What to Do About Bleeding From the Lips, Gums or Tongue

Bleeding from the mouth after a fall or knock looks dramatic, but most of the time it settles with firm, steady pressure. Press a clean cloth or gauze on the area for 10 minutes without lifting it to check. If it hasn’t stopped after that, or the injury looks deep, get medical or dental help.

Why mouth injuries bleed so much

The lips, gums and tongue have a very rich blood supply, and blood mixes with saliva, so a small cut can look far worse than it is. That same blood supply is why mouth wounds usually heal quickly. Try to stay calm, because a frightened child will often take their cue from you.

What to do right now

1. Wash your hands if you can, or put on gloves.
2. Press firmly on the bleeding area with a clean cloth, gauze or tissue. For a lip, pinch it gently between finger and thumb with the cloth in between. For a gum, bite down on folded gauze. For a tongue, press the cloth against the cut.
3. Keep the pressure on for 10 minutes without lifting to check. Checking early breaks up the clot and restarts the bleeding.
4. Sit the person upright and leaning slightly forward, so blood doesn’t run down the throat.
5. Hold something cold against the outside of the lip or cheek for comfort and to reduce swelling.
6. Look at the teeth once bleeding settles. A cut lip often means the teeth took a knock too.

How urgent is this?

Call 999 or go to your nearest A&E if:

• Bleeding is heavy and hasn’t slowed after 10 minutes of firm pressure
• The person is struggling to breathe or swallow, or the tongue is swelling
• There was a head injury, loss of consciousness, vomiting, drowsiness or confusion
• You suspect a broken jaw or facial bone
• Something may be stuck in the wound

Get same-day medical or dental advice (NHS 111 if you’re unsure) if:

• A cut goes right through the lip, or crosses the line where the lip meets the skin
• A tongue cut is gaping, has a flap, or keeps bleeding
• A cut is deep, dirty, or has gravel or debris in it
• A tooth is knocked out, loose, chipped or moved (see the guides below)
• You’re unsure whether a tetanus booster is up to date and the wound was dirty or deep

Usually fine to manage at home if:

• Bleeding stops within 10 minutes
• The cut is small, clean and the edges sit together
• The person is alert, comfortable and eating and drinking normally

Do not do these things

• Don’t keep lifting the cloth to check. It restarts the bleeding.
• Don’t try to pull out anything stuck in the wound.
• Don’t rinse hard or swish repeatedly in the first few hours, as this can dislodge the clot.
• Don’t give hot drinks or hard, crunchy or spicy food while the area is healing.
• Don’t assume it’s only a soft tissue injury. Always check the teeth.

What if…?

A child has bitten their tongue or lip.
This is very common and usually minor. Apply pressure as above. Offer cold water or an ice lolly for comfort. Seek advice if bleeding doesn’t stop or the cut gapes open.

There’s a cut inside the lip against the teeth.
These are common after a blow to the mouth. Small ones often heal without stitches. If the cut is deep, or there’s a tooth fragment that can’t be found, get it checked. Fragments can sometimes become lodged in the lip.

The bleeding is from the gum around a tooth.
Press with folded gauze. If the tooth is also loose or moved, see what to do if a tooth becomes loose after an injury or what to do if a tooth is pushed in, out or sideways.

The person takes blood-thinning medication.
Bleeding may take longer to stop. Keep the pressure on and seek medical advice sooner if it continues.

What the doctor or dentist may do

A small number of mouth cuts need stitches or glue, usually where the edges gape, where the lip border has been crossed, or where the tongue has a large flap. Many heal well without any treatment. The clinician will also check the teeth, the jaw and for any fragments lodged in the soft tissue.

When should you get it checked again?

Mouth wounds heal quickly, but see a doctor or dentist if, in the days afterwards, you notice:

• Increasing swelling, redness, or pus
• Pain that’s getting worse rather than better
• A fever
• A wound that isn’t clearly healing after about a week
• A tooth beside the injury that looks darker or feels different (see warning signs after a dental injury)

If this happens at school, nursery or a club

Apply pressure, keep the person upright and calm, and check the teeth once bleeding has settled. If the bleeding doesn’t stop within 10 minutes, or there was any head injury, treat it as urgent and contact the parent or carer while arranging care. See Dental Trauma First Aid for Schools and Dental Trauma First Aid for Sports Coaches.

Related guides

• What to do if a permanent tooth is knocked out
• What to do if a baby tooth is knocked out
• What to do if a tooth is chipped or broken
• What to do if a tooth becomes loose after an injury
• What to do if a tooth is pushed in, out or sideways
• Dentist, NHS 111, A&E or 999: where to get help for a dental injury

References

• NHS, Cuts and grazes, nhs.uk
• NHS, Knocked-out tooth, nhs.uk
• International Association of Dental Traumatology (IADT), Guidelines for the Management of Traumatic Dental Injuries, 2020 (current as of August 2026)

This guide does not replace assessment by a doctor, dentist or emergency service. It reflects current UK guidance, reviewed by Dr Yousuf Ibrahim, BDS.