek professional treatment.  Â
If you live in the Bossier City, Louisiana, area and you’ve suffered a significant lip injury, that requires further insight, you can call 318-742-2272 to consult with Dr. Stephen Hooper or another staff member at Hooper Family Dentistry.