Mouth Laceration Research Paper

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Mouth Laceration

A mouth laceration is a deep cut in the lining of your mouth (mucosa). The laceration may extend into your lip or go all the way through your mouth and cheek. Lacerations inside your mouth may involve your tongue, the insides of your cheeks, or the upper surface of your mouth (palate).
Mouth lacerations may bleed a lot because your mouth has a very rich blood supply. Mouth lacerations may need to be repaired with stitches (sutures).

CAUSES
Any type of facial injury can cause a mouth laceration. Common causes include:
• Getting hit in the mouth
• Being in a car accident.

SYMPTOMS
Bleeding that fills the mouth is the most common sign of a mouth laceration.

DIAGNOSIS
Your health care provider can diagnose a mouth laceration by examining your mouth. Your mouth may need to be washed out (irrigated) with a sterile saltwater (saline) solution. Your health care provider may also have to remove any blood clots to determine how bad your injury is. You may need X-rays of the bones in your jaw or face to rule out other injuries, such as dental injuries, facial fractures, or jaw fractures.

TREATMENT …show more content…

Small mouth lacerations may not need treatment as long as bleeding has stopped. You may need sutures if:
• You have a tongue laceration.
• Your mouth laceration is large, deep, or continues to bleed.
If sutures are necessary, your health care provider will use absorbable sutures that dissolve as your body heals. You may also receive antibiotic medicines or a tetanus shot.

HOME CARE INSTRUCTIONS
• Take medicines only as directed by your health care provider.
• If you were prescribed an antibiotic medicine, finish all of it even if you start to feel

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