Everyone's done this one time -- drinking coffee that's still hot or eating pizza fresh out of the oven, and their tongue burns. Fortunately, there are several ways to relieve pain and reduce swelling from a burning tongue.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Using Natural Ways
Step 1. Suck on ice cubes or ice pops
The main way to deal with burning tongue is to neutralize the heat with something cold. You can try sucking on an ice cube or licking an ice pop -- you can even drink something cold.
Step 2. Eat yogurt
Yogurt is cold and cool is one of the panacea to treat burning tongue.
- As soon as the tongue burns, eat a spoonful and let it sit on the tongue for a while before swallowing.
- You can eat any type of yogurt, but prioritize Greek yogurt. You can also drink a glass of cold milk.
Step 3. Sprinkle your tongue with sugar
One of the unique natural ways is to sprinkle a pinch of white sugar on the burnt part of the tongue and allow it to dissolve. Leave it in your mouth for at least a minute, until the soreness of the tongue subsides.
Step 4. Eat a spoonful of honey
Honey is a natural ingredient that can be used to relieve pain due to burning tongue. One spoon is enough.
- Eat a spoonful of honey and let it sit on the tongue for some time before swallowing it.
- Be aware that children under 12 months of age should not be given honey as honey can transfer toxic spores that can cause infant botulism. This can result in death.
Step 5. Gargle with salt water
Salt water can soothe burns and prevent infection. Mix 1 teaspoon of salt with a cup of water. Put enough in the mouth then use to rinse. Let the salt water sit for 1-2 minutes in your mouth before spewing it out again.
Step 6. Use vitamin E
Vitamin E oil can help treat burning tongue and speed healing through repair of tongue tissue. Open a 1,000 IU Vitamin E capsule and sprinkle the oil on the burned area of the tongue.
Step 7. Breathe through your mouth
When you inhale through your mouth, cold air enters through the burning part of your tongue. This can help relieve burning tongue.
Step 8. Avoid acidic and salty foods
Foods such as tomatoes, citrus fruits or juice and vinegar, are foods to avoid while healing. If you wish, add plenty of water to the orange juice and refrigerate it before drinking. You should also avoid salty foods like potato chips, as they can irritate the burned area.
Step 9. Use aloe vera
Aloe vera is a well-known natural ingredient for treating burns. Apply a small amount of aloe vera slime (should be straight from the plant, not an ointment) on the burned area. It may taste bad! You can also turn aloe vera slime into ice cubes to suck on to relieve pain.
Method 2 of 3: Using Pain Relief
Step 1. Drink cough syrup
You can look for cough syrups that contain benzocaine, menthol or phenol. These ingredients work like anesthetics, numbing your tongue and helping reduce pain. Mouthwashes that contain these ingredients can also help reduce the pain on your tongue.
Step 2. Chew menthol gum
Chewing gum that contains menthol can activate the cold-sensitive receptors on your tongue. Your tongue can feel nice and cool. Peppermint and spearmint flavored gums contain menthol in them.
Step 3. Take pain medication
If the pain in your tongue is unbearable, you can take pain relievers, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen. This type of medication can relieve pain and reduce swelling of your tongue.
Step 4. Avoid using burn creams or ointments
Most burn creams and ointments are made to be used topically (directly on the burn area).
- Because they can contain ingredients that are toxic if ingested, creams and ointments cannot be smeared on the tongue.
- Creams and ointments that can be used, only the type that is used orally.
Step 5. Consider seeing a doctor
You should see a doctor if the pain and swelling persists for more than 7 days. Your doctor can give you stronger painkillers or medications that speed healing.
- If the burning sensation occurs on its own, without a cause such as eating hot food, you may have burning tongue syndrome. This can be very painful and affect other areas of the mouth.
- See your doctor immediately if you suspect you have burning tongue syndrome. This syndrome can lead to other, more serious illnesses, such as diabetes, hyperthyroidism, depression and food allergies.
Method 3 of 3: Relieve Burning Tongue From Eating Spicy Food
Step 1. Drink milk
Does your tongue feel burning after eating chili or other spicy foods? Pour a glass of milk. The protein content in milk can help remove capsaicin, a compound that causes a burning sensation, from the receptors on your tongue. If milk isn't available, try other dairy products such as yogurt or sour cream.
Step 2. Eat some chocolate
The high fat content in chocolate can help remove capsaicin from the mouth. Drink chocolate milk which has a higher fat content as well as the benefits of milk in treating burns.
Step 3. Chew some bread
Bread will be useful like a capsaicin-absorbing sponge so it can cool the mouth a little.
Step 4. Eat a spoonful of granulated sugar
Sugar can help absorb some of the spicy oil and relieve the burning sensation after you finish the spicy food. Apart from sugar, you can also use honey.
Step 5. Drink alcoholic beverages
Alcohol can dissolve capsaicin. So, if you're old enough, you can drink high-alcohol drinks like tequila or vodka to relieve the burning sensation on your tongue from spicy foods. Avoid drinking low-alcohol drinks such as beer because it will make the burning pain on the tongue worse.
Remember to drink alcohol responsibly
Tips
- Don't let your tongue go numb before eating, as you could accidentally bite your tongue. If this happens, the condition of your tongue can get worse.
- Sprinkle brown sugar on ice cubes and place it on the burned area on the tongue.
- If you don't have orajel, you can smoke cloves. Like orajel, cloves can numb the mouth.
Warning
- If you are using ice cubes, moisten the ice cubes first before applying them to your tongue. Otherwise, the ice can stick and make the pain worse.
- The most commonly used natural remedy is honey. However, children under 12 months of age should not be given honey if their tongue is burning.
- Don't try to treat a serious wound alone. Seek medical help immediately if in doubt.
- Do not apply burn cream orally. Most creams are made for use on the skin. Use in the mouth can make you sick, even fatal.
- Limit the use of oral ointments, such as Benzocaine. Excessive use can numb the throat and cause nausea and vomiting.
