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What is cuts on the lip?

Cuts on the Lip
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How can you care for a lip laceration?

  • Put ice or a cold pack on the area for 10 to 20 minutes at a time. Put a thin cloth between the ice and your skin.
  • If the cut is inside your mouth:
    • Rinse your mouth with warm salt water right after meals. Saltwater rinses may help healing. To make a saltwater solution for rinsing the mouth, mix 1 tsp of salt in 1 cup of warm water.
    • Eat soft foods that are easy to chew. Avoid foods that might sting. These include salty or spicy foods, citrus fruits or juices, and tomatoes.
    • Try using a topical medicine, such as Orabase, to reduce mouth pain.
  • Do not use a straw until your lip is healed.
  • If your doctor told you how to care for your cut, follow your doctor's instructions. If you did not get instructions, follow this general advice:
    • After the first 24 to 48 hours, wash around the cut with clean water 2 times a day. Don't use hydrogen peroxide or alcohol, which can slow healing.
  • If you have strips of tape on the cut, leave the tape on for a week or until it falls off.
  • If your doctor prescribed antibiotics, take them as directed. Do not stop taking them just because you feel better. You need to take the full course of antibiotics.
  • Be safe with medicines. Read and follow all instructions on the label.
    • If the doctor gave you a prescription medicine for pain, take it as prescribed.
    • If you are not taking a prescription pain medicine, ask your doctor if you can take an over-the-counter medicine.
  • Avoid any activity that could cause the cut to reopen.
  • Do not remove the stitches on your own. Your doctor will tell you when to come back to have the stitches removed.

Lip laceration in children: When to call

Call your doctor now or seek immediate medical care if:

  • The cut starts to bleed. Oozing small amounts of blood is normal.
  • Your child has symptoms of infection, such as:
    • Increased pain, swelling, warmth, or redness around the cut.
    • Red streaks leading from the cut.
    • Pus draining from the cut.
    • A fever.

Watch closely for changes in your child's health, and be sure to contact your doctor if:

  • The cut reopens.
  • Your child does not get better as expected.

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The content above contains general health information provided by Healthwise, Incorporated, and reviewed by its medical experts. This content should not replace the advice of your healthcare provider. Not all treatments or services described are offered as services by us. For recommended treatments, please consult your healthcare provider.