Most people have probably experienced a burn on their tongue at some point in their life. The severity of these burns ranges from minor stings to serious burns that cause blisters and severe pain. If you have a burn on your tongue, here are some things you can do to relieve the pain and speed up the recovery process.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Taking Immediate Steps
Step 1. Eliminate all causes of burns
You may soon notice that the food or drink that has just entered your mouth is too hot. You should immediately remove any overly hot food or drink from your mouth, or they will continue to burn your mouth. Removing food from the mouth is not always possible, but you should still try to do it instead of swallowing food to avoid burns to the throat and esophagus.
Step 2. Immediately drink cold water
Cold water has two benefits. First, the water will cool the burnt area. Second, the water will get rid of the hot food or liquid. Oily foods especially can leave hot liquids in the mouth which will continue to burn if not rinsed immediately.
Cold milk coats the inside of the mouth more thoroughly than water. You may feel better by drinking a little cold milk
Step 3. Place ice cubes on the tongue
After rinsing your mouth with cold water, suck on the ice cubes for 5 to 10 minutes. The ice will cool the mouth and stop the burn, thereby protecting the rest of the mouth. The ice cubes will also numb the injured area, which will help because a burn on the tongue can be very painful.
Step 4. Rinse mouth with salt water
After cooling the mouth, you should disinfect the burn. The mouth is full of bacteria, and burns can become infected if not treated properly. The salt water solution will help disinfect the wound, thereby keeping it away from infection.
- Mix 1/2 teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water. Stir until the salt is dissolved.
- Use a saline solution to gargle. Make sure not to swallow it.
Part 2 of 3: Caring for Wounds During Recovery
Step 1. Continue gargling with salt water every day
You must keep the burn clean during recovery. It's best to continue gargling with salt water once or twice a day until the burn heals.
Step 2. Leave the blister
If your burn is severe, the blisters will appear accompanied by severe pain. If you have blisters on your tongue, don't pop the bubbles or leak the fluid. This wound will probably burst on its own, but don't break it intentionally. Blisters can protect the newly formed cells and keep bacteria away. Meanwhile, popping the blister can hinder the healing process and lead to infection.
Step 3. Drink plenty of water
The water will help keep the injured area moist, thereby reducing pain. Drinking water will also aid the recovery process by balancing the pH of the mouth and preventing the acid from damaging new cells. In addition, blisters are also more prone to rupture when dry.
Step 4. Eat ice cream, frozen yogurt, popsicles, and other cold and soft foods
While you may lose some of your taste buds during burn recovery, these kinds of snacks will certainly make your recovery process more comfortable. This snack is not only easy to eat, but the cold temperature can also numb the tongue and relieve pain.
Sprinkling a little sugar on the tongue may reduce the pain
Step 5. Let the food or drink cool in the mouth as long as possible
When drinking cold water or taking a bite of ice cream, keep the drink or ice on the burn as long as possible. This will help numb the tongue and reduce pain.
Step 6. Drink a solution of milk and honey
This solution can soothe burns and improve blood circulation in the mouth. A smoother blood circulation will provide nutrients to the burn, which will help speed up and increase the efficiency of its recovery.
- Alternatively, simply apply a little honey to the surface of the blister. Honey will soothe the wound and stimulate blood circulation. Honey is also efficacious as a natural antibacterial that can help prevent infection.
- Do not give honey to children under 1 year of age as it can cause infant botulism which is a serious condition.
Step 7. Apply the oral anesthetic to the blisters and painful areas
If ice cream and cold drinks are not enough to relieve the pain, you can use an oral anesthetic. Products such as Orajel and Anbesol are available in pharmacies and some supermarkets. This medication will help numb the painful area during recovery. Be sure to use the medication according to the directions on the label or as directed by your pharmacist.
Step 8. Use a pain reliever if you feel uncomfortable
If the pain from the burn is uncomfortable, you can use a pain reliever such as paracetamol.
Step 9. Brush your teeth carefully
The brushing motion and the chemicals in toothpaste can cause burns to be painful and make them worse. So, you have to be careful while brushing your teeth so that the blisters don't burst and hinder the healing process.
- Do not brush the surface of the tongue. You can actually damage the newly formed cells and slow down the wound healing process. The blisters can also burst, which can lead to infection.
- Keep toothpaste away from burns. Toothpaste can irritate burns and cause pain.
- Use mouthwash sparingly, if you use one. Just like toothpaste, mouthwash will also irritate burns. Instead, just use a salt water solution to gargle until your burn heals.
Step 10. See a doctor if the burn doesn't improve or the pain is too severe
The cells in the mouth can regenerate quickly, so most tongue burns heal within 2 or 3 days. However, if your burn is more severe, the recovery period may be longer. If more than 3-4 days have passed, but the burn doesn't show any signs of improving, see a doctor to make sure you don't have an infection. You should also see a doctor if the pain is too severe, the burn appears wide or deep, or if the burn makes it difficult for you to breathe or swallow.
Part 3 of 3: Avoiding Irritants During Recovery
Step 1. Avoid hot food and drinks during the recovery period
You can still enjoy coffee and tea, as long as you make sure they are cool before drinking. You may need to consider switching to cold drinks for a few days. The new cells in the mouth will be very sensitive, if exposed to hot food while the burn has not fully healed, your mouth can easily hurt again. In addition, you will feel so much pain.
- Blow food and drinks to cool them faster. For drinks, consider adding ice cubes to make sure the temperature is safe.
- Check all food before putting it in your mouth. Touch with the tip of the tongue first to make sure the temperature is safe.
Step 2. Avoid crunchy foods
Foods such as crackers, chips, and crispy bread should be kept off the diet until your burn heals. These foods can also scratch the blisters, slowing the healing process and increasing the risk of infection.
Step 3. Stop eating spicy food
Spicy foods can cause pain as long as the sores in your mouth have not healed. Irritation from spices can also slow down the recovery process. If you like spicy food, you should stop consuming it for a few days until the burn heals. Also, avoid spices like pepper in your diet.
Step 4. Stop consuming acidic foods
These foods include citrus fruits such as lemons, oranges, and pineapples. Acidic foods can cause pain and slow the wound healing process. Wait for at least 3 days before going back to eating these foods again.
Warning
- See a doctor if the burn occurs elsewhere in the mouth, especially at the back of the throat, or if the burn was caused by chemicals.
- Watch for signs of infection. If the burn is red, swollen, painful, or festering, see a doctor immediately.
