Swollen Bottom Lip Causes and Relief Treatments

Why is my bottom lip swollen for no reason or out of nowhere? Could trauma, injuries, pimples, cold sores, canker sores, allergic reactions, or could sunburn be causing it? Discover the causes, treatments, remedies, and ways to get rid of the swelling.

A swollen lip is a problem that can affect toddlers, children, and adults. You might have the swelling on one side (half ), in one spot, a random swelling or even with the chin and tongue swollen too or the entire lower lip. Furthermore, the swelling could be gradual, sudden or happen in the morning.

Sometimes you may also have the swelling (enlargement) and other symptoms such as numbness, blisters, pus, white spots, swollen salivary glands and so on. The symptoms you will have will depend on the cause.

Causes

You woke up in the morning and realized you have a swollen bottom lip out of nowhere. Such a problem seemed to happen overnight and it remains unexplained. It could be the food you ate, insect bites or something else.

So, are the causes of this problem?

• Sunburn – It can be as a result of excessive sunlight exposure. In extreme cases, you might even suffer from swellings and blisters.
• A pimple and acne – The other common cause is a pimple (an acne pimple) in the specific area affected. See more on lip acne or a pimple. Ingrown hair can also be a cause.
• Angioedema, infections, and stomatitis – various infections such as canker sores, cold sores, cellulitis, and angular cheilitis are known to generally cause this issue.
• Severe malnutrition – lack of some essential vitamins such as vitamin B and C can make trigger swelling.
• Trauma and injuries – physical injuries and trauma can cause swelling or a ‘fat lip’. Common injuries and traumas could be from biting, kissing, playing brass, burning, being punched or hit by a blunt object, insect bites, dental braces, piercing, surgeries, Botox, and injections such as Restylane, among many others.
• Allergic reactions – Some allergic reactions can lead to not just swellings but also redness. Allergies could be due to allergens such as pet dander, lip care cosmetics, food, latex, some medications, etc.
• Some diseases and conditions – lip cancer, obesity, organ failure, and blood transfusion is another common cause.
• Harsh weather conditions such as excessive wind or dryness

These are some of the common causes. There could many other causes including dental infections, herpangina, chapped lips, sleeping with the head facing down, etc.

It is a good idea to get medical advice in case you are not certain what could be the cause since you cannot have a lower lip swelling for no reason.

Swelling characteristics

Besides just swellings, you might show some characteristics that are important in diagnosis and they include:

Pus and sometimes blisters

This can be due to type 1 herpes simplex (cold sores or fever blisters), pimple or acne, ingrown hair, bacterial infections, insect bites among other causes. If you have small blisters and cracks on the corners of your mouth, it could be caused by cheilitis which is caused by a deficiency of vitamins B12.

On the inner part

Under (inside or inner) bottom lip swelling is often caused by canker sores, mucocele (mucous cysts), mucosal tags, angioedema, vascular swelling, and trauma such as bitings among other conditions. The swelling could be painful or painless depending on what caused it.

Numbness 

If your bottom lip is swollen and numb (or partially numb and tingling), it could be a sign of some kind of allergy or an insect bite. The allergy could be triggered by various things including food, latex, medications or be airborne.

To treat this problem, Benadryl should be very helpful. Furthermore, you can use a cold compress.

In case the problem does not go away, you might be required to go for prescription-strength antihistamine, epinephrine or steroid preparation.

Extends to the chin

The common cause when the chin is also swollen is a dentoalveolar abscess that can be caused by a pulp injury. This is a dental problem that affects either your premolar or molars.

Swollen salivary glands 

The most likely cause of this problem is mucocele which is basically “is a fluid-filled swelling that occurs on the lip or the mouth” [Healthline.com]. This happens when mucus from mouth salivary glands get blocked.

Cheek biting, piercings, lip biting, salivary gland raptures, and chronic adjacent teeth damage could also cause swollen salivary glands on bottom lips.

Treatment and relief remedies

To deal with the problem, various remedies and treatments are often recommended. Some of the popular treatments or ways to reduce swelling include:

• Cold compress (and warm at times)
• Tea tree oil + aloe vera
• Honey
• Antihistamines
• Turmeric powder
• Aloe vera gel
• Baking soda
• Witch hazel and salt
• Coconut oil
• Use of ointments as well as oral antibiotics

The above treatments, how remedies and ways to reduce swelling have been proven effective and they give fast results.

he remedies should be used for mild cases while severe cases may require you to see a doctor for further treatment.