Stitching Tongue: Post-Procedure Guidance, Healing Periods, and When to Request Medical Assistance
In the event of a tongue laceration, understanding the healing process and proper aftercare can significantly improve recovery. Here's a breakdown of what you need to know.
Indications for stitching include heavy bleeding, wound depth, size (over 1-2 centimeters), and inability to close the wound edges. Stitches help control bleeding and promote proper healing in such cases. Doctors typically use absorbable sutures, which dissolve or fall out naturally, usually within 3 to 10 days.
The initial wound contraction and healing generally begin around days 5–10. Tongue mobility may be reduced for 1-3 weeks but typically improves over 2-6 months. It's important to note that the healing timeline can vary for each individual.
First aid for a tongue laceration includes washing hands, applying pressure to stop bleeding, removing debris, cleaning the wound with clean water or saline solution, and brushing teeth frequently. It's crucial to maintain excellent oral hygiene during the healing process. Rinsing with saltwater after 24 hours can help accelerate stitch dissolution and wound healing.
A soft diet may be recommended for several days after a tongue wound with stitches. Avoiding anything that stretches or strains the tongue, such as yelling, singing, using a straw, sucking on candy, is advised.
In addition to these tips, a healthy, balanced diet, quitting smoking, staying hydrated, getting enough sleep, and avoiding foods or devices that might damage the stitches can support healing. It's also essential to follow the aftercare instructions provided by a healthcare professional.
In healthy adults, minor tongue wounds with stitches heal within 2 weeks. However, a 2018 study found that tongue wounds with stitches heal more quickly in children, typically taking around 13 days.
If the wound reopens, becomes wider, larger, or deeper, or if there is pain that does not improve with time or over-the-counter medication, it's important to contact a healthcare professional. Other signs that require immediate medical attention include fever, shaking and chills, vomiting, diarrhea, headache and dizziness or faintness, unexplained confusion and exhaustion, sore throat, rash or hives, severe itching, shortness of breath, swelling of the throat or mouth, and swelling of the tongue.
Lastly, a person may need tongue stitches if they have an injury from a fall, sudden impact, or seizure. In such cases, prompt medical attention is crucial for optimal healing.
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