BURN IN THE MOUTH Q: How do you treat a burn in the mouth? A: The best piece of advice is to avoid the common cause of such burns and be patient before biting into that slice of pizza or slurping a healthy gulp of hot coffee or soup. Who hasn't scorched the roof of their mouth - that little spot behind the two front teeth - with the sizzling cheese of a fresh-out-of-the-oven pizza? When it happens, if you have access to an ice cube, put it in your mouth. If you don't have ice, rinse your mouth as soon as possible with cold water. This will both ease the pain and minimize swelling and tissue damage. If the burn is causing great discomfort, you can get an over-the-counter product like Orabase, an oral bandage; a pectin ointment or a topical mouth analgesic containing benzocaine, at your pharmacy After the first day, dissolve a half-teaspoon of salt in warm water and rinse your mouth four or five times daily. This will speed the healing along. Stay away from spicy or brittle foods that could irritate the burned spot. Talk with your dentist for more information on how to handle a burn in the mouth. Presented as a service to the community by Dr. Barbara Webster 1121 Warren Ave., Suite 130, Downers Grove, IL 60515 630-663-0554 SM-CL2010749 BURN IN THE MOUTH Q : How do you treat a burn in the mouth ? A : The best piece of advice is to avoid the common cause of such burns and be patient before biting into that slice of pizza or slurping a healthy gulp of hot coffee or soup . Who hasn't scorched the roof of their mouth - that little spot behind the two front teeth - with the sizzling cheese of a fresh - out - of - the - oven pizza ? When it happens , if you have access to an ice cube , put it in your mouth . If you don't have ice , rinse your mouth as soon as possible with cold water . This will both ease the pain and minimize swelling and tissue damage . If the burn is causing great discomfort , you can get an over - the - counter product like Orabase , an oral bandage ; a pectin ointment or a topical mouth analgesic containing benzocaine , at your pharmacy After the first day , dissolve a half - teaspoon of salt in warm water and rinse your mouth four or five times daily . This will speed the healing along . Stay away from spicy or brittle foods that could irritate the burned spot . Talk with your dentist for more information on how to handle a burn in the mouth . Presented as a service to the community by Dr. Barbara Webster 1121 Warren Ave. , Suite 130 , Downers Grove , IL 60515 630-663-0554 SM - CL2010749