One day you’ve bitten the side of your cheek, the next you can’t feel a thing! Have you ever been amazed at how fast wounds heal in your mouth? Those cuts or scrapes from a crunchy snack or small burns from hot drinks can be painful and cause swelling, but amazingly, only a few hours later you’re on to your next meal minus the discomfort. Let’s take a scientific look with your Ponte Vedra Beach dentist at how amazing your body is and why your mouth heals so quickly.
Let’s Look at Our Oral Tissues
Unlike organ or skin tissue, the oral tissue tends to repair itself very quickly. But why?
Most of the tissue lining your cheeks, gums, tongue, and inner lips are considered “mucous.” Mucous tissue is primarily made up of ground substance, the mucous-like layer that cells float around in, with some fibers and cells for connective purposes.
In contrast, skin tissue has several layers of reconstructing tissue for damaged areas. Since mucous tissue has a much simpler composition, it also has a faster, more straightforward regeneration process with a shorter time period for healing.
Your mouth has a more regular blood flow.
Blood contains cells that are necessary for healing. In addition to a simpler structure, the easy access to blood supply makes it easier to heal your mouth. Mucous tissue is highly vascular, meaning it’s very rich in blood vessels. The easy blood flow brings a lot of nutrients and oxygen to the damage site to catalyze the healing process. Besides that, your mouth is very close to the head and neck, which both have great access to steady blood flow.
Saliva Aids in Healing
A small protein found in saliva called “histatin” did more than previously thought. Up until that time, it was known as an antibacterial agent. But the study found that a wound created in a culture of cell growth healed in less than a day. The culture without saliva remained damaged. A small protein in saliva previously only believed to kill bacteria was responsible for the healing.
Another enzyme found in mucous tissue and saliva is called “secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor” (SLPI) is also involved in many more healing processes in the body. This enzyme embodies anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-fungal properties that aid in recovery. It’s also been recently shown by researchers that SLPI actually blocks HIV-1 infection!
Trust Your Body to Handle It.
The human body has been healing itself for years. You shouldn’t worry if you or a family member gets a cut or sore in your mouth because your body is already on top of the healing process. It will recover at lightning speed!
If you’d like to help it along, you don’t have to do much. You can try gurgling or rinsing the mouth with saline to help heal the wound. A black or green tea bag that’s been submerged in hot water and cooled down can be pressed onto a wound to prevent infection. Black or green tea holds anti-bacterial properties that can help fight off bad bacteria.
If your laceration is deeper than your normal “cheek bite,” it may be time to visit your emergency room—especially if you have excessive bleeding.
Meet the Dentists
When you need advice for dental problems or generally have oral health questions, it’s best to reach out to professionals. Ponte Vedra Complete Dentistry has a team of dental experts that would be happy to help you walk through any dental concerns you have. Need to call us? Contact our office by dialing (904) 567-0102.