Your child had a cut (also called a laceration) on the tongue. The healthcare provider cleaned the cut and decided stitches were not needed.

Here’s some information to help you care for your child at home.

Follow your healthcare provider’s instructions for:

• Any activities to avoid, such as rough play and sports
• When it’s OK for your child to return to sports and usual activities
• If your child needs to return to have the cut checked

Caring for the cut:

• Check the cut every day to make sure the red area is not getting bigger, the cut isn’t getting more swollen, and that there’s no drainage (oozing) from the cut. The cut should look a little better every day.
• Your child should not pick or scratch at the scab that forms over the wound.
• If the cut is bleeding, put pressure on it by holding the tongue between your fingers with a gauze pad or clean cloth for about 10 minutes. Or you can hold something cold like ice or an ice pop on the tongue for a few minutes at a time. If it doesn’t stop bleeding or if it bleeds a lot, take your child to the ER.

For discomfort:

You can give acetaminophen (Tylenol® or a store brand) or ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®, or a store brand). Follow the package directions for how much to give and how often. Don't give ibuprofen to babies under 6 months old.

Eating and drinking:

• Give your child ice shavings or ice pops to soothe the pain and control swelling.
• Your child shouldn't drink through a straw for about a week or until the cut is fully healed.
• Brush teeth gently and try to keep the toothbrush away from the cut.
• Offer soft foods that are easy to eat.
• Avoid foods that:
  • Are hard
  • Make crumbs
  • Are salty or spicy
• Have your child rinse their mouth with water after eating.

• Your child has signs of an infection such as:
  • Fever
  • Redness and swelling
  • Worsening pain
  • Yellowish or greenish drainage (pus) coming from the cut
• The cut starts to bleed but stops after holding pressure with a clean gauze pad for 10 minutes or putting ice or an ice pop on the cut.
• Your child is touching or picking at the cut.

• The cut starts bleeding heavily and won't stop after using firm pressure for 10 minutes.
• The cut opens up.
• The tongue swells so much that it makes it hard for your child to swallow or breathe.

What happens as the tongue cut heals? At first, the cut might be red and the tongue might be swollen. The cut may ooze a small amount of bloody or clear fluid. As the cut heals, it may itch slightly and look pale or white.

Will the cut leave a scar? Most cuts on the tongue will leave a faint scar that will fade over time.