We’ve all done it: whether it’s from taking a bite of pizza that looks much cooler than it is, or taking a drink of an unexpectedly hot beverage, occasionally burning your mouth is pretty much unavoidable. If you are seeking relief from the discomfort of an oral burn, here is some helpful information.
Cool Things Down
The first step to providing some relief is cooling off the burn. There are a number of ways you can do this. A common treatment is to suck on some ice chips, or drink a cold beverage.
If you are going to drink something cold, you may find that you get more relief from drinking milk than water. While cold water can certainly help reduce the pain, milk has the added benefit of adding a coating to the inside of your mouth. This can help prevent further damage.
Other foods that can help include creamy cool foods such as yogurt, ice cream, or pudding. Just take care to avoid anything with sharp edges, as you don’t want to irritate the damaged tissue.
Begin The Healing Process
Fortunately, an oral burn is unlikely to result in any serious long-term effects. Still, to promote healing, you may wish to rinse with a mild salt solution. This will help disinfect the wound and speed the recuperation process. Some people choose to rinse with a solution containing an extract from aloe vera, a plant long known for its burn-soothing properties.
If your discomfort persists you can take a mild over the counter medication such as ibuprofen or aspirin. In most cases, though, you won’t even need to do that.
As you heal, take care to avoid any hot foods or drinks in order to avoid aggravating the injury. If you have any questions, please contact us.
