It’s National Pizza Day and we know that ooey-gooey cheesiness sometimes has to be eaten while pipping hot!  Often times though the result is a burn on your tongue or roof of your mouth.  We’re sharing some tips and tricks to help soothe your mouth in case this happens so you can still enjoy your pizza today!

Cool it down

For some immediate relief eat or drink something cold.  Try first sipping on some cold water or sucking on a popsicle.  Yogurt or ice cream can also do the trick!

 

Pain reliever

Try an over the counter pain reliever to help alleviate some of the discomfort. Be sure to follow the instructions on the label or consult with your physician first if need be.

 

Salt rinses

Salt rinses can help prevent infection at the burn site and can also provide some relief for pain.  To make a salt water rinse dissolve 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of salt into 8 oz of water.  Gargle the salt water and then spit it out.

 

Keep your mouth clean!

Maintain your normal oral hygiene care to keep your mouth clean. This can help prevent the burn spot from becoming infected.

 

Watch what you eat and drink

Try to stick to non-spicy, softer foods.  Avoid hard, sharp, crunchy foods that might scratch or irritate the burn even more such as chips or granola.  Choosing foods that are cooler in temperature can soothe the burn spot as well. Try to avoid alcohol/alcohol based mouth rinses and acidic foods and drinks such as citrus which can often cause the burn to become more painful and irritated.

Consult your dentist

If the burn feels severe, isn’t going away or is becoming extremely painful consult your dentist to make sure there isn’t an infection.  We can prescribe ointments, rinses or gels that can help numb the area or take care of the infection.

Burns can take several days to heals so don’t get discouraged. But, if your burn lasts more than 1-2 weeks or the pain is getting worse that’s when you need to contact your dentist.