Over 90% of the adults (from 20 to 64) in the USA suffer from tooth decay or other oral problems. The numbers haven’t changed much since 1999. [Source: NIDCR]

Oral injuries affect areas like:

                        
•  Gum
                        
•   Lips
                        
• Tongue                         
   
             

All these can cause serious discomfort and pain!

Moreover, the pain can elevate (if left untreated), leading to infections. This will increase the healing time, and the pain will get worse.

Let’s help you to take the right care to speed up gum injury recovery.

4 Types of Oral Injuries and Their Healing Timelines

Oral lesions come in different forms and sizes, each having its specific care to heal properly. Here are some of the common types and healing times, along with care tips:

1.     Minor Cuts and Abrasions

What Is It?

                        
• These are minor cuts on the:
                        
•  Inner cheek
                        
• Gums
                        
•   Lips
                        
•  Tongue 

These mouth injuries can occur due to accidental bites or sharp food items.

Healing Time: 3-7 days with primary care.

Care Tips

                        
•   Rinse your infected areas with salt water.
                        
• Use antiseptic mouthwash to prevent infection.
                        
•   Avoid spicy foods.

2.     Soft Tissue Injuries

What Is It?

These injuries are caused in your gums, lips, or mouth’s inner lining due to falls or hard impacts.

Healing Time: 1-2 weeks.

Care Tips

                        
•     Cold compress to reduce swelling
                        
•   Apply antiseptics to the area for hygiene
                        
•    Avoid rough oral hygiene

3.     Broken or Cracked Teeth

What Is It?

Fractures or breaks due to accidents, hard foods, or grinding.

Healing Time: 2-4 weeks, often with treatment such as bonding or crowns.

Care Tips:

                        
•   Avoid hard foods that can aggravate the crack.
                        
•   See your dentist regularly for treatment and monitoring.
                        
•    Brush gently to avoid further irritating sensitive areas.

4.     Gum Cuts and Lacerations

What Is It?

These mouth injuries are caused due to cuts or punctures in the gums from sharp objects or wrong flossing.

Healing Time: 5-10 days with good hygiene.

Care Tips:

                        
•   Rinse with proper salt water to keep your mouth area clean.
                        
•  Brush gently with a soft-bristled toothbrush.
                        
• Only apply prescribed ointments.    

Factors Affecting Healing Time for Oral Injuries

The healing time of oral injuries depends on many key factors: age, health, hygiene, diet, and life habits. Understanding how each of these affects recovery will facilitate effective healing management.

Age and General Health

                        
•     Age: Children and young adults normally heal faster than older people. They generally have better regenerative capabilities and higher immunities.
                        
• Health Conditions: Many health-related issues, especially diabetes, impair healing by affecting infection control and inflammation regulation. Autoimmune conditions and several medications also interfere with healing.     

Infection Control and Hygiene

                        
•   Hygiene Importance: Oral hygiene is an essential attribute assisting in fending off infection. This is a complication to healing and could lead to serious conditions such as sepsis.
                        
•  Recommended Practices: Antiseptic or saltwater rinses, gentle brushing around the injury, and follow-up dental visits to monitor healing. 

Diet and Nutrition

Nutrients like vitamin C and zinc support tissue repair and immune health, and proper nutrition can help speed recovery.

Firm, crunchy, and acidic foods should be avoided because they irritate the injury more.

 Soft foods that are easy to chew will inflict minimal pain and discomfort and thus not further irritate the injury.

Lifestyle Habits

                        
•    Smoking and Alcohol: These habits hinder the course of healing through decreased blood flow and enhanced inflammation. Excessive smoking increases the danger of developing complications, including dry sockets after surgical interference with the teeth.
                        
•     Quitting Benefits: A large reduction of quitting smoking and alcohol greatly enhances recovery and reduces the risk of infection. 

3 Common Symptoms During the Healing Process

Traumatic injuries in the oral cavity usually present with pain, swelling, and discomfort during ingestion. Knowledge of how to manage these will lead to an easier recovery.

1.     Pain and Swelling

Duration: Pain and swelling during the early healing phase will persist for approximately 3-5 days. The symptoms peak around 48-72 hours after the injury.

Management: Over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen will contribute to reducing pain and swelling.

 Cold compresses for 20 minutes, repeated every few hours at first, to reduce swelling. After a couple of days, gentle heat can improve comfort as the swelling improves.

2.     Soreness of Eating and Drinking

Recovery Time: Eating and drinking may irritate for 1-2 weeks because the area around the injury site is sore.

Dietary Recommendations: Soft foods, lukewarm soups, and hydrating fluids are preferred. Hard, crunchy, or acidic food can be avoided to prevent irritating wounds.

3.     Risk of Infection

Warning signs of infection include:

     Increased swelling

   Redness

    Warmth

 Pus around the injury site.

Prevention: Good oral hygiene with antiseptic rinses and several follow-up dental visits will help monitor the healing course for early detection of complications.

3 Tips to Speed Up the Healing Process

The following simple steps can help accelerate oral injuries or procedures in recovery.

1.     Dental Instructions

Follow your dentist's instructions carefully when undergoing fillings or crowns. This might include avoiding certain foods, keeping the region clean, and taking prescribed medications.

2.     Cure at Home Remedies

    Cold and Warm Compresses: Cold compresses will reduce swelling in the first days when the swelling is at its worst; when it goes down, start with the warm compress to relieve pain and increase blood flow in that area of your mouth.

     Salt-Water Quiver: Mix 1 tsp of salt with a cup of warm water. Gargle for 15-30 seconds and do this exercise several times during the day to reduce swelling and clean the site of the infection.

3.     Healing Foods and Supplements

     Nutritional Requirements: The diet should contain adequate vitamin C, found in the citrus group of fruits, and zinc, found abundantly in nuts and legumes. It will be helpful in tissue repair.

      Liquid Diet: Adequate intake of liquids keeps the mouth moist and enhances healing

Frequently Asked Questions: Oral Injuries Healing Time

How long does it take for a gum injury to heal?

Small cuts can take somewhere around 3 to 7 days.

What foods should I avoid while healing from an oral injury?

Here are some of the foods that you need to avoid:

    
1.     Acidic foods
    
2. Alcohol
    
3. Crunchy foods
    
4.   Spicy food
    
5.       Difficult to chew or crunchy foods
    
6.  Sugary foods
    
7.     
        Carbonated soft drinks
       
    
8.     
   Chewy foods
       

Is it normal to experience swelling after an oral injury?

Usually, if your oral injury is too extreme, the chances of swelling are pretty high.

Can smoking delay the healing of oral injuries?

Yes, smoking can delay your healing time.

Wrapping Words: What More Can You Do For Oral Injury Healing?

Taking a few necessary steps will always speed up your oral injuries and prevent further pain.

Moreover, you should also:

   Keep your mouth clean.

      Eat proper and healthy food.

      Stay hydrated.

      Avoid smoking and booze.