Month: June 2023

You are talking to someone or eating, and you accidentally bite down on your lip. Biting down on the inside of your lips can be a painful experience, and it can happen to anyone. Biting lips is mostly accidental and could happen due to many reasons, such as during a fall, while playing sports, due to seizures, or even due to stress. 

This type of injury may hurt but does not require professional medical intervention. You can quickly treat your bitten lip with some self-care measures. The wounds in the mouth area heal quickly since our tongues have an excellent blood supply. But there could be instances when an injury on the inside of the lip may require professional help. 

This article will discuss how to treat a wound on your lips if you bite down on it and also know when to seek medical care.

What To Expect When You Hurt Your Lips By Biting

Your teeth press against your skin when you bite the inside of your lips. This area has many nerve endings and is very sensitive to pain, which could hurt a lot. If the cut punctures your skin, you could also bleed a lot since lips have a rich blood supply. When you have a bitten inner lip, you could experience the following:

• Swelling
• Redness
• Sensitivity.
• If the bite was forceful, you could also have cuts, canker sores, bumps, or mucus-filled cysts called mucocele.

How To Treat a Bitten Sore Mouth Area 

If the bite is on the outside, then you should first keep it clean. You could use water and a clean cloth to dab the area clean. You could even use a droplet of any mild soap, but be careful not to use a lot of it. But if the sore is on the inside of your mouth, then it is a little more involved and needs careful treatment.

The inside of your mouth has numerous bacteria that constantly try to infiltrate the wound. So it becomes essential to keep the area clean and follow good oral hygiene to prevent and minimize bacteria spread.

• Check the wound – Check if there is any debris or dirt on the scrape, especially if the lip was bitten due to any accident. If there is anything stuck to the cut, do not remove it. If this is the case, it is paramount that you seek medical attention instantly. 
• Clean the wound – Use clean and cold water with a clean cloth to clean the area. Avoid rubbing or scrubbing the affected area. You could also use salt water to rinse your mouth.
• Apply pressure to control bleeding – Use a clean piece of medical gauze to apply firm pressure on the cut for five to ten minutes. You could also use a clean towel if you do not have gauze. If this still does not stop bleeding, continue to apply pressure but also call the emergency number or head to the closest immediate care or medical center.
• Reduce swelling – If the bleeding stops, use ice or any other cold compress on the area to reduce swelling. You could also use popsicles for injuries inside the mouth as they will keep the site cold and help in swelling reduction.
• Avoid spicy food – If the bite is raw and sore, avoid eating spicy, hot, or acidic foods. Such food can irritate the wound and cause more pain.

What To Do While Your Lip Is Healing?

You might need an OTC (over-the-counter) medicine for pain relief and discomfort after the injury. 

• After every meal or beverage, rinse your lips with water to help ease away the pain and expedite the healing process.
• While you are recovering from the bite on the inside of your lip, look out for any possible signs of infection, such as:
  • Tenderness
  • Redness
  • Swelling
  • Pus buildup
  • Fever
• If you experience any of the symptoms mentioned above, reach out to your physician or dentist at the earliest.

When Do I See A Dentist Or Doctor?

Mouth injuries heal on their own most of the time. But if there are any complications, as described below, then you must seek the help of a dentist or doctor.

• If debris is stuck in your wound, do not try to remove it yourself but visit your doctor as soon as possible.
• If the bleeding does not stop after applying pressure, it is a warning sign to go and see a doctor.
• You should see a doctor if the cut crosses the border between your face and lip. Otherwise, the jagged scar line would still be visible even after healing.
• If you have signs of infection, as explained above.
• If the cut is deep.
• If you have loose or broken teeth.

Biting the inside of your lip can cause tremendous pain. But the good news is such injuries are mostly superficial and can heal with just some home remedies. However, if you see signs of infection, dirt, or debris inside the cut, you must see a doctor and not do any self-care. Most wounds would heal within a few days, but if they last longer, then you should seek medical care as early as possible,

Crooked teeth can affect not just your appearance but also the quality of your life. Twisted, crowded, or overlapped dentition hamper chewing ability, which can cause heavy wear and tear of your teeth. Misshapen teeth are also difficult to clean, giving room for bacteria and plaque buildup. They could also result in chronic headaches, cracked dentition, and other health problems.

Misaligned teeth are common, and around seventy-five percent of us have some degree of crookedness in our oral setup. You might want to straighten your pearly whites for many reasons, such as to enhance your smile, improve oral health, and other health conditions. This article will acquaint you with the common reasons for crooked teeth and what you can do about it if you are unhappy with how you smile.

Reasons For Misshapen Teeth

Both baby and adult permanent dentition can come in misshapen. In the case of baby teeth, the crookedness can come due to the dentitions being too small to fill in the gum space available to them. Some of the common reasons for having misshapen teeth are:

• Genetics – It is very likely that if your parents have crooked teeth, you might end up with misshapen pearly whites too. The dental markers that lead to crooked teeth come from our parents, such as inheriting a misaligned jaw or too small mouth. A small mouth gives rise to overcrowded teeth; a misaligned jaw can provide us with underbite or overbite.
• Poor habits – If you have repetitive behavior that affects the function or muscles of the mouth, it can cause crooked dentition. Some poor habits include sucking your thumb past the age of three, using a pacifier beyond three years of age, tongue thrusting, and mouth breathing.
• Jaw size – Our collective jaw size has altered and become smaller as the current population eats more soft and processed food that requires less chewing than the foods our ancestors ate. Scientists believe that our shorter, evolved jaw plays a role in misaligned, crowded, and twisted dentitions.
• Injury or illness – Your teeth can get displaced due to trauma or injury to the mouth or face, and most severe instances of crooked teeth are primarily due to such types of injuries. When we either lose our teeth or our jaw shifts due to the trauma, our other dentitions shift slowly to make up for the open space. 
• Illness – Certain diseases like osteoporosis lead to the deterioration of the bone that supports our pearly whites. Some autoimmune diseases also hamper saliva production, which can result in tooth loss. Your other dentitions will then shift to make up for the lost tooth.
• Poor dental care – Follow good oral hygiene and keep up with your regular dental appointments to avoid gums and cavities, and it could pose many dental health problems, including crooked teeth.
• Poor nutrition – If you do not eat healthy food, especially for kids, your dental development will be poor, a precursor to misshapen pearly whites.
• Losing baby teeth early – If you lose them before time, it could lead to the permanent detention being slanted rather than straight.
• Improper fit of dental restorations – If dental fittings like crowns and fillings need to be fitted, it could lead to crooked teeth.

Treating Crooked Teeth

Fortunately, there has been tremendous advancement in dental technologies that can fix almost all dental issues. Some of the most common treatments for misaligned and twisted pearly whites are:

• Braces – if you have otherwise healthy dentitions that are crowded or crooked, orthodontic treatments like braces offer the best long-term solutions. You could either go for traditional metallic braces or modern removable clear aligners. Braces do not give a quick fix, but the treatment can take months to years.
• Veneers – Veneers are a quick alternative to braces. They are a thin layer of porcelain that your dentist would place over your natural pearly whites to disguise any imperfection. Veneers can mask misshapen teeth, straighten them, and whiten badly stained dentition. They have some downsides, such as a part of your enamel would need to be removed to place them, and you might also need to replace them in case of some injury to your mouth.
• Crowns – For broken or severely decayed dentitions, crowns can help achieve a confident smile. Dental crowns are fitted on top of any twisted or damaged dentition to make them straight and whole. Your orthodontist might also use a combination of veneers and crowns to give you that perfect smile.
• Teeth contouring – If you have mildly crowded pearly whites, you can be a suitable candidate for dentition contouring. In this process, your pearly whites are reshaped to make them appear straighter and neater. 
• Dental bonding – Dental bonding is another minimally invasive procedure to help you give straight dentitions. This procedure uses tooth-colored composite to reshape and build up twisted detentions and make them straighter.

You would need to meet your orthodontist to understand which options for straightening your pearly whites are best suited for you. Based on your oral structure and conditions, s/he will be the best person to recommend the most suitable option.

When you have dental problems and need restoration, you may wonder if you can get crowns. Many patients choose crowns to address cosmetic issues and dental problems. Some problems like cracked or fractured teeth, badly discolored teeth, or misshapen teeth are addressed with artificial teeth. If you have unsightly dental problems, a crown offers a durable and long-lasting solution. The color will complement your natural teeth, so they won’t be noticeable.

There is no doubt that crowns can be an excellent solution to fix oral problems – but are they right for you? Ensure you are a suitable candidate for crowns before you undergo the procedure. Dental crowns are best placed on teeth that still have enough natural tooth structure above the gum line to support the crown. 

Here are some oral problems that make you a suitable candidate for dental crowns: 

 

• Tooth Decay

After a filling, crowns can cover decayed teeth. Nevertheless, there are limitations on how much decay you can have and still receive a crown. If your tooth is affected by severe decay, a dentist may recommend extraction rather than placing a crown. However, implants are topped with dental crowns if you need to have a tooth extracted for severe decay.

• Root Canal

Dental crowns are usually recommended after root canal treatment if you require one due to oral problems. There is a risk of infection after a root canal if bacteria get inside the tooth. Most importantly, these can reduce this risk and protect your teeth from damage.

• Cracked Teeth

Dental crowns can help protect a cracked or chipped tooth from further damage or infection. They also enhance the appearance of teeth, resulting in a more attractive smile. If you have a crooked or cracked tooth, you may consider a crown. Additionally, bonding and veneering are other options for restoring the appearance of teeth. In most cases, your dentist will discuss all of your treatment options with you to decide the best option for your teeth.

 

• Tooth Discoloration

When you have severe discoloration or stains on your teeth, crowns can cover them and make them look whiter. This solution is better suited to people with just one or two stained teeth. Additionally, these may be a good option for discolored teeth that cannot be bleached, such as grayish teeth. 

• Missing Teeth

A dental crown used in conjunction with an implant can restore the function of a missing tooth and improve the appearance of the patient. Having an implant placed requires healthy gums and adequate bone to support it. Most importantly, an implant crown is designed to look like your natural tooth in color, shape, and size, which can enhance the appearance of your smile.

How Long Do Dental Crowns Last?

Dental crowns are durable but not permanent. In the long run, you’ll have to replace these. The longevity of these depends on how well you care for them. If your dental crowns are properly cared for, professionally cleaned, and regularly checked, they can last many years.

Dental crowns can provide excellent protection for your teeth and restore their function and appearance. In most cases, they are highly effective at treating a variety of oral problems. During a dental examination and assessment, a dentist can determine if this option are suitable for your oral health. Schedule an initial consultation with your dentist if you think crowns might be suitable for you.

For more detailed information, visit the trusted clinic and book your appointment.