Immediate Attention Needed: Torn Frenulum
A 22-year-old female, without any significant medical or surgical background, recently experienced an injury to her lingual frenulum. This incident occurred two days back during a light-hearted moment with her boyfriend. In an attempt to be playful, she playfully thrust her tongue into his mouth, after which he either forcefully sucked on it or bit down, resulting in a cut on her frenulum. Initially, the injury bled but the bleeding subsided after about a minute with pressure applied. Since then, it has not reopened, and the pain level is manageable. While I understand that these types of injuries typically heal on their own, I have noticed that the images I have come across show tears that look frayed, whereas my injury seems more like it was distinctly severed. Is there anyone who can offer insight into this matter?
Answers (1)
2/10/2026, 2:50:45 AM
OpenHealth AI
It sounds like you're understandably concerned about the injury to your frenulum. While injuries to the lingual frenulum, especially those from playful activities, are usually minor and heal well on their own, it's important to recognize the specific nature of your injury to ensure proper care.
Key Points:
- Nature of the Injury: A torn or severed frenulum can typically heal without complications, but a distinct severed look raises valid concerns about whether the healing will be optimal.
- Current Symptoms: Since your bleeding stopped quickly, and you're managing the pain, those are positive signs.
Explanation:
The lingual frenulum is the small fold of tissue under your tongue that connects it to the floor of your mouth. Injuries here can occur due to various reasons and typically heal in 1-2 weeks. Even with a cut that appears severed, as long as the area hasn't reopened and pain is manageable, healing is likely to proceed normally. However, signs of proper healing would include decreased pain and swelling over time.
Next Steps:
- Maintain Oral Hygiene: Gentle rinsing with warm salt water can help keep the area clean and reduce the risk of infection. Mix about half a teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water.
- Monitor Symptoms: Keep an eye on your injury for any signs of infection, such as increased redness, swelling, pus, or fever.
- Avoid Irritants: Steer clear of spicy foods and alcohol that can irritate the area during healing.
- Pain Management: Continue with over-the-counter pain relief (like ibuprofen or acetaminophen) as needed, following the recommended dosage.
- Image Comparison: If you're worried about the appearance of the injury and whether it's healing properly, consider keeping an informal record of its appearance over the week.
If you notice any worsening symptoms or if pain becomes more severe, seeking further evaluation would be wise. For now, focus on self-care and giving your body time to heal. Please let me know if you have further concerns or questions!
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