Remedies for a Burnt Mouth or Tongue

A burnt mouth: we’ve all done it before, and we all know how awful it feels. From a slice a pizza that just came from the oven, to a steaming cup of coffee, we’ve all experienced the awful pain. The sensitivity that your mouth must endure for the next day is often much more annoying than the original burn. There are a few remedies that can help sooth the pain, and make it go away a little faster. Here our tips.

 First, keep your cool:

If you can, immediately after burning your tongue or mouth, you should find something cool to apply to it. Whether a glass of ice water, an ice cube, Popsicle or ice cream, it all can help. Make sure the cold is left on the burnt area for at least a minute to help dissipate the heat and save your mouth or tongue cells from becoming too damaged.
Yogurt is a great cool food that can help revitalize the mouth and even help kill bad bacteria that might make the damage worse. If you have some available, use that to cool your mouth.

 Help It Heal

Next, you’re going to want to keep good care of your mouth to keep it from becoming infected or just having the burn last longer than it needs to. Consider using an anesthetic ointment or a mouthwash that will help maintain the bacteria levels in your mouth. This can also help numb the pain from the burn, just make sure not to use too much.
Furthermore, you’ll want to avoid goods that can upset your mouth. These include any kind of food that is high in acidity: lemons, vinegar, citrus, tomatoes, fruit juices, and so forth. These kinds of foods can make the burnt area throb with pain. As well, try to avoid foods that can be rough to bite or chew, think potato chips, popcorn, baguettes. The crispy crunch of these foods will be like sandpaper to a sensitive area of the mouth.

 Continue the Soothe

It may still take a day for a burn on the tongue or mouth to heal, so to help avoid more pain than you need, consider grabbing a few cough drops. Look for ones with menthol or benzocaine as an ingredient. These cough drops will have a cooling affect on your mouth and will help soothe the burnt area. A few of these throughout the day and you’ll barely notice the pain.

 Time is the Best Medicine

Of course, when it comes to a burnt tongue or mouth, time is going to be the best fix. Most burns take about a day to two days to heal. The mouth and especially the tongue, are very well maintaining areas of the body. Think of how many times you’ve bit your tongue, or accidentally burnt it.
However strong it may be, it can become much stronger when you apply proper oral hygiene techniques everyday. Brushing, flossing, and mouthwash help keep out harmful bacteria and plaque that can cause harm to your mouth. With a proper cleaning, good bacterias and cells can help maintain a strong and healthy mouth.
If you have any more questions about an injured tongue or mouth, contact Water Tower Dental today, we’d be happy to help.