Six Home Remedies For Burning Mouth Syndrome
Posted on: 31 October 2016
Everyone has burned their mouth at one point or another. Taking a sip of freshly-brewed coffee before it's had time to cool can scald your mouth, but this feeling is fleeting. However, for some people, this burning feeling occurs for no known reason and can last for years. If you suffer from burning mouth syndrome, you may be able to control the painful sensation with home remedies. Here are six home remedies for burning mouth syndrome.
Sip Water
When your mouth feels like it's on fire, sipping on cool water can help ease the burning sensation. Burning mouth syndrome can be aggravated by dehydration and a dried-out mouth, so ensuring that you drink enough water is important.
If you don't already do so, start carrying a water bottle in your purse or briefcase so that you're never without water. Throughout the day, take sips of refreshing water to help control the burn.
Suck on Ice
Another home remedy for burning mouth syndrome is simple: sucking on ice chips. Since ice chips are very cold, they can help calm the burning feeling in your oral tissues. Suck on these chips as needed to help control your symptoms.
To avoid causing further oral health problems, avoid the temptation to chew the ice chips. Chewing ice can lead to chipped or cracked teeth. You could also damage fillings or other dental work, so be sure to suck on the chips.
Eat Bland Foods
While many people like the burning sensation that comes from eating peppers and other spicy foods, you should avoid them if you have burning mouth syndrome. Since your mouth already feels burned, eating chilis and curries will only aggravate the condition and make you feel worse.
To avoid irritating your oral tissues, try to stick to bland foods. Bland foods include milk, cooked vegetables, breads, peanut butter and broth. Since burning mouth syndrome can last for years, it's important to make sure that your bland diet is well-balanced. A nutritionist or dietician can help you come up with a suitable bland foods meal plan.
Avoid Alcohol
Drinking alcohol can be enjoyable, but your favorite beer or wine could actually make your burning mouth sensations worse. This is because alcohol irritates your tongue and oral tissues, and when your oral tissues are already irritated, this is the last thing you need!
It's important to remember that many mouthwashes contain alcohol. If you use mouthwash, switch to an alcohol-free variety so that you can clean your mouth without further irritating your tissues.
Avoid Tobacco
If you're a smoker, try to quit. Cigarette smoke irritates the tissues inside your mouth, and removing external irritants is important because you don't want to make your symptoms worse. Smoking cessation methods like nicotine patches or gum may help you quit.
Some smokers start using electronic cigarettes to help themselves quit, but since these devices can also cause oral tissue irritation in some people, they're not ideal for people who are trying to deal with burning mouth syndrome.
Choose Decaf
Your morning cup of coffee may help you wake up, but since caffeine can dry out your mouth, burning mouth sufferers should switch to decaffeinated coffee. A dry mouth aggravates burning mouth syndrome.
If you're a tea drinker, choose varieties that have a lower caffeine level, like green tea. Decaffeinated tea is another option, though it contains a low level of caffeine rather than no caffeine at all.
For more information, talk to a professional orthodontist.
Share