9 Natural Remedies to Heal a Burnt Tongue

Updated on March 12th, 2020
How to Cure Burnt Tongue

Once in a while, in the excitement to eat or drink something, we have all made the mistake of eating food while it is still piping hot. Needless to say, ended up with a burnt tongue. Learn how to heal a burnt tongue naturally.

Though a burnt tongue is only a burn of the first degree, it still hurts a lot. Even though it is one of the most sensitive parts of the body, natural remedies go a long way in healing a burnt tongue. It also plays a role in nourishing the burnt tongue.

In most cases, only the epidermal level of the tongue’s skin is burnt causing various degrees of pain, redness and in some cases swelling as well.  In addition, the affected area feels numb and making it look unusually smooth and shiny.

Although a burnt tongue is like the burn in any other part of your body, it needs certain special considerations while healing. For instance, normally if you burn yourself, the first thing that would come to mind is to rush and place the burn area underwater or apply some ice cubes to it.

But when it comes to the matters of the tongue, placing it under a running stream of water might not actually work.

Placing an ice cube on a burnt tongue would be a very bad idea. The ice has the uncanny habit of sticking to a warm tongue and then pulling that out would mean a lot more of pain.

But there are actually certain things that you could do to heal that burnt tongue.

How to Heal a Burnt Tongue Naturally

1. Yogurt

Yogurt
Image:ShutterStock

Unlike cold water and ice, chilled yogurt does wonders to the burnt tongue. Eat a spoonful of Greek yogurt and feel the pain in no time. Make sure to let it sit on your tongue for a while before swallowing.

2. Chilled Milk or Juice

If you do not have access to yogurt, you can always opt for some chilled juice or milk. It helps the same.

3. Sugar

Sugar also helps a lot, with the pain sensation. Just sprinkle a pinch-full on the affected area and let it dissolve on the tongue, the pain will be gone in no time.

4. Honey

Honey
Image:ShutterStock

Honey(1) has been found to be quite a soother in case of burnt tongue. Place a spoonful on the affected area and let it sit for as long as possible. The pain is bound to subside soon. Remember not to use honey on a child of less than 12 months as this can be dangerous for them.

[Also Read: Treat Burns with Natural Remedies]

5. Vitamin E Oil

Vitamin E Oil has been known for its regenerative properties and is also good for speeding up the healing process. Apply half a capsule of the Vitamin E oil on your tongue, spread and leave it on for a while.

6. Aloe Vera Gel

benefits of Aloe Vera gel
Image:ShutterStock

Natural Aloe Vera Gel(2) is a great soothing agent and when applied directly on the affected area, not just provides some cooling but also helps with relieving the condition to a huge extent.

[Also Read: Aloe Vera for Burns]

7. Cough Drops

Cough drops that contain benzocaine or menthol can be used in case of a burnt tongue since they act as numbing agents. They relieving the pain to a certain extent.

[ Read: Treat White Bump on Tongue ]

8. Chewing Gum

how to heal a burnt tongue
Image:ShutterStock

A Chewing gum strip with menthol in it will work great as well. Just remember to get the peppermint or the spearmint flavours and remember not to rub the chewing gum against the affected area.

9. Medication

Pain medication is suggested to help one deal with the pain. But, if the pain is unbearable or causing you great discomfort, try to take some over-the-counter drugs like ibuprofen to ease the pain.

You can also opt for certain ointments that help in easing the pain of a burnt tongue. Make sure not to use huge quantities since they have been known to induce nausea.

[Read: Get Rid of Bump on Tongue]

There are a few other things that you should remember in case of a burnt tongue and during the healing process.

  • Consider breathing through your mouth for a while since the suction of the air will help soothe the pain to a great extent.
  • Avoid any kind of spicy, acidic or salty food since they have been known to make matters worse.
  • Do not in any case use normal burn medication on the inside of your mouth since they might be harmful for health when ingested. Instead stick to ointments and gels like Orajel that are for treating mouth related issues.
  • Make sure that your tongue is not feeling numb when you sit to eat and that might result in you accidentally biting on your tongue.
  • If the injury is severe, consider going to the doctor as things might get worse is not treated on time.
  • Make sure that you are not suffering from the burnt tongue syndrome due to some underlying disease such as Diabetes or Hypertension. Even certain food allergies have been known to have this kind of an effect on the tongue where you feel the burn pain without even burning your tongue onto anything hot.

Bottom Line

Minor tongue burns aren’t complicated. Natural remedies mentioned above play a quick and effective role in healing them. If the burn is severe or the remedies don’t help you, consulting a doctor is a must, as the burn might have affected the deeper layers of the tongue. During the healing process, it is important to keep a close check on oral hygiene. It helps in speeding up the healing process and preventing infections. 


FAQs

1. Do Taste Buds Grow Back?

Yes, the taste buds grow back. It can take 1-2 weeks for proper regeneration of taste buds.

2. How Long Does It Take for a Burnt Tongue to Heal?

With effective care and treatment, the normally burnt tongue can take up to 14 days to heal. In severe cases, where the burnt area is large or severe or has affected the deeper layers, it can take up to six weeks.

View Comments (0)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Scroll To Top

Sign up for our Newsletter !
Get access to quality &
Natural Health Tips right from the Experts
Subscribe !
Send this to a friend