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Health

Consequences of biting the lip from the inside: ulcer formation, bumps, treatment

, medical expert
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
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Probably every person at least once in their life had to bite their lip and experience unpleasant sensations as a result. Many do not pay attention to such trifles, just endure the pain for some time, and then forget about it. But it happens that an ulcer or a ball forms, sometimes the lip swells. It is inconvenient to go to the doctor with such a minor problem and the question arises, what to treat?

Causes lip biting

Lip biting often occurs for the following reasons:

  • tripped or fell;
  • spoke during meals;
  • ate quickly;
  • has an incorrect bite;
  • dentures do not fit properly.

Most complaints about lip biting occur during meals. This is due to the fact that we like to combine several things at once, and especially to talk at the dinner table, which of course is not prohibited at a measured pace, but during a rush such an unpleasantness can occur.

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Risk factors

A risk factor is anesthesia during dental treatment. A person loses sensitivity and cannot adequately coordinate jaw movements. Other risks include active sports games in which a team participates or active children's games. Some people have a habit of biting their lower lip, and in unfavorable situations, such as shaking in transport, it is injured.

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Symptoms

Lip biting is an injury, so the symptoms correspond to any traumatic situation: tissue damage and wound formation, bleeding, pain. Most often, the lower lip suffers, although the upper lip is also bitten. It is especially unpleasant if a child bites his lip. A bitten lip from the inside interferes with eating, because it hurts, swells and causes a lot of inconvenience to children, making them nervous and worried. Some time after the incident, a hard ball may form, and most often an ulcer.

Who to contact?

Treatment lip biting

What should you do if you bit your lip? The first thing you need to do is stop the bleeding and relieve the pain. The best way to stop the bleeding is with cold water, rinse your mouth with it several times. What else can you treat a bitten lip with? To reduce the pain, you can use a solution of any antiseptic, moisten a cotton swab and apply it to the wound. Also, do not eat too hot or cold food. After each meal, brush your teeth and rinse with herbs. Do not treat the wound with iodine or brilliant green, because they can cause even more harm by causing a burn. If several days have passed and the wound does not heal, moreover, its area has increased or numerous ulcers have appeared, suppuration, you should immediately consult a doctor. This is the area of activity of a dentist or ENT specialist.

Drug treatment

Actovegin, miramistin, and chlorhexidine can be used as antiseptic drugs.

Actovegin — exists in the form of dragees, injection and infusion solutions, gels, ointments, creams. In this case, its liquid form — solution — is better. Moisten a cotton pad in it and apply to the wound. Allergy to the drug, itching and urticaria are possible. Contraindicated during pregnancy, breastfeeding, hypersensitivity to its components.

Miramistin - used in the form of solutions and ointments. A gauze or cotton pad folded in several layers is moistened in the solution and applied to the damaged surface. Can be used as a rinse. Contraindicated in case of allergy to the active components of the product.

To disinfect a wound, it can be treated up to 5 times a day with furacilin or a solution of hydrogen peroxide in water (50 ml of peroxide per glass of water).

Lidocaine can be used as a pain reliever.

Lidocaine is intended for muscle and application anesthesia. The latter is appropriate in case of a wound on the lips. For pain relief, 2 ml of a 10% solution is needed. The drug can cause side effects: drowsiness, weakness, sometimes euphoria, sleep disturbance, a drop in blood pressure, and an allergic reaction. Contraindicated in bradycardia, hypotension, pregnancy, children under 12 years of age.

If it is not possible to avoid bacterial infection, they resort to antibiotic treatment, using ampiox, gentamicin, penicillin and others.

Ampiox — are available in capsules for oral administration and ampoules for intramuscular and intravenous administration. For adults, the dose is 0.5-1 g four times a day. For children, the daily dose is determined based on the child's age and weight:

  • newborns - 0.1-0.2 g per kg of weight;
  • 1-7 years - 0.1g;
  • 7-14 years old - 0.05 g.

The course of treatment is 5-7 days, if necessary extended to 2 weeks.

Taking the drug can cause allergies, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. Contraindicated for people with allergies, especially to penicillins.

Damage to the outer side of the lip can be treated with ointments: oxolinic, acyclovir, interferon (for viral infections), nystatin (candidal stomatitis).

Along with the main types of therapy, vitamins are also used. It is necessary to provide your diet with products rich in vitamin C, B and others. Lemons, oranges, tangerines, sweet peppers, cabbage, meat, liver, fish, currants will strengthen the immune system, and in the absence of seasonal fruits and vegetables on the table, you can use vitamin complexes, which are abundant on pharmacy shelves.

Physiotherapy is indicated when the wound does not heal, the inflammatory focus increases, complications such as stomatitis appear. The use of laser therapy, magnetic light therapy will reduce swelling, pain, and accelerate healing. Galvanization and electrophoresis promote tissue regeneration and oxygen saturation.

Folk remedies

In folk medicine, products that are always at hand are used. Honey is good for softening and faster healing of lip injuries. Periodic lubrication of the wound with it will speed up the healing of the wound. Salt diluted in a proportion of a teaspoon per glass of boiled water is suitable for rinsing for the purpose of disinfection. For this, chicken protein is diluted in 100 g of water. Yarrow, which used to stand on the windowsill in every home, was so popular for a reason. Its juice in combination with honey has always been used both for external use and internally to strengthen the immune system, and will be useful for our purposes. Lubricating the wound with Corvalol and sea buckthorn oil is effective.

Herbal treatment

Antiseptic herbs are used to treat injuries caused by biting the lip. These include calendula, St. John's wort, chamomile, linden, oak bark, calamus root, plantain, etc. Herbal infusions of several herbs are more effective. Recipes for making infusions or decoctions can be read on the packaging if they were purchased at a pharmacy. If they were prepared at home, then you can take a tablespoon of dry plants per glass of water. Bring to a boil over the fire, let stand and cool, then strain and rinse several times a day (at least 5-6 times).

Homeopathy

In case of injury to the lip by teeth, homeopathy is used. The following remedies can be used for treatment:

  • borax (borax) - refers to antiseptic and disinfectant drugs. It is recommended for external use, so it is advisable to use when the lip is bitten on the outside. Boric ointment is used, as well as solutions of the substance for lotions. Side effects include nausea, vomiting, headache. Do not prescribe to children under one year old, pregnant women, hypersensitivity, with impaired renal function;
  • arsenicum album or arsenic oxide - the first 3 dilutions are made in solutions using 56% alcohol. It eliminates pain, is effective as an antimicrobial and antibacterial agent. The dosage of the dilution is determined by the homeopath individually. May cause digestive problems, not recommended for neuritis, dyspepsia;
  • Mercurius solubilis is a mercury preparation used when complications such as stomatitis occur. It relieves pain and reduces swelling of the mucous membrane.

Doses are individual;

  • anginal with chamomile, forest mallow and sage - tablets used for inflammation of the oral cavity, slowly dissolve in the mouth. Adults take every 2-3 hours (no more than 8 pieces per day), children 10-15 years old take half a tablet every 3-4 hours (maximum 5 pieces), aged 5-10 years - a quarter (total 3 tablets). After this, it is advisable not to eat or drink for 1-1.5 days. Contraindicated for children under 5 years old and people with allergies to compound drugs.

Complications and consequences

Consequences and complications may occur if the wound becomes infected. Possible complications when bacteria enter include several types of stomatitis (aphthous, herpetic), traumatic ulcers, which most often develop when the lip is bitten from the inside.

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Prevention

In order to avoid lip injury while eating, it is necessary to teach children the rules of good manners, and adults should not forget about it. By chewing food slowly and not talking at the table, you can avoid a traumatic situation. If this does happen, then you should not ignore the problem as insignificant, because serious consequences are possible.

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Sign of biting your lip

Making observations over many years, people associate certain phenomena occurring with the body with various future events. It may seem strange to believe this in an age when there is not much left unsolved and inexplicable, but when the left hand itches, it is already proven that money will come, while the right hand signals a meeting with a friend or acquaintance. What does the sign of biting your lip mean? If this happens during a conversation, it is a signal to stop and not blurt out unnecessary information. Another interpretation is that the person is lying. Biting the corner of the lips indicates hostility towards the interlocutor.

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