First aid for injuries of the oral cavity

The oral cavity is the initial section of the anterior part of the digestive system of our body, which provides the opportunity not only to chew food, but also to breathe and speak.

Injuries to the oral cavity are especially often recorded by pediatric traumatologists. According to world statistics, 16-40% of children aged 6 to 12 years old are injured in the maxillofacial region.

Among older patients, such treatment is also quite common. Therefore, we will consider what you need to know about trauma to the oral cavity, how to properly provide first aid and in what cases to consult a doctor.

What do you need to know about oral trauma?

Any traumatic injury to the mouth entails infection of the mucosa. Why is this happening?

The mucous membrane protects the oral cavity from mechanical injuries, exposure to pathogenic microorganisms and toxic substances. Minor injuries (for example, an accidental bite of the tongue or cheek during active chewing) do not significantly affect her condition. The person temporarily feels discomfort or swelling, but can continue to eat, breathe, and talk.

Pathological changes of greater strength (trauma, burns, tooth loss) are always accompanied by infection. The intensity of damage to vulnerable tissue depends on the nature of the stimulus, its strength, localization and the specific reaction of the body.

The structure of the tissue is not homogeneous, each individual section of the mucosa meets unique mechanical requirements. For example, the gum and hard palate are covered with keratinized epithelium, the back of the tongue is keratinized and non-keratinized, the rest of the surface is only non-keratinized to ensure maximum flexibility. The mucous membrane is dotted with taste receptors, the so-called taste buds. Food particles dissolve in saliva, interact with taste buds and make it possible to distinguish food from each other.

Regardless of localization, the mucous membrane consists of four layers – basal, spiny, granular and horny.

Types of injuries

Injuries of the oral cavity can be chemical, mechanical and thermal in nature. In a separate category, chronic injuries are distinguished, which are most often diagnosed in young children. These are injuries caused by the mucous membrane with sharp edges of the teeth, orthodontic structures or other features of the body. Frequent trauma leads to the development of ulcers, edema, blood loss, infection. To get rid of chronic damage – consult a doctor and complete a full therapeutic course.

Some injuries of the oral mucosa (for example, biting of the cheek / lips or superficial injuries) are included in the International Classification of Diseases of the ICD-10.

Traumatic damage to the teeth

Among the possible injuries of the teeth are the formation of cracks, bruises, dislocations with partial or complete displacement, and fractures. They can occur as a result of a strong blow / fall, and due to the absorption of excessively solid food. How to recognize a tooth injury? His position has noticeably changed, the surrounding tissue is swollen and reddened, and the person himself feels pain/discomfort of varying intensity. With serious damage, bleeding can open, so it is important to know how to properly provide first aid.

In most cases, the victim needs not pre-medical, but qualified medical care. Complete elimination of pain or restoration of a tooth takes time and resources, so it is necessary to see a dentist as soon as possible.

If the injury is accompanied by bleeding from the socket of the tooth, make a small gauze swab, place it on the damaged area and ask the victim to bite the tissue.

The main thing is that during transportation the patient does not open his teeth – the pressure on the vessels will disappear, and the blood will rush with renewed vigor.

Fracture of the upper or lower jaw

This is a serious violation of the integrity of the jaw, which is accompanied by a change in bite, impaired speech, chewing and salivation. The defect may be visible visually or only visible on x-ray. Fragments of bones are constantly in motion, which affects the mobility of the jaw and causes tremendous pain.

How to recognize a fracture? The victim experiences severe pain, which is not always possible to stop with medication. Moreover, it increases even with the slightest impact on damaged bones. Hematomas form on the face, the jaw becomes unnaturally mobile, and the tongue may sink. The general condition is aggravated by nausea, dysfunction of swallowing, speech, breathing, pre-syncope and internal bleeding.

How to provide first aid? Correction of the fracture is carried out only by a qualified dental surgeon in stationary conditions. Do not try to act on the damaged area, set the bone or support it with your hands – all this will only aggravate the situation.

First, call an ambulance. Then remove foreign bodies from the oral cavity and fix the tongue (in case of violation of swallowing or breathing). If bleeding has opened in the internal cavity, apply a warm or cool compress to minimize blood loss.

Mucosal burn

A mucosal burn can be caused by eating hot food or exposure to chemical irritants. Thermal damage often occurs at the household level and is relatively easily tolerated by the human body. With a first-degree burn, the victim can cope on his own – a cool compress, plenty of fluids and patience are enough. Second-degree burns need to be treated not at home, but in the doctor’s office.

Due to exposure to high temperatures, bubbles filled with liquid form on the mucosa. Their opening leads to erosion and tissue death, so do not try to eliminate the formations yourself. Go to the doctor or call the emergency team as soon as possible. After a detailed examination, the doctor will prescribe a therapeutic course of painkillers and epithelial regeneration agents.

What to do with a chemical burn? Flush your mouth with cool water for at least 20 minutes (or until the ambulance arrives) to remove the chemical agent. The exception is quicklime and organic aluminum compounds. Contact of these substances with water will adversely affect the health of the victim, so they must first be removed with a napkin. The main goal of first aid is to prevent the spread of the substance deep into the tissues. An acid burn is neutralized with soapy water or ammonia (0,1%), a soda solution, an alkaline burn with a solution of acetic or citric acid (0,5%).

Treatment of a chemical burn can only be carried out by a specialized doctor. He will examine the condition of the mucosa, prescribe painkillers, antiseptic, restorative medicines and a specific diet. In especially severe cases, surgical intervention is indicated.

Soft tissue wounds

Superficial or deep, penetrating or non-penetrating wounds of the oral cavity require immediate medical attention. They can be caused by a bite, a bruise, an explosion, the use of edged weapons. The injury is exacerbated by bleeding, associated bone damage, or infection.

If you notice a victim with a soft tissue injury, call an ambulance and assess the person’s condition. Try to calm him down, inspect the wound, fix the size, the presence / absence of fragments, contamination, the nature of the edges, blood loss. Rinse the wound with warm water or an antiseptic solution, cover with a sterile swab and wait for the doctor to arrive.

In case of serious injuries with profuse blood loss, it is forbidden to wash the wound, remove foreign objects from it and apply a tight bandage. It is allowed to apply (but not tighten) a sterile bandage on top to avoid contamination.

Can injury be avoided? There is simply no universal preventive action or advice. Mouth injuries can lie in wait on the playground, in industrial settings, and even in your own home. The only thing a person can do is to be as attentive as possible to what is happening, monitor their health and not trigger existing pathologies. If it was not possible to avoid injury, assess the situation, call an ambulance and perform a number of pre-medical manipulations. Most importantly, stay calm and stay healthy.

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