Tongue Injury in Children: Care Instructions

Overview

Tongue injuries are common in children. Your child may bite their tongue while playing or because of a fall, a seizure, a car crash, or another injury.

A cut or tear to the tongue can bleed a lot. Small injuries may often heal on their own. If the injury is long or deep, it may need stitches that dissolve over time.

If a piece of your child's tongue was cut off or bitten off, it may have been reattached.

How can you care for your child at home?

• If the doctor prescribed antibiotics for your child, give them as directed. Do not stop using them just because your child feels better. Your child needs to take the full course of antibiotics.
• Give your child soft foods that are easy to swallow.
• Be safe with medicines. Give pain medicines exactly as directed.
  • If the doctor gave your child a prescription medicine for pain, give it as prescribed.
  • If your child is not taking a prescription pain medicine, ask the doctor if your child can take an over-the-counter medicine.
• Have your child suck on a piece of ice or a flavored ice pop.
• Rinse your child's wound with warm salt water right after meals. These rinses may relieve some pain. To make a saltwater solution, mix 1 tsp of salt in 1 cup of warm water.