Eagerly biting into a steaming hot entree or quickly sipping a fresh cup of coffee can spell disaster for your mouth. Mouth burns can be excruciating. The thin, delicate layer of skin inside the mouth offers no real protection from heat, as it scorches vulnerable nerve endings. When the initial shock from the burn wears off, pain still may linger. Follow these simple directives to soothe irritating burns:
1.) First, determine the severity of the burn.
Symptoms of a first degree burn:
- pain
- redness
- dryness
- slight swelling
In a first degree burn the top layer of skin is affected, it may begin to peel within three to five days.
Symptoms of a second degree burn:
- severe pain
- redness
- blistering
A second degree burn injures the first few layers of skin and has a higher risk of infection.
Symptoms of a third degree burn:
- no feeling of initial pain
- dryness
- brown discoloration
- charred or waxy white skin
Third degree burns involve all the layers of skin, and may require skin grafts. If a burn falls into the second or third degree category medical attention is needed to treat it properly.
2.) Next, begin to treat the burn.
Natural methods to soothe a mouth burn include: gargling with cold water or antiseptic mouthwash, sipping on ice or anything cold, drinking milk (adding a protective coat to the roof the mouth), mixing dried licorice root to boiling water, straining it, adding honey and drinking the mixture.
Medicinal alternatives to treat the pain could be as simple as: taking an over-the-counter pain reliever such as acetaminophen, eating a licorice tablet, or gargling anesthetic mouth rinse.
(As a side note, after the pain dissipates, gargling with a mixture of half a teaspoon of salt and a glass of warm water can act as an antiseptic and disinfect the burn.)
3.) Lastly, try to avoid irritants.
Raw carrots, apples or other crunchy food can agitate burns in the mouth. Hot,acidic,or spicy foods also cause irritation.Soft drinks,tomatoes and cinnamon may damage the burn. Even types of mint-flavored toothpaste are to be avoided if possible. If coffee or tea is a must-have, the temperature should be lukewarm until the burn is fully healed.
Sources
http://www.healthline.com/health/how-to-treat-a-roof-of-mouth-burn#HomeTreatment2
http://www.livestrong.com/article/551197-how-to-heal-an-internal-mouth-burn/
http://www.readersdigest.co.uk/health/health-a-z/burns-scalds/burns-and-scalds-in-mouth-treatment