The soft tissues in the mouth, like the tongue, cheeks, gums and lips are very delicate and sensitive, and when injured, they can be very painful.

Your soft tissues can be injured when you unknowingly bite down on them when you fall, are in an accident, or if you eat food that is too hot or too hard.

Causes of Soft Tissue Injuries

Soft tissue injuries are most commonly caused by gum disease. It occurs when your body tries to get rid of the bacteria that causes an infection in the gums.

Over time, this can result in severe damage to the gums, bone, and the other supporting structures of the teeth.

Symptoms of Soft Tissue Injuries

The main symptom is having persistent, throbbing pain.

At first, the tooth will be very sensitive to extreme temperatures and bite pressure. Later on, you may experience a fever.

The lymph nodes underneath the jaw or in the neck can be tender, and you may feel pain in the sinus area.

If an abscess explodes, a sudden rush of foul-smelling and foul-tasting fluid can spill into the mouth.

Types of Soft Tissues Injuries

Soft tissues injuries could be the following:

  • Cuts
  • Bruises
  • Lacerations
  • Punctures

These injuries can be caused by circumstances such as:

  • Sports-related trauma
  • Work-related accidents
  • Vehicular accidents
  • Biting down too hard
  • Sharp and/or hard food

What to do

Follow these steps in case of soft tissue injuries:

  • Rinse your mouth well. Use a saltwater solution or an antiseptic mouthwash. For the saltwater solution, dilute 1/2 teaspoon of salt on eight ounces of water.
  • Apply gentle pressure on the injured area by pressing a clean absorbent material for 10-15 minutes to control bleeding.
  • To reduce any swelling, apply pressure with a cold compress on the cheek against the affected area.
  • Visit your Wantirna South dentist right away.

The soft tissues may bleed heavily for a few minutes after the injury. This decreases and stops after doing proper first aid steps.

However, if the bleeding still continues, this could mean a more severe injury to your soft tissues.

Soft Tissues Injuries in the Mouth Treatment in Wantirna South

When you experience dental emergencies, your Wantirna South dentist is ready to help you.

We provide immediate dental emergency care for patients in Wantirna South and the surrounding areas.

For dental emergency appointments, call us at (03) 9800 2338.

We are located at 87 Stud Road in Wantirna South.

We will attend to you with utmost urgency and care.