Download Article
Download Article
Most people have probably experienced a tongue burn at some point in their lives. These can range from a mild singe to a serious burn complete with blisters and severe pain. If you've sustained a burn on your tongue, there are several things you can do to relieve the pain and quicken the healing process.
Steps
-
Spit out whatever burned you. You'll probably realize right away that the food or beverage you just put in your mouth was way too hot. You should remove the food or drink that burned you immediately, or it will keep scalding your mouth. It isn't always possible to spit the food out, but you should try to do this instead of swallowing the food so you don't continue burning your throat and esophagus.
-
Drink cold water immediately. This helps in two ways. First, it will cool off the burned area. Second, it removes any food or liquid that is still hot. Oily foods especially can leave hot liquid in your mouth that will continue to burn you if you don't flush it away quickly.
- Cold milk coats the inside of your mouth more thoroughly than water. You may find extra relief from drinking some cold milk.
Advertisement -
Place an ice cube on your tongue. After rinsing with cold water, suck on an ice cube for 5 to 10 minutes. This will keep your mouth cold and prevent any further burning, sparing as much of your mouth as possible. This will also numb the area, which is helpful because tongue burns can be very painful. [1] X Research source
-
Rinse your mouth out with salt water. After you've cooled off your mouth, you'll want to disinfect your burn. Your mouth is full of bacteria, and burns can get infected if not treated properly. A salt water solution will help disinfect the area and keep it free of infection. [2] X Trustworthy Source Cleveland Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source
- Mix 1/2 teaspoon of salt into a glass of warm water. Stir so the salt dissolves.
- Rinse and gargle with the mixture. Be sure not to swallow any of the salt water.
Advertisement
-
Continue rinsing your mouth with salt water daily. You'll still want to keep your burn clean while it heals. You should continue rinsing your mouth once or twice daily until the burn heals. [3] X Research source
-
Keep blisters intact. If you've suffered a more severe burn, blisters can form and you can experience a lot of pain. If blisters form on your tongue, don't pop or drain them. They may pop on their own, but your shouldn't do this purposely. Blisters protect new cells as they form and keep bacteria out of wounds. Popping them can slow the healing process and could lead to an infection. [4] X Trustworthy Source National Health Service (UK) Public healthcare system of the UK Go to source
-
Drink plenty of water. This will help keep the area moisturized, which will help with pain. It also aids in the healing process by balancing your mouth's pH and preventing acids from damaging new cells. Additionally, blisters can pop more easily when they are dry.
-
Eat ice cream, frozen yogurt, ice pops, and other cold, soft foods. While you may lose some of your sense of taste as your burn heals, these treats will definitely make your healing process more enjoyable. Not only are they easy to eat, but the cold will keep your tongue numb and kill the pain. [5] X Research source
- Sprinkling a little sugar on your tongue may help with pain.
-
Keep any cold foods or drinks in your mouth as long as you can. When you take a drink of cold water or a bite of ice cream, keep it over your burn blisters for as long as you can. This will numb the area and fight the pain.
-
Drink a milk and honey solution. This mixture is both soothing and helps increase circulation to the mouth. Increased circulation brings nutrients to the wound, which will help it heal faster and more efficiently. [6] X Research source
- Alternatively, you could just apply a dab of honey to the blisters. This will soothe the wound and stimulate circulation. Honey also has natural anti-bacterial properties that can help prevent infection.
- Do not give honey to infants under 1. It may cause infant botulism, a serious condition.
-
Apply an oral anesthetic to blisters and painful spots. If ice cream and cold drinks don't treat the pain well enough, you can use an oral anesthetic. Brands like Orajel and Anbesol are readily available at pharmacies and supermarkets. These will help keep the area numb while it heals. Be sure to use these products as labels or pharmacists direct you to. [7] X Research source
-
Take a pain reliever if you are uncomfortable. If the pain from the burn is causing discomfort, you can treat it with a pain reliever like acetaminophen. [8] X Research source
-
Brush your teeth carefully. The motion of brushing and the chemicals in toothpaste can be both painful and damaging to your burn. You'll have to take care when brushing to avoid popping blisters and hampering the healing process. [9] X Research source
- Don't brush your tongue. You will damage newly-formed cells and slow the healing process. You can also pop blisters, which can lead to infections.
- Don't get toothpaste on burned areas. Toothpaste can irritate the burn and cause pain.
- Use mouthwash sparingly, if at all. Like toothpaste, mouthwash will irritate the burn. It is better to just rinse your mouth out with salt water while you wait for your burn to heal.
-
Visit the doctor if you see no improvement or the pain is too much to handle. The cells in your mouth regenerate quickly, so most burns on the tongue clear up in 2 or 3 days. If your burn was more severe, however, it can take longer for your mouth to heal. If it has been more than 3-4 days and you see no improvement, see your doctor to make sure you don't have an infection. You should also see your doctor at any point if the pain is more than you can handle, or if the burn seems large or deep, or if the burn makes it difficult to breathe or swallow. [10] X Trustworthy Source Cleveland Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source
Advertisement
-
Avoid hot food and drinks while your mouth is healing. You can still have your coffee and tea, but just make sure you allow it to cool fully before drinking. You might even want to consider switching to iced varieties for a few days. The new cells in your mouth will be very sensitive- if you expose them to hot food before the burn is fully healed, they can easily burn again. Also it will be very painful. [11] X Trustworthy Source MedlinePlus Collection of medical information sourced from the US National Library of Medicine Go to source
- Blow on food and drinks to cool them off faster. For drinks, you should consider adding an ice cube to ensure they are a safe temperature.
- Test everything before putting it in your mouth. Touch it with just the tip of your tongue to make sure it is a safe temperature.
-
Avoid crunchy food. Foods like crackers, chips, and crunchy bread should be off the menu until your burn heals. These can scratch against your burn, which will be very painful. They can also pop blisters, which will slow the healing process and put you at increased risk of an infection. [12] X Research source
-
Abstain from spices. Spicy food will cause a lot of pain for your healing mouth. The irritation from spices can also slow the healing process. If you're a fan of spicy food, it would be best to abstain for a few days while your burn heals. Also avoid adding any spices like pepper to your food. [13] X Research source
-
Stop eating acidic food. These are mostly citrus-fruits like lemons, oranges, and pineapples. Citric acid will hurt and slow the healing process. Wait at least 3 days before bringing these foods back into your diet. [14] X Research source
Advertisement
Expert Q&A
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
Advertisement
Tips
Submit a Tip
All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
Warnings
- Visit the doctor if the burn is on other areas of your mouth, especially the back of your throat, or if the burn was caused by a chemical.Thanks
- Be on the lookout for signs of infection. If you notice redness, swelling, increased pain, or pus around the burn, visit the doctor right away.Thanks
Advertisement
References
- ↑ https://www.watertowerdentalcare.com/blog/2014/05/remedies-burnt-mouth-tongue
- ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/4-ways-to-soothe-a-burnt-tongue-and-mouth/
- ↑ http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003059.htm
- ↑ https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/blisters/
- ↑ http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003059.htm
- ↑ http://www.home-remedies-for-you.com/askquestion/600/cure-for-burnt-tongue-after-drinking-hot-coffee-ho.html
- ↑ https://www.watertowerdentalcare.com/blog/2014/05/remedies-burnt-mouth-tongue
- ↑ http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003059.htm
- ↑ https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/mouth-ulcers
- ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/4-ways-to-soothe-a-burnt-tongue-and-mouth/
- ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003059.htm
- ↑ http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003059.htm
- ↑ https://cosmetic-dentistry.net/things-you-can-do-if-you-burn-your-tongue-while-eating/
- ↑ https://www.watertowerdentalcare.com/blog/2014/05/remedies-burnt-mouth-tongue
About This Article
Article Summary
X
If you have a burn blister on your tongue, drink some cold water or milk to cool off the area as well as remove any food or liquid that is still hot in your mouth. After drinking your water or milk, suck on an ice cube for 5 to 10 minutes to keep your mouth cold and prevent further burning. Once your mouth is cool, disinfect the burn by mixing ½ teaspoon of salt with warm water and rinsing your mouth with the solution. While the burn heals, continue to rinse with salt water once or twice a day. You’ll also want to avoid popping any blisters, which can slow the healing process and lead to infection. For more tips from our Medical co-author, including the best foods to eat while recovering from a tongue burn blister, keep reading!
Did this summary help you?
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 238,158 times.
Reader Success Stories
- "This was most helpful. Most searches don't really address the problem, while this article was very easy to read and understand. It gave simple, helpful suggestions that you have in your home. No run around— to the point, plain and simple. Thanks so much." ..." more
Advertisement
80%
of readers found this article helpful
.
Click a star to add your vote
% of people told us that this article helped them.
"This was most helpful. Most searches don't really address the problem, while this article was very easy to read and understand. It gave simple, helpful suggestions that you have in your home. No run around— to the point, plain and simple. Thanks so much."
..."
more
"This really helped. I've been eating lots of acidic food because they were cold and they really hurt my tongue, but I thought that was what was supposed to happen. Now I've stopped and my tongue has healed so much quicker! "
..."
more
"Brushing your teeth and drinking water before going to bed is really helpful, especially during the healing process. It brings down the pH level and keeps your mouth calm throughout the night. :)"
..."
more
"I am suffering from these blisters, and I know how painful it is. This article has been very useful to me. My pain has been reduced a lot, and the suggestion for things to eat helped."
..."
more
"Every step was helpful, especially the home remedies."
