What We Can Do if You Come to Us with a Severe Oral Burn
Posted on 9/6/2021 by Oral Surgery Specialists of Austin
A bite into hot food or sipping hot tea can cause severe burns on your oral tissues. The tongue and roof of the mouth are most susceptible to burns than other tissues, given their thin and delicate nature. Tongue burns can damage your taste buds, which is why you should be cautious when eating or drinking. However, if you accidentally burn your tongue, you should call us for diagnosis and treatment.
Diagnosis
If you visit us with a severe oral burn, we will first establish the burn's severity before treatment and diagnose your burns according to its specific class. Burns are classified as either first, second, or third-degree burns. First-degree burns will affect the top layer causing redness, while second-degree burns will penetrate the underlayer, causing both redness and blisters. Third-degree burns are usually deep tissue burns and will cause severe pain and numbness.
Treatment
If you suffer first-degree burns, you can treat them at home by gargling salt water and over-the-counter medication. First-degree burns can also heal on their own, but if you experience additional symptoms during recovery, you should contact us. Second and third-degree burns require immediate attention to prevent infection characterized by pus pockets. To prevent infection, we will treat the burns with antibiotics. If the burn has affected your nerves and other oral structures, we will either do a skin graft or other surgical procedures to restore function to the burnt area.
Preventing Oral Burns
Finally, it is important to note that the easiest remedy to oral burns is prevention. You should check how hot your food or drink is first before putting it in your mouth. However, if you accidentally burn your mouth, you can relieve the pain with over-the-counter medication. While healing, you should avoid spicy and acidic foods as these can irritate your wound. For more details on oral burns, contact our office today.
Dental Implants Austin • Dental Blog • Oral Surgery Specialists We perform a variety of procedures in order to correct injuries, defects, and diseases to the head, face, neck, jaws, and tissues of the oral region. Read our Blog! Oral Surgery Specialists of Austin, 5301 Davis Ln, Suite 102, Austin, Texas 78749, (512) 547-6852, ossaustin.com, 3/20/2025, Related Terms: Dental Implants Austin TX,
A bite into hot food or sipping hot tea can cause severe burns on your oral tissues. The tongue and roof of the mouth are most susceptible to burns than other tissues, given their thin and delicate nature. Tongue burns can damage your taste buds, which is why you should be cautious when eating or drinking. However, if you accidentally burn your tongue, you should call us for diagnosis and treatment.