burnt tongue

We use our tongues to talk, drink, and eat. Any time they get hurt, it can feel like the pain is magnified ten-fold. Usually, pain on the underside of the tongue is caused by a minor injury or ailment and isn’t cause for too much concern. Here are 5 reasons the underside of your tongue may hurt.

#1 - Injury from a Bite

Nearly everyone has accidentally bitten his or her tongue, probably more than once. It can hurt, but the pain usually subsides in a few minutes. Depending on where and how it was bitten, it could hurt more on the underside of the tongue, especially if the bite was the result of a fall or a blow that caused you to bite down inadvertently. Irritation may continue for a few days if your taste buds – the small bumps on the tongue – are injured from the bite and become infected and inflamed.

#2 – Irritation from Foods or Foreign Objects

Common orthodontic devices like dentures and braces can cause tongue pain and irritation if they don’t fit quite right. Often the irritation occurs when someone has just gotten their braces or dentures, and they are still adjusting. Both braces and dentures can cause sores or cuts on the tongue and inside of the mouth that can be remedied by gargling with salt water or using over the counter oral gels or pain relievers.

Irritation can also come from foods, particularly those served at a high temperature like hot cocoa or soup or those that are spicy. Accidentally sipping or biting into something that’s too hot can cause the tongue to feel burned and to become red and swollen. Most tongue burns from too-hot foods are first-degree burns that heal quickly, but more severe burns should be seen and treated by a doctor. Spicy foods can make the tongue feel as if it’s burning and can exacerbate other conditions.

#3 - Canker Sore

Canker sores can develop on the tongue, underneath the tongue, or on the inside of the mouth. The cause is unknown, but they look like a small crater and may be red with white and yellow in the center. Canker sores can be related to irritation and injury from braces or biting the tongue, but may also be triggered by other factors, including stress. They usually stop hurting in 7-10 days and are completely gone within a few weeks.

#4 - Strained Tongue

The tongue is one of the strongest muscles in the body. It’s rare for it to become strained because it’s accustomed to nearly constant use from eating, talking and drinking, but it is possible. A strained tongue would be most likely to occur from overexertion or overuse of the muscle.

#5 – Glossitis, or Inflamed Tongue

Glossitis is inflammation of the tongue that is often the symptom of another issue. Acute glossitis has a sudden onset, usually stemming from an allergic reaction. Chronic glossitis, on the other hand, is recurring and generally signals an underlying health issue. Allergic reactions or irritation from food or medication, low iron levels, mouth trauma, dental appliances like braces or dentures, dry mouth, and certain diseases are all potential causes of different types of glossitis.

There are many reasons people may experience pain on the underside of the tongue Most of them are not serious and will go away within a few days or, at most, a few weeks. Tongue pain, however, can be the sign of a serious underlying medical issue. Always consult with a dentist to ensure that the pain isn’t the result of a severe problem, like a viral infection or even tongue cancer. Reach out to us today to find out what may be causing pain on the underside of your tongue!

A burnt mouth: we’ve all done it before, and we all know how awful it feels. From a slice a pizza that just came from the oven, to a steaming cup of coffee, we’ve all experienced the awful pain. The sensitivity that your mouth must endure for the next day is often much more annoying than the original burn. There are a few remedies that can help sooth the pain, and make it go away a little faster. Here our tips.

 First, keep your cool:

If you can, immediately after burning your tongue or mouth, you should find something cool to apply to it. Whether a glass of ice water, an ice cube, Popsicle or ice cream, it all can help. Make sure the cold is left on the burnt area for at least a minute to help dissipate the heat and save your mouth or tongue cells from becoming too damaged.
Yogurt is a great cool food that can help revitalize the mouth and even help kill bad bacteria that might make the damage worse. If you have some available, use that to cool your mouth.

 Help It Heal

Next, you’re going to want to keep good care of your mouth to keep it from becoming infected or just having the burn last longer than it needs to. Consider using an anesthetic ointment or a mouthwash that will help maintain the bacteria levels in your mouth. This can also help numb the pain from the burn, just make sure not to use too much.
Furthermore, you’ll want to avoid goods that can upset your mouth. These include any kind of food that is high in acidity: lemons, vinegar, citrus, tomatoes, fruit juices, and so forth. These kinds of foods can make the burnt area throb with pain. As well, try to avoid foods that can be rough to bite or chew, think potato chips, popcorn, baguettes. The crispy crunch of these foods will be like sandpaper to a sensitive area of the mouth.

 Continue the Soothe

It may still take a day for a burn on the tongue or mouth to heal, so to help avoid more pain than you need, consider grabbing a few cough drops. Look for ones with menthol or benzocaine as an ingredient. These cough drops will have a cooling affect on your mouth and will help soothe the burnt area. A few of these throughout the day and you’ll barely notice the pain.

 Time is the Best Medicine

Of course, when it comes to a burnt tongue or mouth, time is going to be the best fix. Most burns take about a day to two days to heal. The mouth and especially the tongue, are very well maintaining areas of the body. Think of how many times you’ve bit your tongue, or accidentally burnt it.
However strong it may be, it can become much stronger when you apply proper oral hygiene techniques everyday. Brushing, flossing, and mouthwash help keep out harmful bacteria and plaque that can cause harm to your mouth. With a proper cleaning, good bacterias and cells can help maintain a strong and healthy mouth.
If you have any more questions about an injured tongue or mouth, contact Water Tower Dental today, we’d be happy to help.