While it most commonly happens to small children, it is not uncommon for adults either. Biting our tongue happens to the best of us. Since it is responsible for many roles, it is highly recommended to ensure its quick healing. In some rare cases we might even need to seek help from a doctor.
It`s debatable whether its our teeth or tongue who works harder everyday. Not only does it play a major role in eating, it also grants us the ability to speak, to breath, to taste, and even in mimicry. The tongue itself is a massive set of muscles that are full of nerves. That`s why its so painful when we bite down on it. The receptors send the painful message to our brain in an instant.
The usual suspects
Most of the times we bite or tongue by accident. With the help of Dr Gyorgy Komlos, oral surgeon, we collected the most common cases:
- While eating, due the the extreme temperature of the food
- After dental treatment, because of the local anesthesia – hence it is recommended to wait until the numbness goes away
- During a traffic accident. Always fasten your seat belts in a car, and wear a riding gear on a motorbike, especially a helmet
- Sports, the most common reason
- Nail biting doesn’t help either, or teeth might slip off the nails and hit the tongue
- During a fight
Children while playing
Other these, serious sicknesses might also be the case. Body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs) are intense urges like biting, picking, and pulling that can cause damage. People suffering from sleeping disorders may also harm themselves this way. Stress or anxiety may also induce such behavior.
What to do if you bit your tongue?
While it can be rather painful – and due to to increased blood supply, rather messy – tongue biting is considered a minor injury. However, it is recommended to pay attention to it, to ensure proper healing. “First thoroughly rinse the mouth with water, so the wound is visible. If the injury is caused by a foreign body, have it removed immediately. Clean the tongue with a piece of gauze, if available. Apply pressure on the tongue, in order to stop bleeding.
If a bigger wound appears on the tongue, the bleeding doesn’t stops, the pain doesn’t go away, or the tongue got bigger, make sure to see a dental surgeon immediately. Do not be scared of the dentist, and don`t postpone the visit if you are having ny of these symptoms, as they wont heal by themselves. “If the wound is not treated properly, it might cause inflammation, or heal wrongly.” says dr Komlos. Depending on the severity of the injury, the dentist will either stich the tongue together, or prescribe antibiotics.
How to ensure healing
The swelling after the bite can be shrunk by applying ice cubes covered in gauze on the area. Make sure there is no direct contact between the ice and the tongue. Eat food that doesn’t require chewing, to leave the tongue rest. Avoid smoking or drinking alcohol. Also avoid spicy food. And most importantly, maintain a proper dental hygiene, despite the injury.
The most common question about tongue injuries is whether our taste will go away. Our expert says this can only happen after serious burn injuries. Make sure to pay attention to these things, so the healing can be quick, and the tongue biting can became a distant memory.
