Because the lips are made up of very soft and sensitive tissues, they are prone to getting injured. A busted lip is very common among young children as well as adults who are into sports or simply prone to slip and fall accidents.

If currently you are battling a busted lip, do not panic because it will heal soon.

A busted lip can heal in just a few days or a couple of weeks, depending on the severity of the problem. If the wound is on the outside of the mouth, a much faster healing can be enjoyed than if the wound is inside the mouth where it’s always in contact with your saliva or the foods and drinks you consume at mealtimes.

Below you will come across some of the most proven effective home remedies for a busted lip.

However, do take note that it’s definitely a good idea for you to get the help of a doctor if there is a large or gaping wound on your lip. The same has to be done if it’s seems like your lip doesn’t want to stop bleeding, or if the swelling and pain do not improve within the next 48 hours.

These are some of the best busted lip home remedies that you may give a try:

Wash With Soap and Water

If the injured part of the lip is located outside the mouth, what you need to do right away is get it washed with soap and water. Use soap that is mild and has antibacterial properties, and not the beauty kind that guarantees to give you moisturized and wrinkle-free skin. Rinse off with cold water to help put an end to the bleeding.

By the way, refrain from using warm water. Although it can help in disinfecting the area much better, it can actually cause the wound on your lip to bleed even more — warm water dilates the blood vessels.

Rinse With Salt Water

Soaping the wound is not really practical if the injury is situated inside the mouth. In order to have the wound disinfected properly and keep an infection at bay, simply repeatedly rinse your mouth with salt water.

All you have to do is dissolve 1 tablespoon of salt in a glass of water. Once completely dissolved, put some in your mouth. During the first few rinses, have the salt water come into contact with the wound and spit it out right away to flush out blood and debris. Afterwards, allow the salt water to stay in your mouth for a few seconds before spitting it out.

Do take note that you may feel some stinging sensation, so brace yourself.

Use Cold Compress or Gargle With Cold Water

After having the busted lip properly disinfected, there may still be some bleeding present. Worry not because you can make it stop with the help of a cold compress — the cold helps make the blood vessels contract.

It’s not a good idea to press an ice cube directly on your lip as it can cause further tissue damage. What you need to do instead is wrap it in a small piece of clean cloth, and then gently press against the busted area. Do this for 15 to 20 seconds at a time to help keep your lip out of harm’s way.

If the wound is inside the mouth, you can put the bleeding to an end simply by rinsing it with cold water.

Apply a Little Turmeric Paste

Once the bleeding is put under control, it’s now time to accelerate the healing process. To do that, an infection should be kept from happening. Such can be done with the help of turmeric paste — simply daub a little of this deep yellow paste on the wound for not less than two times a day.

Turmeric paste can be made by adding a few drops of water to half a teaspoon of the spice.