A smashed finger represents a couple of problems. First, there is the obvious damage to tissue that has occurred. The other problem is that of infection and finally, there is the pain that you have to go through. One final concern that does arise is any damage to your nail or nail bed. A problem here could take a really long time to heal and disappear. Additionally, if you have damaged your nail, you would need to visit a doctor as this might require removal of the nail.
It is important at this juncture that you understand how the healing process works. When any part of the body is injured, like the skin, the first thing that occurs is bleeding and clotting. Clotting is the natural process of sealing a wound. Once the clotting is complete, the work of destroying bacteria and clearing out dead tissue begins. This is done by the white blood cells of the body. It is during this time that inflammation and swelling occurs. Inflammation is an immune system reaction to defend the body against foreign bodies and bacteria. The process consists of swelling, mucus creation, and increased blood flow. All these help the white blood cells better access to the area of injury to clean the wound. After the wound is cleaned, the circulation in the area is rebuilt. Finally, fresh skin protein called collagen is laid down and cells at the edge of wound die programmatically. In the process, they tighten the skin over the area and the wounded looks like a fresh piece of skin.
Treating your smashed finger requires that you immediately reduce the pain. The best way to do this is to apply a cold compress or dip your finger in ice water to reduce the pain. The next part is to ensure that there is no infection of the wound. Disinfect the area by applying some kind of essential oil like lavender, tea tree, or sandalwood oil. Alternatively, you could also so use any kind of alcohol as well. If your nail is damaged then you need to bandage it down until it comes to the front of your nail bed where it can be normally cut off. This is a long and protracted procedure which you will have to undergo. Remember to continuously clean the wound with some hydrogen peroxide and help the body in getting rid of dead tissue.