What to do if a burn appears on your gum

What to do if a burn appears on your gum? Possible causes, symptoms and treatment options

A burn to the oral mucosa is an extremely unpleasant phenomenon. Even if the injury is very minor, discomfort and discomfort can persist for a long time. And if the lesion covers a wide area and affects the nerve endings, you definitely cannot do without the help of a specialist in such a situation. Due to the difficulty of isolating injured tissues, there is a serious risk of infection and the development of other equally dangerous complications. Read more about what types of gum burns there are and how to treat them further in this article.

Burn gums: treachery next door to teeth

When thinking about the topic of whitening, many often lose sight of the fact that gums are not located in a parallel universe. The active substances of whitening gels are able to penetrate the hard tissues of the teeth (enamel, dentin) and burn the gums. And light also streams from above, the laser sparkles, and they enhance the already strong effect of the gels. Hello gum burn! This is why it is so important to protect your gums. Protective compounds are applied to them and a rubber dam is used. This is a latex plate that isolates the gum around the tooth from the gel itself. However, there is one “damned” thing here: periodontitis and gingivitis are also contraindications to whitening. After all, if the gums affected by them bleed or are severely inflamed, then a violation of the insulation will occur, the gel will get on the gums and... it’s better not to imagine what will happen. The torture of the medieval Inquisition will seem like a slight tickle.

ICD-10 code - what kind of injury is this and why is it dangerous?

A gum burn is a pathological phenomenon that occurs as a result of contact of the mucous membrane with high temperatures or aggressive chemical factors. The intensity of symptoms and further treatment directly depend on the cause of the injury and its extent. In the International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision (ICD-10), this phenomenon is assigned the following codes:

T28.0 Thermal burn,
T28.5 Chemical.

A burn to the oral mucosa is an extremely unpleasant phenomenon.
Every person has accidentally burned himself with hot food or drink at least once in his life. But despite the prevalence of this phenomenon, in reality it can lead to very serious complications. A wound on the mucous membrane opens a direct path for infection, and with significant damage to soft tissue there is a real risk of developing necrosis. In such a situation, it is necessary to remove the affected areas as quickly as possible in order to prevent necrotic processes from spreading further. Here you already need emergency help from a specialist.

The oral mucosa is a sensitive and delicate tissue. It contains a developed network of tiny capillaries, which are directly involved in the nutrition and maintenance of the vitality of the dentogingival ligamentous apparatus. Therefore, serious damage to the mucous membrane in this area is fraught with the development of dangerous periodontal diseases and even tooth loss.

Forms

There are 2 types of burns, which differ depending on the factor that provoked the lesion:

Thermal burn, which appears under the influence of high temperature, radiation or electric current;
A chemical burn that develops due to the influence of various chemicals.

[6], [7], [8], [9]

Chemical burn of gums

A chemical burn of the gums often develops as a result of the influence of chemicals on the tissues of the oral cavity (usually medications used in dental practice: such as arsenic paste, phenol, as well as silver nitrate and formaldehyde).

[10]

Arsenic burn to gums

Necrosis can develop from arsenic burns to the gums, and this is a very common problem in dental patients. Prolonged exposure to arsenic has a toxic effect on tissues, which ultimately causes such consequences. If the arsenic paste was not hermetically sealed in the tooth using a temporary filling, it will penetrate outward, and there is a risk of developing a gum burn. This entails the destruction of bone cells - so-called osteonecrosis. This disease is dangerous because it is chronic and constantly progresses. The duration of the disease can be 1-10 years, and it must be taken into account that at first it does not manifest itself in any way. Later, pain in the bone appears, and neuropathy develops.

[11], [12], [13], [14], [15], [16], [17]

Alcohol burn to gums

May occur as a result of rinsing the mouth with this substance to relieve toothache.

This type of burn should be treated based on how severely the mucous membrane was injured. If the burn is mild, home treatments will suffice. If the injury is more serious, you should consult a doctor.

Treatment of the victim is carried out as follows:

It is necessary to rinse your mouth with disinfectant and analgesic solutions;
Give injections with painkillers;
Take sedatives (valerian);
Use anti-inflammatory drugs (ointments or gels) to avoid suppuration and penetration of infection into the mucous membrane;
Use wound-healing drugs (oil solutions).

During treatment, the victim should adhere to a diet - do not eat spicy, salty, sour, pickled, smoked foods, so as not to irritate the mucous membranes.

Why a burn may occur - reasons

There are many potential prerequisites for receiving such an injury. The cause may be the use of powerful medications, accidental contact of the mucous membrane with chemicals, incorrectly performed dental treatment, or a trivial case - consuming too hot foods or drinks. Another common situation is that the gums are burned by alcohol tincture while rinsing the mouth. In pediatrics, there are often cases where children receive burns due to the ingestion of household chemicals.

Clinical researches

Repeated clinical studies have proven that the two-component oral skewer ASEPTA ACTIVE more effectively combats the causes of inflammation and bleeding compared to single-component skewers - it reduces inflammation by 41% and reduces bleeding gums by 43%.

Consumer Reviews

Natasha (vseotzyvy.ru)

“Mouth rinse Vertex JSC Asepta mouth rinse is sold in pharmacies, that’s why I bought it, it has more medicinal properties than just a cosmetic product, and indeed this rinse perfectly removes bad breath, disinfects gums, menthol gives freshness for almost a day perfectly helps smokers."

Dilya09 (otzovik.com)

“Hello to all readers of my review! I wanted to tell you my story about how I started using the Asepta oral brush.

It all started with the fact that I had an implant installed instead of an extracted tooth and was given strict instructions to rinse my mouth with chlogrexidine and, preferably, an oral scavenger. At the pharmacy, my choice fell on the Asepta drug, despite the price, because after the implantation procedure I had the feeling that now I would brush my teeth after every meal and rinse my mouth (it was just creepy). The price of this skimmer in pharmacies is above 160 rubles.

It doesn’t taste very nasty like some skimmers; after rinsing, it freshens your breath due to the “Lime” and “Mint” flavors. By the way, I don’t use it regularly anymore, I often forget to rinse my mouth, but, nevertheless, it is always present in the bathroom.

Of course, over the years, the memories of implantation have become dull, much has been forgotten, but Asepta and I are now friends. I take not only the skimmer, but also toothpaste. In general, not only is the skipper good, but the whole series is good. I recommend it to everyone who uses oral skewers.”

What symptoms occur?

When the mucous membrane is damaged as a result of exposure to high temperatures, sharp pain occurs. This burn often appears on the tongue or palate. In this case, the surface within the affected area turns red and becomes slightly rough. Later, bubbles with a colorless liquid may appear in this place. After a rupture, painful ulcers remain in their place. This is what a gum burn looks like caused by contact of the mucous membrane with a hot drink or food.

The photo shows a gum burn

When exposed to chemicals, the injured area sharply turns red and swells. If the provoking factor is not removed in time, the lesion can spread to the deep layers of the mucosa and cause tissue necrosis.

Degree of problem

first stage: occurs with minor contact of the irritant with the gums. It is characterized by local redness and pain, aggravated by touch or mechanical impact on the damaged area. Goes away on its own in a few days
second stage: painful blisters and vesicles filled with fluid appear. Some people experience numbness in the gums, but more often - severe pain,
third stage: accompanied by severe swelling and redness (whitening), blackening (charring) of tissues is also possible. Damage to the gums is pronounced. Often in addition there are injuries to the larynx, respiratory tract and esophagus. Their presence can lead to a sharp deterioration in general health, refusal to eat, increased body temperature and fever. Wounds take a long time to heal, since tissue damage is deep and affects all layers.

The third stage is dangerous due to necrosis. You definitely shouldn’t self-medicate here. You need to see a doctor, and in the most severe cases, it is best to immediately call an ambulance.

Types of burns on the oral mucosa

Such a pathological phenomenon can result from the influence of a variety of factors. Let's consider the most common types of such injuries and the prerequisites for their occurrence.

Heat injury

This kind of trouble can happen if, for example, you take a sip of too hot tea or coffee without looking. Due to the fact that the mucosal epithelial cells are filled with moisture, when they come into contact with heat, symptoms develop very quickly:

blisters with liquid of different sizes form,
the mucous membrane acquires a rough texture,
persistent aching pain appears, a feeling of constant discomfort, which intensifies at the moment of touching the sore area,
the blisters burst and reveal open wounds - erosion.

Burns can occur from too hot tea or coffee

“Once a blister appeared on my gum, I was so scared, I thought it was gumboil or something like that. It's so painful, it's a nightmare! I ran to the doctor, and it turned out that it was just a burn. The day before I took a sip of hot tea and forgot about it. And the next morning you have a blister! The doctor said to rinse with chlorhexidine and chamomile, everything will go away. And so it happened, for about five days the gums were healing, it was painful, but not fatal.”
Lyudochka78, from correspondence on the woman.ru forum

As a rule, in domestic conditions, thermal burns of the gums do not lead to serious consequences and heal relatively quickly. However, if acute unbearable pain occurs, it is better to see a doctor as soon as possible.

Chemical damage at work

One common type of chemical injury is a work-related injury. This problem is often faced by employees involved in hazardous industries, as well as builders and molarists. Damage to the mucous membrane occurs as a result of its contact with acids, alkali and metal salts, as well as toxic fumes.

Other types of chemical injuries

Such pathological phenomena can have a variety of etiologies, not only industrial ones. The main danger also lies in the fact that dangerous substances, together with saliva, can easily penetrate the esophagus and stomach, and therefore lead to extensive damage to internal organs, the opening of internal bleeding, the development of ulcers and pancreatitis.

This category should also include injuries sustained due to doctors’ improper technique for performing medical dental procedures, including fillings, nerve removal, or whitening. In such cases, damage may result from too long contact of soft tissues with disinfectant solutions, or as a result of intense exposure to a laser or polymerization lamp.

Mistakes made during the whitening procedure can also cause burns.

A chemical burn of the gums often manifests itself somewhat differently than a thermal burn. In this case, the patient does not develop blisters, but noticeable swelling appears, especially around the circumference of the injured area. Patients often complain of excruciating pain and itching from the inside1.

Prolonged contact with alcohol

The cause of injury can be prolonged contact of the mucous membrane with alcohol. This often happens when the technique of performing therapeutic procedures using alcohol lotions or rinsing with alcohol-containing solutions is violated.

Domestic injuries

In domestic conditions, you can get both thermal and chemical burns. For example, it is not uncommon for young children to be admitted to the intensive care unit with serious injuries caused by exposure to hazardous chemicals in the oral and esophageal mucosa. Therefore, all household chemicals must be stored in places inaccessible to children. Among other common everyday causes, experts highlight the use of unlicensed dietary supplements, low-quality toothpastes and other hygiene products.

Long-term exposure to arsenic

Previously, depulpation of teeth, that is, removal of nerves from them, was often carried out using arsenic. Special compounds based on this toxic substance were placed in the tooth for several days in order to kill the pulp and subsequently remove it painlessly. The patient had to appear for the appointment strictly on the appointed day. But many continued to walk around with arsenic in their teeth, ignoring the doctor’s instructions. Such irresponsibility often led to damage to nearby tissues and even to their necrosis.

Burns can occur from exposure to arsenic

Now in modern dentistry, safer and more gentle devitalizing pastes are used for this purpose. They do not contain arsenic compounds, but they still contain quite powerful components. If, after using such a substance, you experience obvious pain and other suspicious symptoms, immediately go to the doctor to prevent dangerous consequences.

Stages of burns on the mucous membrane

In dentistry, this pathological phenomenon is classified into different stages. Let's look at each of them in a little more detail:

first - soft tissues turn red, discomfort and unpleasant sensations occur, especially when touching the affected area,
the second – blisters filled with clear liquid form on the mucous membrane. When they burst, there is a painful sensation that can radiate to the teeth,
third, in such a situation the symptoms described above appear, but in a more intense form. At this stage, the risk of soft tissue necrosis increases significantly.

Thermal burns received in domestic conditions most often belong to the first stage. But chemical injuries, including industrial ones, can have very serious consequences. Self-medication in such a situation can lead to serious and irreversible consequences, so it is important to see a specialist as quickly as possible.

Possible complications

If gum burns are not treated, there is a possibility that the wounds formed in the mouth will quickly become infected. And this will slow down the tissue healing process and cause a purulent infectious process that can spread to healthy areas.

What can be the complications of a gum burn?

Severe burns resulting from prolonged contact with irritants can lead to traumatic damage to the periodontium, gum scarring and lowering of its level, exposure of the tooth root surface, and the formation of deep ulcers. And also to necrosis, that is, tissue death.

If an irritating factor is constantly present in your life, and you may not seriously injure the mucous membrane, then there is a risk of developing high sensitivity and bleeding, and the likelihood of getting gingivitis and periodontal disease, stomatitis, and leukoplakia (in smokers) increases.

How is diagnostics carried out?

To make a diagnosis, the doctor conducts a visual examination of the damaged area, and also collects an anamnesis from the patient’s words to establish the cause of the pathological phenomenon. If the lesion is the result of chemical exposure, its symptoms may resemble an allergic reaction, for example, to substances such as plastic, metal or amalgam. Therefore, in such cases, differential diagnosis is carried out.

For diagnosis, you should contact your dentist

Principles and tactics of treatment

Treatment will directly depend on the cause of the injury, its severity and stage. If it is a minor injury, professional help may not be required. But the second and third stages require the mandatory participation of a doctor.

Medication therapy

It is better to consult a specialist personally about how to treat a gum burn. In such cases, antiseptic rinsing solutions are usually prescribed, for example, Chlorhexidine, Miramistin or Furacilin. As an analgesic for topical application, the doctor may prescribe 10% Lidocaine - it is recommended to use the drug every 7-8 hours.

In such cases, antiseptic rinses are usually prescribed.

Multivitamin complexes with the obligatory content of retinol, vitamins E and C can also be prescribed. They stimulate the healing processes of affected tissues and their regeneration at the cellular level.

When is surgery required?

With severe and extensive lesions, the main danger lies in the high risk of developing necrotic processes. To prevent the spread of pathology to healthy tissue, an appropriate operation is performed to remove dead areas. The advisability of such intervention remains at the discretion of the attending physician.

Traditional medicine

The use of any products prepared independently based on medicinal plants must be agreed with a doctor. For additional antiseptic treatment and acceleration of healing processes, rinsing with decoctions of chamomile, oak bark and St. John's wort, as well as compresses with sea buckthorn oil, are usually recommended.

Herbal decoctions can be used at home

Medicinal products acceptable for use

Let's consider how to treat gums from a burn. To protect damaged tissues from infection, it is necessary to use Miramistin, Chlorhexidine, Furacilin. For local anesthesia and relief of signs of inflammation, you can use Cholisal, Kamistad, Tantum Verde, Vitaon balm, Vinilin, Hexoral, and lidocaine aerosol. In order for tissues to regenerate faster, it is allowed to use oil solutions of vitamin A and E, sea buckthorn oil, decoctions of pharmaceutical herbs (for example, chamomile), and Solcoseryl.

“After the dental treatment, my gums were swollen and painful, and it didn’t go away for a very long time. The dentist didn’t say anything right away. And when I came for a follow-up appointment with complaints about 5 days later, I glanced at it and said that it was from a tampon with medicine that was placed in the tooth. The instructions were to rinse with chamomile. I rinsed it with chamomile and applied Solcoseryl. Nothing helped. I realized that this could be my body’s reaction to the medicine, so I also added antihistamines. Ultimately, the gums stopped bothering me. But now I’ll think again whether to go to such a dentist, maybe it was his hands that were crooked.”
Abigail, review from babyblog.ru forum

For severe burns, doctors in complex therapy prescribe antibiotics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, vitamin complexes (with retinol, vitamin E and C), and physiotherapy. In case of chemical damage, it is necessary to use antidotes (a drug that weakens the effect of the irritant), keratoplasty (drugs that accelerate tissue epithelization).

General recommendations from experts

Summarizing all of the above, we can identify several universal directions in the treatment of such lesions, regardless of their etiology. In such cases, rinsing with antibacterial solutions, such as Chlorhexidine and Furacilin, as well as rinsing with decoctions of chamomile and St. John's wort are usually prescribed. Gels and ointments with an analgesic effect, for example, Kalgel or Dentol, and wound-healing applications using Metrogyl Denta or Solcoseryl are prescribed as local preparations. To relieve pain, you can take painkillers as prescribed by a doctor - Ketarol, Nurofen or Nise.

Features of the treatment of chemical burns

If you have been exposed to aggressive chemicals, you should be especially careful - some components react when in contact with water. Therefore, in such cases, rinsing should be done with a small amount of water at room temperature and only after consultation with the attending physician. A couple of drops of apple cider vinegar will help neutralize the lye. And in case of an acid injury, I recommend rinsing with a solution of baking soda and then applying a cold compress to the injured area.

Nuances of treatment after thermal exposure

Therapy will largely depend on the type of thermal injury. If it was caused by careless consumption of a hot drink or food, you can alleviate the condition by rinsing your mouth with cool water. If the nerve endings have been injured, a small piece of ice will help relieve acute pain. But in such cases, it is better not to experiment - take a painkiller tablet and immediately see a doctor.

If the pain is severe, you can take a painkiller tablet

How to act at the initial stage

If it happens that you get a gum burn, what should you do? First of all, it is necessary to exclude the drugs that caused such a reaction. So, for example, if it is hydrogen peroxide or alcohol that you distributed over your gums for the purpose of whitening or treatment, then you must remove them immediately if discomfort occurs.

How to safely whiten your teeth at home to avoid unpleasant consequences? Read the feature article on the website.

It is important to thoroughly rinse your mouth with water at room temperature, but not cold or hot (this will have an additional traumatic effect). You can take a painkiller from your home medicine cabinet. It is also possible to use rinses for gums, because some of them contain anti-inflammatory, regenerating and even analgesic components. For example, Asepta Active[2], which contains chlorhexidine and benzydamine.

The use of chlorhexidine for gum burns

Next, you should carefully examine the damaged area and “listen” to your feelings. If the case is very serious, then you need to visit a doctor and even call an ambulance (for example, if the injury is caused by household chemicals found and ingested by a child, during a fire or inhalation of harmful chemicals).

On a note! If the gum burn is thermal, which most often happens after eating hot food, then curing it at home will not be difficult. Moreover, even if you do not use anything specific for treatment, such an injury will heal on its own in 3-4 days. But other types of burns are usually more severe, many of them require medical attention and take a long time to heal.

How to avoid serious consequences

To avoid serious complications at home, you must strictly follow all the doctor’s instructions, take all medications prescribed by him and follow an appropriate diet. Dental experts provide several important recommendations in this regard:

During the recovery period, it is recommended to observe some dietary restrictions. So, for example, you will have to give up foods that can cause irritation of the mucous membrane, namely hot, salty, spicy and acidic foods. It is also better to refrain from hard, too cold and hot foods and drinks,

During treatment you should avoid eating acidic foods.
During rehabilitation, you should stop taking any extraneous medications so as not to provoke an undesirable reaction,
household chemicals, paints and solvents, as well as building materials should be stored in a separate, well-ventilated area. If your work involves contact with caustic fumes, it is better to take a short vacation until the tissues are completely restored.

If the pain intensifies, you should consult your doctor again. With extensive lesions, there is always a risk of infection and the development of complications, so your condition must be monitored very carefully.

How to care for your mouth after an injury

It is important to maintain a high level of hygiene to prevent infection of damaged tissue. Here are a few rules that must be followed:

every day, morning and evening, brush your teeth with a suitable brush and toothpaste,
do not forget to clean plaque and food debris from the tongue,
rinse your mouth every time after eating,
limit the consumption of sweet and starchy foods, which contribute to faster plaque formation.

Proper dental hygiene is important to maintain a smile.
A burn to the gums can result in a host of serious problems if you do not respond to the problem in time and consult a doctor. Remember that only timely and adequate treatment can prevent undesirable consequences and dangerous complications.

1Ivanova E. N., Kukushkina E. A. Diseases of the oral mucosa. Textbook, 2007.