What to do if You Burn Your Tongue Really Bad?
You will burn your tongue at some point! And we have done it multiple times. Drank hot tea/ coffee because we are late? Or did you take a bite of that delicious lasagna because it looked too yum to wait for it to cool down? Yes, a hot bite or a drink can scald our tongue, which hurts like anything! You are unable to taste your food for days. Generally, liquids or semi-liquids like sauces and melted cheese cause a deeper burn. The sauce tends to take time to go down, as is their nature. They are supposed to remain in the mouth and not flow or get wiped quickly to let you enjoy that savory flavor longer); hence they burn some of the tongue cells. These might be the taste buds that you have burned. The taste will take some time to come back, but there are a few things you can do to get rid of that burning sensation for some comfort.
The following article will discuss what happens when you burn your tongue and how you can cure it. Well, there is no cure for a burn, but you can ease the pain a little with the home remedies we will mention below.
These home remedies are much researched and hopefully help you out. But everyone’s system is different. You should consult a proper doctor if the symptoms worsen.
What To Do If You Burn Your Tongue Really Bad
If you burn your tongue, do not panic. It is not dangerous but just very uncomfortable. You lose your taste buds, and that can be annoying. But listen, it will heal on its own soon enough. Just use a few home remedies, and the taste buds will return!
There is no cure for any burn. It takes its own time to heal, and nothing you can do can help mend those cells any quicker. But some tried and tested methods, more appropriately called home remedies, can help you ease the pain. Please remember that these remedies are for superficial or first-degree burns, as explained below. If it is anything more than a scalding, like, for instance, the appearance of blisters, please visit a doctor or any other medical facility for proper treatment.
How Long Does It Take for The Burnt Taste Buds to Heal?
As is the case with every burn, it takes time. It is also dependent upon how much burn you have suffered. There are three degrees of burn that a tongue can suffer.
First-Degree Burn
This burn is more like scalding and causes minor damage, your tongue might look a little red, and there will be a loss of taste because the taste buds are on the top surface and suffer damage first. These are often referred to as tongue cells also.
Second-Degree Burn
This burn is more painful. Blisters form on the tongue and cause mild to moderate discomfort. These blisters can be white or might appear as angry red ones. Do not try to treat them with home remedies.
Third-Degree Burn
This is serious and is not caused due to something you eat typically. The tongue appears as white, blackened, or charred tissue. It might become numb or cause you severe pain.
Home remedies can cure first-degree burns at home; for second-degree burns, please seek medical advice, and for third-degree burns, visit a hospital immediately.
The first damage that burns do to your tongue is to char your taste buds. If it’s a first-degree burn, it will take 10 to 14 days for the taste buds to feel the sensation again. If it’s a second-degree burn, it will take more than two weeks. It might even take a month. In case of a third-degree burn, you must ask your medical practitioner how to proceed.
Taste buds are on the top of the tongue. You can taste things when they touch the tongue. This is why they are more exposed to burns. But the taste buds are quick to grow back. In less than two weeks, you get the taste sensation back.
Well, there is no cure for a burn, but you can ease the pain a little with the home remedies.
How Do You Cure a Burnt Tongue?
As mentioned earlier, home remedies can treat only first-degree burns, if you burn your tongue. For second and third-degree burns, you need a doctor to advise your way forward. But for now, let me guide you on how to treat a first-degree burn. There are five successful ways that you can try for a burnt tongue.
1. Use something cold to ease the pain
Like every burn, the best first aid trick is to apply something cold to minimize the heating effect. If available, put an ice cube on your tongue. If not, take a sip of chilled water or sweet juice (make sure it’s not a fizzy drink and not a sour juice) and let it linger on your tongue for a few seconds before gulping it down.
2. Put something sweet in your mouth to ease the tongue
You can also take some sugar and put it on your tongue. Stick it to the roof of your mouth. Do not rub. The sweetness will help with the burn.
3. Be careful of what you eat
Never use sour, spicy, or salty food immediately after burning your tongue. It is, literally, salt to injury! And avoid fizzy drinks. The spice will hurt the burn, and the gas in fizzy drinks also hurts because of the sensitivity. Try to avoid it, at least for the first couple of hours.
4. Toothpaste can lend a cooling effect
If you burn your tongue, put some mint toothpaste on your tongue. It will cool your tongue. If the tongue is swollen, you can take ibuprofen. Monitor the swelling, though. The swelling is not good. If it doesn’t go down, please consult a doctor immediately.
5. Consult a doctor
And last but not least, consult your doctor or dentist. Home remedies are good, but visiting a doctor is a good idea if you do not see an improvement in the pain.
Final Thoughts!
A burn is hurtful no matter where it is. And the tongue is a very sensitive part. If you burn your tongue, it is going to hurt you. Depending upon the intensity of the burn, it takes time to heal. Home remedies help ease the pain, but they are not a cure. As I have repeatedly said in the article, please visit a doctor if the symptoms continue. Don’t depend upon the remedies.
