Question
My child got a cut on their mouth this afternoon and had a few stitches put in at the hospital, both inside and outside, with two stitches on the lip edge. By bedtime, they pulled off the gauze and couldn’t reapply it. They’re going back to the hospital in the morning for a rebandage. I’m worried about infection. Is it okay if they don’t have the gauze on all night?
Answer
Based on your description, your child’s lip injury was treated with debridement in the hospital, and the gauze fell off at night. There’s no need to be anxious; lip wounds generally don’t require rebandaging, and it may not be necessary to rebandage them. Just ensure good oral hygiene by rinsing after meals and using local sterilization solutions as needed.