Difference between revisions of "Heal Mouth Burns"
(importing article from wikihow) |
m (Update ref tag) |
||
| Line 5: | Line 5: | ||
==Steps== | ==Steps== | ||
===Acting Immediately to Minimize Burns=== | ===Acting Immediately to Minimize Burns=== | ||
| − | #Swish and gargle cold water right away. Minimize mouth burns by cooling your mouth down quickly. Swish, rinse, and gargle cold water in your mouth for 5 to 10 minutes after you burn yourself.<ref>http://www.readersdigest.co.uk/health/health-a-z/burns-scalds/burns-and-scalds-in-mouth-treatment</ref> | + | #Swish and gargle cold water right away. Minimize mouth burns by cooling your mouth down quickly. Swish, rinse, and gargle cold water in your mouth for 5 to 10 minutes after you burn yourself.<ref name="rf1">http://www.readersdigest.co.uk/health/health-a-z/burns-scalds/burns-and-scalds-in-mouth-treatment</ref> |
| − | #Suck on ice chips. Suck on ice cubes or ice chips if you have some available. This can cool your mouth down even better than cold water. Carry a cup of ice around with you and suck on fresh ice until the stinging in your mouth subsides.<ref | + | #Suck on ice chips. Suck on ice cubes or ice chips if you have some available. This can cool your mouth down even better than cold water. Carry a cup of ice around with you and suck on fresh ice until the stinging in your mouth subsides.<ref name="rf1" /> |
#*If you burn your cheek or the roof of your mouth, try holding ice chips against the burn with your tongue. | #*If you burn your cheek or the roof of your mouth, try holding ice chips against the burn with your tongue. | ||
| − | #Eat a scoop of ice cream. If you have some available, eat a few spoonfuls – or a bowl! – of ice cream. The cold will soothe your burn. Kids may especially enjoy this option.<ref | + | #Eat a scoop of ice cream. If you have some available, eat a few spoonfuls – or a bowl! – of ice cream. The cold will soothe your burn. Kids may especially enjoy this option.<ref name="rf1" /> |
#*Eating an ice pop or scoop of cold yogurt or drinking a glass of cold milk may also help improve the pain. | #*Eating an ice pop or scoop of cold yogurt or drinking a glass of cold milk may also help improve the pain. | ||
| − | #Rinse and gargle with salt water. Dissolve half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm (not hot!) water. Rinse your mouth and gargle with the salt water once your mouth cools down.<ref | + | #Rinse and gargle with salt water. Dissolve half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm (not hot!) water. Rinse your mouth and gargle with the salt water once your mouth cools down.<ref name="rf1" /> |
#*Do not swallow the salt water. | #*Do not swallow the salt water. | ||
===Helping the Healing Process=== | ===Helping the Healing Process=== | ||
| − | #Eat soft, cool foods for a week. Left alone, your mouth should heal itself in about a week.<ref | + | #Eat soft, cool foods for a week. Left alone, your mouth should heal itself in about a week.<ref name="rf1" /> Avoid further injury during that time. Don’t eat foods that have sharp edges, like potato chips or crispy apple slices. Allow hot foods and beverages to cool to a warm temperature before you enjoy them. |
| − | #Keep your foods bland until your burn heals. Enjoy mildly seasoned foods, but stay away from spicy foods and foods flavored with citrus. These can irritate the sensitive skin in your mouth while your burn is healing.<ref>https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003059.htm</ref> | + | #Keep your foods bland until your burn heals. Enjoy mildly seasoned foods, but stay away from spicy foods and foods flavored with citrus. These can irritate the sensitive skin in your mouth while your burn is healing.<ref name="rf2">https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003059.htm</ref> |
| − | #Use a licorice mixture. Add {{convert|10|g|oz|sigfig=2}} of dried licorice root to 100 milliliters of cold water (about 4/10 of a cup). Boil the mixture and let it sit to infuse for 15 minutes. Let it cool, then strain it. Use this as a mouthwash and gargle with it as often as you like while your burn heals. Licorice can help heal inflammation and sores, and can fight off some bacteria.<ref | + | #Use a licorice mixture. Add {{convert|10|g|oz|sigfig=2}} of dried licorice root to 100 milliliters of cold water (about 4/10 of a cup). Boil the mixture and let it sit to infuse for 15 minutes. Let it cool, then strain it. Use this as a mouthwash and gargle with it as often as you like while your burn heals. Licorice can help heal inflammation and sores, and can fight off some bacteria.<ref name="rf1" /> |
#*Add honey to the mixture while it’s still warm to sweeten it. | #*Add honey to the mixture while it’s still warm to sweeten it. | ||
#*Alternately, try sucking on licorice tablets. | #*Alternately, try sucking on licorice tablets. | ||
| − | #Consume honey. Eat a spoonful of honey a couple of times a day to help soothe pain and promote healing. If your burn is on your cheek or the roof of your mouth, try to press the honey to the hurt area with your tongue.<ref>https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3188068/</ref> Let the honey dissolve in your mouth. | + | #Consume honey. Eat a spoonful of honey a couple of times a day to help soothe pain and promote healing. If your burn is on your cheek or the roof of your mouth, try to press the honey to the hurt area with your tongue.<ref name="rf3">https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3188068/</ref> Let the honey dissolve in your mouth. |
| − | #Stop using tobacco. [[Quit Smoking|Quit smoking]] – at least while your burn heals.<ref>http://www.healthline.com/health/how-to-treat-a-roof-of-mouth-burn#home-treatment2</ref> Smoking cigarettes and using other nicotine products can slow healing time. Ideally, stop smoking altogether. | + | #Stop using tobacco. [[Quit Smoking|Quit smoking]] – at least while your burn heals.<ref name="rf4">http://www.healthline.com/health/how-to-treat-a-roof-of-mouth-burn#home-treatment2</ref> Smoking cigarettes and using other nicotine products can slow healing time. Ideally, stop smoking altogether. |
| − | #Avoid alcohol while your burn heals. Help speed up healing – stay away from alcoholic beverages. If you can’t [[Quit Drinking Alcohol|stop]], minimize how much alcohol you drink while your burn is healing.<ref | + | #Avoid alcohol while your burn heals. Help speed up healing – stay away from alcoholic beverages. If you can’t [[Quit Drinking Alcohol|stop]], minimize how much alcohol you drink while your burn is healing.<ref name="rf4" /> |
#*Talk to your doctor if you feel like you can’t stop drinking alcohol. | #*Talk to your doctor if you feel like you can’t stop drinking alcohol. | ||
| − | #Brush your teeth twice a day. Maintain good oral hygiene while your burn heals.<ref | + | #Brush your teeth twice a day. Maintain good oral hygiene while your burn heals.<ref name="rf4" /> This promotes healing and helps you avoid infections. Brush your teeth twice a day as usual, in the morning and before bed. Go slowly and be careful not to scrape your burn. |
| − | #See a doctor if your burn doesn’t improve in two weeks. After two weeks, your mouth burn should feel much better. If it hasn’t improved by that time, see your doctor. You may need medicine to help with pain and prevent infection.<ref | + | #See a doctor if your burn doesn’t improve in two weeks. After two weeks, your mouth burn should feel much better. If it hasn’t improved by that time, see your doctor. You may need medicine to help with pain and prevent infection.<ref name="rf2" /> |
| − | #Seek medical care if you get a fever or can’t swallow. Mouth burns rarely cause serious health problems. However, see your doctor if you burn your mouth and then start to experience any of the following symptoms:<ref | + | #Seek medical care if you get a fever or can’t swallow. Mouth burns rarely cause serious health problems. However, see your doctor if you burn your mouth and then start to experience any of the following symptoms:<ref name="rf2" /> |
#*Fever (a temperature of 100.4°F/38°C or higher) | #*Fever (a temperature of 100.4°F/38°C or higher) | ||
#*Drooling | #*Drooling | ||
| Line 31: | Line 31: | ||
#Take over-the-counter pain relievers. Take acetaminophen (Tylenol) as directed on the bottle for some pain relief. Ibuprofen (Advil) will also help, but don’t take it without talking to your doctor first if you have kidney or liver problems. | #Take over-the-counter pain relievers. Take acetaminophen (Tylenol) as directed on the bottle for some pain relief. Ibuprofen (Advil) will also help, but don’t take it without talking to your doctor first if you have kidney or liver problems. | ||
#*Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about taking OTC medicine if you have any health conditions or medication allergies. | #*Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about taking OTC medicine if you have any health conditions or medication allergies. | ||
| − | #*Aspirin is appropriate for adults, but never give aspirin to children under age 12.<ref>http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/reyes-syndrome/basics/risk-factors/con-20020083</ref> | + | #*Aspirin is appropriate for adults, but never give aspirin to children under age 12.<ref name="rf5">http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/reyes-syndrome/basics/risk-factors/con-20020083</ref> |
| − | #Apply a pain-relieving paste or gel. Check your local drug store or pharmacy for an oral pain-relieving product like Orabase or Orajel. These contain benzocaine, a numbing product that you can use in your mouth for painful sores or burns. Apply it as directed on the label or by your pharmacist.<ref>https://www.drugs.com/mtm/orabase.html</ref> | + | #Apply a pain-relieving paste or gel. Check your local drug store or pharmacy for an oral pain-relieving product like Orabase or Orajel. These contain benzocaine, a numbing product that you can use in your mouth for painful sores or burns. Apply it as directed on the label or by your pharmacist.<ref name="rf6">https://www.drugs.com/mtm/orabase.html</ref> |
#*Do not use Orabase if you’ve ever had methemoglobinemia. | #*Do not use Orabase if you’ve ever had methemoglobinemia. | ||
#*Do not use this product on children under 2 years old. | #*Do not use this product on children under 2 years old. | ||
| − | #See your doctor for prescription medication. If your pain is severe or doesn’t improve with at-home remedies, ask your doctor about topical pain medications. Some medicine used for canker sore pain might be appropriately for painful burns. This include options like the paste Aphthasol and the mouthwash Peridex.<ref | + | #See your doctor for prescription medication. If your pain is severe or doesn’t improve with at-home remedies, ask your doctor about topical pain medications. Some medicine used for canker sore pain might be appropriately for painful burns. This include options like the paste Aphthasol and the mouthwash Peridex.<ref name="rf2" /> |
==Warnings== | ==Warnings== | ||
