A burnt-feeling tongue can come from hot food, burning mouth syndrome, acid reflux, or dry mouth. See a doctor if it lasts.
Common causes
- Hot food or drink.
- Burning mouth syndrome.
- Acid reflux.
- Dry mouth.
- Oral thrush.
- Vitamin B12, iron or folate deficiency.
- Allergies and dental products.
- Menopause.
What helps
Sip cool water, avoid spicy food and acidic drinks, and use a soft toothbrush.
Healing
A mild burn heals in about a week.
See a doctor
If burning lasts more than 2 weeks.
Typical triggers
A burnt-tongue feeling is most often a thermal burn from hot food or drinks, which damages the surface papillae. Taste buds regenerate about every 10 to 14 days, so a mild burn heals within a week. If the burning sensation lasts without a burn, causes include burning mouth syndrome, oral thrush, acid reflux, vitamin deficiency or dry mouth.
- Burning mouth syndrome affects about 1 to 2 percent of people, mostly women after menopause, and often burns the tongue tip.
- Deficiencies in B12, iron, folate and zinc can inflame the tongue (glossitis).
- Antihypertensive drugs such as ACE inhibitors and dry mouth from many medications can contribute.
- Mouthwashes with alcohol or whitening toothpaste can irritate.
Care
Sip cool water, eat cold foods like yogurt or ice cream, and avoid spicy and acidic food during recovery. Do not pop blisters. A doctor or dentist should check burning that lasts over two weeks, white patches that do not scrape off, or sores that do not heal in three weeks, which can indicate oral cancer.
Causes
A burnt feeling on the tongue is often from hot food, acidic or spicy food, smoking, dry mouth, thrush, vitamin B12 or iron deficiency or burning mouth syndrome, which affects about 1 to 2 percent of the population, mostly women over 50.
Care
Sip cool water, avoid irritants, use gentle toothpaste and practice good oral hygiene. A doctor or dentist can test for deficiencies, diabetes and infection. Persistent burning more than two weeks needs evaluation.
Common triggers
The tongue has about 2,000 to 4,000 taste buds, and thermal injury destroys the top layer, which regenerates in 1 to 2 weeks. Other causes are acidic food, oral thrush (white patches), allergies to toothpaste or mouthwash, anemia, vitamin B12 deficiency and diabetes.
Burning mouth syndrome
Primary burning mouth syndrome affects about 1 to 2 percent of adults, mostly postmenopausal women, with burning that lasts months without visible lesions. Management involves topical clonazepam, alpha lipoic acid trials, avoiding irritants and addressing dry mouth. See a doctor if burning lasts over two weeks.
Based on data from the Mayo Clinic and the American Academy of Oral Medicine
