Many times you can accidentally burn your tongue with a sudden sip of your hot chocolate. Eating something really hot can also give you a burnt tongue, and the bumps on your tongue called papillae may disappear for a short time. A tongue burn should be given immediate medical attention if you want to soothe the discomfort. Keep reading to learn 6 simple home remedies for a burnt tongue.
1. Cool down your burning tongue
If you have a minor burn on your tongue, instantly sip cold water or chew ice chips to minimize the irritation to the tongue. Drinking cold water will bring down the temperature and prevent heat from traveling further into the tissues. It will also keep your mouth hydrated, which is important to further prevent bacteria from damaging the site. For a few days, avoid hot meals and drinks, which can cause more irritation to your burnt tongue. Do this till it heals fully.
2. Rinse with Salt Water
Rinsing your mouth with saltwater will help minimize pain and swelling and provide relief from the burn symptoms. In addition, it will keep the bacteria out of the mouth. To make a solution add 1 teaspoon of salt into a cup of warm water. Rinse your mouth after every meal and before going to bed.
3. Eat Soft, Cold Foods
Spicy foods, hot drinks, and alcohol are foods and drinks that can worsen a brunt tongue. Alcohol can irritate your injured tongue and slow down the healing process. Spicy foods may not affect healing, but they can aggravate the painful tongue. It would help if you also stayed away from hot drinks as you may end up burning your tongue again, resulting in delayed healing.
Meanwhile, you can choose soft and cold food items and drinks until the tongue feels tender. Refrigerated foods like yogurt, fruit cups, or applesauce are easy to eat and soothe the burn. When done eating, make sure to drink a glass of water or rinse your mouth to remove the food particles that can cause tongue irritation. If you’re planning to start eating hot foods or drinks while your burnt tongue is healing, start with tiny bites and sips.
4. Consume milk products
Consuming milk products like yogurt and milk can soothe your burning tongue. They can coat the burnt tongue and provide relief due to their cooling effect.
5. Take a break from brushing your tongue.
Stop brushing your tongue till your burn heals to prevent pain and soreness.
6. Over-the-Counter Pain Relievers
If you have tried all the above burnt-tongue home remedies, but the pain is still there, OTC pain relievers can be helpful. Take the pills according to the dosage instructions.
If you’re familiar with the cause of the symptoms of your burning tongue, or the symptoms aren’t going away, see your dentist. Your doctor can diagnose the cause, and it will also help eliminate a serious cause of burnt tongue: burning mouth syndrome.