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Whether you bit into your pizza before it was cool or you sipped your coffee too soon, burning your tongue is no fun. Luckily, there are a number of ways to treat your burnt tongue yourself, from natural remedies to over-the-counter pain relievers. With the right soothing treatments, most minor tongue burns feel all better within a few days.

1

Cool your tongue down immediately with icy water.

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  1. Sip some ice-cold water and hold it in your mouth to soothe your tongue. Alternatively, suck on an ice cube or hold some crushed ice in your mouth. [1]
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2

Eat or drink cold dairy products.

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  1. Have a glass of cold milk or eat a cold cup of any type of yogurt. Whatever you have handy can really help relieve the pain of the burn! [2]
    • Ice cream and dairy-based popsicles are other good tongue-soothing options — you might as well enjoy your burnt tongue treatment!
3

Place sugar or honey on your tongue.

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  1. Believe it or not, placing either sugar or honey directly onto the burn can help soothe the pain, and it may even help speed the healing process. Let it sit on the area for a few minutes, then rinse your mouth with plain water. [3]
    • You can use white sugar, caster sugar, or brown sugar for this—whatever you have on hand.

    Margarita Downey

    Jul 28, 2017

    "The inside of my mouth, tongue and throat were poisoned by calcium oxalate crystals, after biting, by mistake, what ..." more
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4

Rinse your mouth with saltwater.

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  1. To make a rinse, mix 1/2 tsp (3 g) of salt with 1 cup (237 mL) of cool water. Rinse your mouth out with a saltwater solution after meals and before you go to bed. [4]
    • If you normally use other types of mouthwashes, switch to saltwater rinses until your burn heals.
5

Take over-the-counter painkillers.

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  1. Ibuprofen and acetaminophen are 2 good options that you might already have handy! Take the recommended dose according to the instructions on the medication’s packaging. [5]
    • Never exceed the recommended dose or frequency for any medication or you may experience some unpleasant side effects.
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6

Apply an over-the-counter topical oral anesthetic.

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  1. Pick up an oral topical anesthetic gel or cream from your local pharmacy or drugstore. Apply it to your burned tongue according to the package’s instructions. [6]
    • Benzocaine gel and lidocaine cream are 2 examples of OTC topical oral anesthetics you can use.
    • Don’t use any topical ointments that aren’t specifically designed to be used inside your mouth.
7

Avoid hot, spicy, and acidic foods and drinks.

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  1. Stay away from things like acidic fruit juices and fruits, as well as tomatoes and anything with vinegar in it. Lay off the curry or anything else with hot spices in it and drink cold beverages only. You’ll be back to eating whatever you want soon enough! [7]
    • Alcohol and tobacco are also irritants that can make your burn feel worse and heal more slowly.
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8

Keep your mouth clean.

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  1. Brush twice a day, floss, and rinse your mouth with water or saline several times a day. This will help prevent an infection—especially if the burn left you with a blister. [8]
    • Don't use an alcohol-based mouthwash, as that could cause more irritation to the burned area.
    • Try making a healing mouth rinse by mixing 1 US qt (0.95 l) of water with 1 tbsp (14 g) of baking soda. Use this to cleanse your mouth after every meal. [9]
9

Don’t brush your tongue.

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  1. Stick to brushing your teeth to keep up a good oral hygiene routine, but keep those bristles away from your poor burnt tongue. You can go back to brushing your tongue in a few days when your burn is all better! [10]
    • Keeping your mouth clean helps prevent infection, so it’s important not to stop brushing altogether. [11]
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10

Avoid smoking or using tobacco products.

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  1. These things are bad enough for you normally, but if you've burned your tongue, they can make the irritation even worse. If you do use these products, talk to your doctor about alternatives that might be less irritating while your mouth heals, like a nicotine patch. And if you don't currently smoke, don't pick up the habit now. [12]
11

Go to the doctor if you have blisters or signs of an infection.

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  1. Usually, you'll stop eating or drinking something as soon as you realize it's too hot, so it's unusual to get a really serious burn on your tongue. However, if you notice any blisters on your tongue or lips, you could have a second-degree burn and you should see your doctor. [13] Similarly, call for a check-up if you see signs of an infection, including:
    • Redness
    • Pain that persists for longer than a week
    • Swelling
    • Pus
    • Fever
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12

See a doctor if your epiglottis becomes swollen.

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  1. If your burn is severe, this flap, which covers your windpipe, can become inflamed and make breathing difficult. If you feel like it’s hard to breathe, or if you’re concerned about how bad your tongue burn is in any way, seek medical care. [14]
    • If it’s been 2-3 days since you burned your tongue and it’s not feeling better, or if you develop any blisters in your mouth, see a doctor right away. [15]
13

Talk to your doctor if your tongue feels burnt for no reason.

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  1. In some cases, this might be caused by a nerve issue. However, it may also be caused by something like chronic dry mouth, a fungal infection, inflammation, an allergy, or a deficiency in certain nutrients. [16]
    • Your doctor will help you determine whether there are any treatments that will help relieve your discomfort.
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Comments

  • Imogen Jones

    Mar 6, 2017

    "This morning I was making myself a cup of tea, and stupidly I took a sip without blowing on it or playing my finger ..." more
  • Stephanie Sosniak

    May 5, 2016

    "Thank you so much. I burned my tongue, gums, and mouth on water that I thought was cold but had been boiled to ..." more
  • Ana Bannister

    Nov 2, 2022

    "I poured sugar over the burnt area on my tongue and let it sit, holding my mouth so that the saliva wouldn't ..." more
    Rated this article:
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    Does this work if you burnt it on hot chocolate?
    Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS
    Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner
    Luba Lee, FNP-BC is a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and educator in Tennessee with over a decade of clinical experience. Luba has certifications in Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Emergency Medicine, Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Team Building, and Critical Care Nursing. She received her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from the University of Tennessee in 2006.
    Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner
    Expert Answer
    Yes, the strategies above work if you burnt your mouth with hot chocolate.
  • Question
    I've sucked on an ice cube five times, and I ate three spoonfuls of honey, but the pain still keeps coming back. What should I do?
    Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS
    Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner
    Luba Lee, FNP-BC is a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and educator in Tennessee with over a decade of clinical experience. Luba has certifications in Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Emergency Medicine, Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Team Building, and Critical Care Nursing. She received her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from the University of Tennessee in 2006.
    Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner
    Expert Answer
    Try sucking in air to cool off your tongue, and do a cool salt water rinse.
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      The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
      • "You need to keep your mouth extra clean while you have a burnt tongue. Brush your teeth and use antiseptic mouthwash regularly to prevent bacteria from getting into the wound." - Zander W.
      • "Stay away from citrus like orange and pineapple while your tongue is burnt. This includes orange juice! If you eat any citrus, it'll sting. " - Emmanuel T.
      • "Try freezing milk into ice cubes and then sucking on a milk cube. The iced milk will sooth and cool the tongue." - Oscar Z.
      • "If you use an ice cube, be sure to get it wet first. Otherwise it can stick to your tongue. " - James C.
      • "You can also eat a spoonful of peanut butter. It really helps! " - Claudia F.
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      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      As soon as you burn your tongue, counteract the heat by sucking on an ice cube or drinking something cold. You can also breathe through your mouth to allow cool air to soothe your tongue. If your tongue still hurts, try eating Greek yogurt to help cool the burn. You can also try rinsing your mouth out with saltwater to help speed your recovery. While your tongue is healing, avoid acidic and salty foods, as they may cause additional irritation. Keep reading to learn how to use pain relievers to help a burnt tongue!

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