Have you ever felt too impatient to wait for food to cool before eating it? Or have you drunk from a steaming hot mug, forgetting its temperature? These incidents can result in uncomfortable burns in your mouth. The mouth contains delicate tissues susceptible to burns if you consume a food or drink that is too hot.
In most cases, this scalding will only cause superficial, minor burns to your mouth, gums, lips, or tongue. But it can still feel unpleasant while it heals on its own. You do not have to suffer without alleviating this discomfort.
Severe burns to the mouth are also possible, and you may wonder when you need to reach out to a medical expert for intervention. Read on to learn how you can find relief from a burned mouth and when you may require dental attention for this injury.
How to Manage Burns in Your Mouth
When you burn your mouth, you might notice that the injury looks red and feels sore and tender. The area might also start to peel as it heals. While normal, it can feel uncomfortable, and you may want to know how to soothe this pain while you recover.
Drinking a cool beverage can bring relief to burns in your mouth. If you drink milk, the thick liquid can coat your mouth as well, giving you an extra layer of protection for the healing tissue. Try chilled, smooth, or creamy snacks that pose a low risk of aggravating the burns.
Crunchy or sharp foods could irritate the healing burns in your mouth, so you may want to avoid them. Spicy foods could create a similar risk of oral discomfort. For a constant sore feeling, you can try an over-the-counter pain medicine.
Infections and other complications from a mouth burn are uncommon. But you might benefit from a saltwater rinse. It may reduce potential issues while encouraging the healing of the burns.
When to See Your Dentist About a Burned Mouth
A minor burn, which is the result of most mouth burns from scalding foods, will not need intervention from a dentist in most cases. The minute damage on the gums, tongue, or lips will heal on its own. But if the symptoms seem unmanageable, including severe pain, you should call a doctor for urgent oral health care.
If the injury seems to swell a great deal or you notice blisters, this might mean you have a deeper, more serious burn. Extreme pain may mean you have a second-degree burn. A third-degree burn can result in nerve damage which may make you feel numb.
Usually, you know what caused a burn in your mouth. But if you feel chronic burning in your mouth with no known cause, you might have burning mouth syndrome. This can happen due to certain medication side effects or nerve damage. Do not hesitate to call a health professional if these symptoms seem familiar.