BURNT TASTE BUDS

Burnt taste buds are a condition caused by scalding and inflammation of normal taste buds.

Taste buds are small sensory organs located in oral cavity, upper esophagus and epiglottis.

The taste receptor cells, sometimes referred to as gustatory cells, are found in taste buds. On the upper surface of the tongue, soft palate, upper esophagus, cheek, and epiglottis are little structures called as papillae that house the taste receptors.

The five types of taste perception: saltiness, sourness, bitterness, sweetness, and umami are detected by these structures. A common misconception attributes these various flavors to specific areas of the tongue, but in reality, every part of the tongue may taste them.

Burnt taste buds is usually not a serious condition and may be caused by something as small as a hot beverage where these affected taste buds are regenerated in 10-14 days.

A persistent burning sensation or inflammation of oral cavity/ taste buds may have other causes the commonest being a condition known as Burning Mouth Syndrome.

This condition even though doesn’t really have a physical cause like a hot beverage or food it presents as a red, inflamed and sore lesion like that of a burnt mouth . there are certain underlying conditions that need to treated in order for this syndrome to go away.

Small taste bud burns are usually treated by tried and tested home remedies like cold water, having a popsicle, salt water washes.

More serious burns and condition may require medical intervention.

While dealing with such a condition one must not ignore the infection of such wound or a persistent inflamed surface which might be undiagnosed cancer in some patients

What are taste buds

On the tongue, there are tiny sensory organs called taste buds that communicate flavors to the brain. Nerve endings in these organs respond chemically to the food you ingest.

Because humans have so many taste buds, you can detect a variety of flavors in five categories: savory, salty, sour, bitter, and sweet

The taste receptor cells, sometimes referred to as gustatory cells, are found in taste buds.

On the upper surface of the tongue, soft palate, upper esophagus, cheek, and epiglottis are little structures called as papillae that house the taste receptors.

About 10,000 taste buds in humans are replaced every two weeks.

Older persons may have closer to 5,000 functional taste buds because certain taste buds stop re-growing as you age.

Foods may taste more intense while you’re younger as a result.

Burnt taste bud causes

There are a multitude causes that cause burnt taste buds, they are mainly categorized into primary and secondary causes

PRIMARY CAUSES:

• Steam
• Hot foods
• Hot beverages
• Burning mouth syndrome (BMS)

The medical name for persistent (chronic) or recurrent burning in the mouth without a clear cause is “burning mouth syndrome.”

The tongue, gums, lips, interior of the cheeks, palate, and other parts of the mouth may all be affected by this discomfort.

Sometimes the burning is so intense that it seems like your mouth has been burned. Burning mouth syndrome typically manifests abruptly, though it can also take time to develop.

Unfortunately, it is frequently impossible to pinpoint the exact cause.

Primary BMS denotes the absence of a known cause. A burning tongue can be a sign of a variety of conditions or diseases.

Because of this, diagnosing this illness is challenging and frequently an exercise in exclusion.

Your doctor may order the following tests to look for anomalies in order to make a precise diagnosis:

• Salivary flow test
• Oral swab allergy Test
• Blood test

 Your doctor may determine that you have primary BMS if there is no underlying disease causing the BMS.

There is no known cause for this burning tongue.

On the other hand, secondary BMS has a known, precise cause.

From person to person, this can differ. Potential reasons include:

• Hormone adjustments
• Allergies
• Nutritional deficiencies such as a lack of iron, zinc, or B vitamins
• Oral infections
•  Acid reflux

SECONDARY CAUSES:

Thrush, an oral yeast infection,

Oral lichen planus, the immune system attacking the cells of the mouth’s mucous membrane causes oral lichen planus, a common chronic inflammation of the mouth.

• Geographic tongue is a disorder where the tongue’s surface lacks some of its normal little bumps (papillae) and has areas of red, occasionally elevated patches that frequently vanish and then resurface in other parts of the tongue.
• Deficiencies in vitamins
• Dentures
• Damage or oral trauma
• Allergic reaction to specific foods
• Stomach acid from illnesses like gastroesophageal reflux syndrome that enters the mouth (GERD)
• High blood pressure like prescription drugs, and others.
• Other endocrine problems include hypothyroidism, diabetes, and others
• Hormonal imbalance, such as that experienced during menopause
• Oral cancer
• Smoking
• Spicy or acidic foods
• Stress

Other bad oral behaviors include teeth grinding, overly vigorous tooth brushing, excessive mouthwash use, and others.

Symptoms

Depending on the severity of the burn, a burn on the tongue looks and is perceived differently:

The top layer of the tongue is affected by a burn of the first degree. The person feels discomfort and pain and the tongue may appear red and inflamed

Due to damage to the tongue’s second layer and outermost layer, a second-degree burn hurts more.

The tongue may become red and swollen, and blisters could develop.

The innermost tissue of the tongue is impacted by a third-degree burn. Burnt skin that is white or dark is the aftermath. Also frequent are numbness or excruciating pain.

The bumps on the tongue (papillae) may disappear if the tongue becomes red or inflamed.

This may make the tongue appear smooth rather than rough.

The taste buds are located between these bumps. Your perception of taste may also be affected by a burn.

But unless the burn is really serious, this is typically a transitory side effect.

BMS symptoms other than a burning sensation on the tongue can include symptoms such as:

• A continuous recurrence of burning symptoms with little to no soreness of the tongue in the morning and gradually increasing discomfort during the day
• A metallic or bitter taste that accompanies the burning feeling, along with numbness and tingling
• A sensation of dry mouth despite the presence of normal saliva

Diagnosis

A burnt tongue may appear as red, inflamed with blisters on surface.

A doctor can diagnose the severity of the condition by simply examining your tongue.

By examining your tongue, your doctor can determine the etiology of swollen taste buds. Your tongue’s color, texture, and size will be examined by your doctor or dentist.

They may touch your tongue while wearing gloves to feel for lumps or bumps and to determine whether you are in pain.

The patient might require a biopsy if the doctor suspects oral cancer.

For this examination, a tiny sample of tongue tissue is taken.

The material is taken to a lab where a microscope is used to inspect it.

BMS is diagnosed by ruling out other illnesses and ailments with comparable symptoms in order to determine whether any habits, such as overusing mouthwash or brushing your teeth too forcefully, are the source of your symptoms, your doctor will check your mouth and question you about your oral hygiene routines.

In order to rule out further conditions, you could potentially undergo any of the following tests:

• Blood tests are performed to rule out endocrine problems, hormonal imbalances, and nutritional deficiencies.
• To exclude out oral disorders including thrush and oral lichen planus, mouth swabs are needed.
• To rule out tongue burning brought on by allergies to food or additives, allergy testing are used.
• Testing of the saliva is done to rule out dry mouth. Imaging exams are performed to rule out any further conditions that your doctor might be concerned about.

To determine whether you have GERD, tests for gastric reflux are performed.

Treatment

Basic first aid should be used as part of the initial tongue burn treatment.

Burns that display the second- or third-degree burn signs and symptoms should be examined by your doctor.

In order to prevent infection and lessen discomfort from a first-degree tongue burn:

• Drink some water and spend a few minutes thoroughly rinsing the region.
• To relieve the ache, eat some ice chips or a popsicle.
• Rinse with cool water or cool salt water (eight ounces of water with one-eighth teaspoon of salt dissolved in it).
• Avoid drinking warm or hot liquids as these may aggravate the burn.
•  For pain and inflammation, take acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil).
• Once the pain eases, try applying a few sugar grains or some honey to the tongue.

The same kinds of treatments that are used to treat first-degree burns may provide relief if you have BMS.

Pain management professionals have discovered that the following treatments can be helpful in some circumstances even though there are no medically authorized medications specifically for BMS:

Complementary treatments including alpha lipoic acid, cognitive behavioral therapy, meditation, and relaxation techniques are available in addition to oral prescription drugs like gabapentin, SSRIs, and amitriptyline, as well as topical prescription drugs like lidocaine, doxepin, and clonazepam.

Managing symptoms requires addressing secondary causes.

For instance, if the side effect of your present medicine is dry mouth, your doctor might recommend another prescription.

Your doctor may recommend medications like omeprazole (Prilosec) to lessen your stomach’s production of acid if it causes acid reflux or GERD and causes stomach acid to flow back up into your mouth.

Home remedies

Various home remedies to treat burnt tongue are listed below;

• Consume Cool Water:

Cold water can ease the discomfort of a mild burn on the tongue. To calm down the warmth of your burning tongue and to keep your mouth hydrated, sip on a glass of cold water. Saliva flow is essential to prevent further damage from microorganisms. Avoid hot foods and beverages because they’ll irritate your burned tongue and prolong the healing process.

• Consume Soft, Cold Meals:

You can consume soft and chilled foods during the next days to ease the stinging while your tongue or mouth roof feels irritated.

Reach for easy-to-eat, chilled foods that can help relieve the burning, such as fruit cups, yoghurt, or even applesauce.

• Use salt water:

Use salt water to rinse an 8-ounce glass of warm water with 1/8 teaspoon of salt added should be softly gargled in the mouth before being spit out.

Salt is a natural antimicrobial that can ease the pain and swelling associated with burns.

• Over The Counter Painkillers:

If you still feel pain after trying the above tips, over-the-counter pain medication can help. To relieve the inflammation, take acetaminophen or ibuprofen as directed by the label.

• Use Honey:

Another efficient remedy for a burned tongue is honey. Honey contains antibacterial qualities and hastens the healing process after burns.

Honey has been used for many years to treat burned wounds. Make careful to brush your teeth before going to night after putting honey on your tongue to protect them from sugar-related tooth decay.

Other way one can prevent this burning sensation is by avoiding certain foods.

A few of these foods are mentioned below:

• Acidic foods
• Spicy foods
• Carbonated drink
• Citrusy juices like lemon juices and orange juice
• Coffee
• Tobacco and related products
• Products that contain mint
• Cinnamon

Consult your dentist to rule out burning mouth syndrome, a persistent issue, if you’re unsure of the reason of your burning tongue symptoms or if they don’t go away.

A tongue burn eventually goes away, but in the interim, it’s reassuring to know that there are some easy home cures for burning tongue that actually work.

Visit a dentist nearby or primary care physician if your tongue burn does not improve.

When to see a doctor

Primary tongue burn can heal on its own in 1-2 weeks and do not require any special intervention.

If the burn doesn’t heal or demonstrates signs of infection, speak with your doctor or dentist.

Signs of Infection could include:

• Increased redness
• Unbearable pain
• Inadequate healing
• Edema
• Pus
• Fever

Usually, burnt and swollen taste buds are not dangerous. One potential reason, although uncommon, is oral cancer. Consult a doctor if the swelling doesn’t go away or you’re unsure of the source. A few additional indicators of oral cancer are:

• Having a mouth sore
• Tongue, gums, tonsils, or the interior of your mouth have a white or red patch.
• A lump in your cheek
• Numbness in your tongue
• Difficulty swallowing
• Shifting your jaw, or using your tongue
• A persistent sore throat
• Bulge in your neck
• Tooth loss

Other signs that could point to a more severe issue include:

• Persistent cough

• Persistent high fever

• Persistent discomfort

Prevention

By checking the temperature of hot foods and beverages before consuming them, you can avoid getting a primary tongue burn.

You should proceed with particular caution since food or beverages prepared in a microwave can sometimes not heat up evenly.

There is no known method to prevent BMS.

By lowering your stress levels, staying away from specific foods and beverages, and quitting smoking, you might be able to lessen the burning sensation.

These consist of spicy foods, fizzy beverages, and acidic foods.

There are other ways one can ensure to keep their mouth healthy:

• Brush your teeth twice a day, floss every day, and use a mouthwash to maintain good oral health. These habits will stop bacteria from growing on your teeth and tongue.
• Quit smoking; it discolors your teeth, impairs taste, raises your chance of gum disease, and raises your risk of oral cancer. You can quit smoking with the use of products, medications, and counseling.
• Eat less spicy or acidic food because certain foods can irritate your tongue more than others, such as citrus fruits and chili peppers.
• Three times per day, gargle with a solution of warm water and salt to maintain the health of your mouth.

FAQs

• How long does it take to heal burnt taste buds? 10-14 days
• How do I heal my burnt taste buds? By using OTC pain relievers, cool salt water, sugar or honey.
• Why do my taste buds feel burnt? Most probable cause can be nerve damage caused by BMS
• Are burnt taste buds a sign of covid? Yes, burnt taste buds can be caused by covid
• Can medicines cause burnt taste buds? Yes certain medicines like antihypertensives , clonazepam ,HRT etc.
• Can taste buds regrow after being burnt? Yes in 1-2 weeks

Conclusion

Burnt tongue/taste buds might not be a serious condition in most cases and may go on its own depending on the cause like a hot beverage burnt might get self-healed in a week.

However, a continuous soreness or inflammation can point to more serious underlying causes.

Without special care, a primary tongue burn can recover in two weeks or less.

However, depending on the origin and severity, some burns can linger up to six weeks. BMS might last for many weeks, months, or even years. It could be challenging to control.

Only three out of ten patients, according to some studies, improve after receiving treatment.