Probably, everyone knows from experience what a burn of the tongue is. And given that the modern pace of life is very disposed to this, forcing us to do everything on the go, then such an injury is quite common for many. So it turns out that everyone can get such a burn, but not everyone knows how to treat it.
What you should know about burns of the tongue?
You can get such a fairly common domestic injury due to chemical or thermal effects. But the treatment of these wounds depends on the severity of damage to the mucous membrane, and in some cases muscle tissue. In medical practice, a tongue burn is divided according to the severity of the injury into 4 degrees, each of which involves the use of its own treatment algorithm.
It is also worth noting that even light trauma to the mucous membranes of the oral cavity and tongue should be treated responsibly. After all, it is very easy to infect a wound . Unwashed fruits, poor-quality food, non-observance of basic hygiene rules - all these factors and many others can contribute to the development of a serious illness, the treatment of which will take a lot of time and effort. Therefore, if such a personal injury occurred, it is best to seek help from a specialist who knows how to treat a burnt tongue.
First degree burn
An injury of this complexity is most common. After all, you can get it as a result of eating too hot food and drinks. The condition is characterized by hyperemia of the mucous membrane of the tongue and slight swelling of the affected area.
Despite the fact that the first degree does not require medical intervention, you need to know what to do if you burn your tongue with tea or hot food. Indeed, even such a minor injury causes significant discomfort and pain. To ensure that the damaged mucous membrane recovers faster and the infection does not get into the wound, doctors recommend using antiseptic solutions for rinsing several times a day.
Alternative methods of treatment
To injure the mucous membrane of the oral cavity is quite simple, but few know what to do if they burn the tongue . Some try to ignore the discomfort and pain, others start to panic and immediately run to the pharmacy for painkillers. However, in such cases, the algorithm of actions should be completely different.
The first thing to do is rinse your mouth with cold water or apply an ice cube to the affected area. This procedure will relieve pain and prevent the occurrence of edema. When the pain decreases, the wound should be carefully treated with an antiseptic solution. And if the house does not have the drug "Furacilin" or sodium chloride, you can use baking soda, chamomile tea or infusion of oak bark. To disinfect the wound, as well as relieve swelling and pain, lavender oil will also help, which should be carefully treated with the tongue and oral cavity.
Over the next few days, while the mucous membrane of the tongue is restored, it is recommended to drink fruit and vegetable juices. Such drinks contain a large amount of vitamins B and C, accelerating tissue regeneration.
Treatment of burns of the tongue of the second degree
If with a slight damage to the tongue the victim can forget about his injury after a couple of days, then the second degree already requires long-term medical treatment. Therefore, if blisters with a clear liquid inside appear on the mucosa, you should immediately consult a doctor who knows exactly what to do if he burns his tongue.
A specialist will examine the patient and prescribe an effective medication. In addition, he will open the blisters and treat the wounds with antiseptic solutions, which will prevent the development of infection and the inflammatory process. It is the doctor in such cases that must explain what to do if he burnt his tongue.
As a rule, the patient is recommended to treat the wounds with antiseptic solutions every 2-3 hours, such as Miramistin, Chlorhexidine, Furacilin and others. The doctor can also prescribe medications in the form of gels and ointments to anesthetize the wound. These may be such drugs as Holisal, Kalgel, Lidochlor, etc.
Third and fourth degrees of tongue burn
Fortunately, severe burns of the tongue are very rare, but you should be aware of them. Characteristic for this injury are ulcers and tissue necrosis, accompanied by severe pain. The algorithm of action for such burns includes the immediate call of the ambulance team and the use of painkillers before the arrival of doctors. People with such injuries must be hospitalized and treated exclusively in a hospital.
The course of therapy for patients with burns of the tongue of the third and fourth degree, in addition to painkillers, includes a large list of medications. After all, the inflammatory process with injuries of such complexity is simply inevitable. The complex of drug therapy is selected individually in each case.
Aloe for the treatment of burns of the tongue
You can talk about the healing properties of this plant for a very long time, as well as about the scope of its application in traditional and alternative medicine. Aloe juice treats diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, skin ailments, restores the immune system, and fights with respiratory diseases.
Here, it is also impossible to underestimate the effectiveness of this plant for injuries of the mucous membranes. Because if you burned your tongue with tea, aloe will help to quickly get rid of the problem. To do this, it is necessary to treat the affected area with plant juice every 3-4 hours or apply a cut piece of leaf to it. Such procedures will not only cope with the inflammatory process, but also significantly accelerate wound healing.
Sea buckthorn with burns of the tongue
Another medicinal plant that will help cope with the effects of a burn is sea buckthorn. Of course, it is better to use it in the form of oil, but if this does not turn out, you can apply berries, leaves and even the bark of this shrub.
So, if you burned your tongue with boiling water and there is sea buckthorn oil in the house, you should not waste time rinsing the mouth with water, but immediately treat the affected area with such a tool. This will relieve pain and prevent the development of inflammation. If there is no oil, but there are sea buckthorn berries, then you can simply chew and hold in your mouth until the pain decreases. Later, from the fruits, you can independently prepare oil, which can be used to treat the wound until it is completely healed.
In addition, few know what to do if they have burnt their tongues, for example, in a country house, when sea buckthorn has not yet produced fruit. The answer is very simple, you should take the leaves of the plant or pieces of bark, rinse them and pour boiling water. After 15-20 minutes, when the plant gives up its nutrients, the tincture can be used to rinse.