Think of the sensation when you pull a pizza out of the oven and the smell overtakes you. You know you should wait for the food to cool down before you eat it, but you just can’t resist. So you go ahead and take a bite out of the scolding hot pizza, thinking that this time will be different for some reason. Unfortunately, the results are the same every time. You’ve burnt the roof of your mouth. Even if pizza isn’t your weakness, you’ve likely experienced the dreaded mouth burn before. Whether it is from hot soup, coffee, or any other food that you just couldn’t resist devouring. It’s a pretty common occurrence, so it’s worth mentioning what to do to help soothe your mouth and expedite the healing process.

After burning your mouth, it quickly becomes sensitive and makes eating and drinking pretty annoying. If the burn is serious enough, you might even notice a few blisters forming. This is your body’s natural response to a burn, so it’s nothing to worry about, but there are some ways you can get relief.

  • Cool Down

    To get immediate relief, use ice. Putting an ice cube on the site or sucking on one will help relieve any stinging sensation. We also recommend avoiding hot foods and instead, opting for your favorite cold food, smoothie, or ice cream.

  • Up Your Dairy

    Milk really does relieve burns by coating the area that’s burned, which in turn helps to reduce irritation and thus, pain.

  • Grab a Pain Reliever

    If the burn is severe, you might need to resort to using an over-the-counter pain reliever. This will help you stop focusing on the burnt area or irritating it further.

  • Avoid Harsh Foods

    If you try to eat acidic foods, foods that are hot in temperature (or spicy), or things that have an excessive crunch to them, you’re going to feel it. While your mouth is healing, avoid any harsh foods and try to eat only things that help calm the area.

  • Get some Vitamin E

    If these tips aren’t working, try applying some vitamin E directly to the site. While it sounds a bit unappealing, if you take a vitamin E capsule and squeeze the contents directly onto your wound, it will help regenerate new tissue and reduce healing time.

  • Leave it Alone

    This is probably the most important thing you can do to help soothe your mouth and let it fully heal. You need to leave it alone. The more you touch it, the more irritated it will become and the longer it will take to heal.

  • Prioritize Oral Hygiene

    Finally, if you’ve burned your mouth, you need to prioritize your oral hygiene. Having a clean mouth will help promote healing and avoid any serious infections from occurring. Make sure you brush your teeth regularly and consider a warm saline rinse to your oral hygiene routine until your mouth is healed.

Burns on the roof of your mouth tend to heal in about a week, if not sooner. If you notice that your mouth isn’t healing and you’re still experiencing discomfort, or have burns, after a week, give the professionals at Artistic Dental a call. We’re here to help you with all of your oral problems, no matter how big or small.

Call us at 602.840.5400 for your appointment.