The taste of spices is often too strong for the average person to enjoy. Not only that, but some spices can also cause a burning sensation on your tongue and throat. There are many ways to get rid of this spice in your mouth so that you can enjoy your food again.
Some people like to drink lots of water after eating spicy food in order to get rid of the spice from their mouth. Other people like to drink milk or eat yoghurt because these foods have natural cooling properties that can help reduce the spice sensation in your mouth. However, if you don’t want any dairy products or water, there are many options available for getting rid of the spice in your mouth.
Why Do Lips Burn From Eating Spicy Foods?
After eating spicy food, many people feel a burning sensation on their lips. This phenomenon is called “spicy food syndrome”, and it’s caused by the capsaicin in spicy foods. Capsaicin is a chemical that can cause inflammation of the skin and mucous membranes. It stimulates sensory nerve endings in your mouth, causing them to send pain signals to your brain, and it has a tendency to linger on your skin, lips, and tongue.
This capsaicin causes the release of a neurotransmitter called Substance P – an undecapeptide composed of a chain of 11 amino acids. The pain and discomfort are caused by the activation of these receptors, which leads to a release of inflammatory substances. These substances lead to swelling, redness and pain in the mouth.
Remedies to Cool Hot Pepper Burn on Mouth
The burning sensation in the mouth is a common side effect of eating hot peppers. The irritation can be so severe that it may interfere with your ability to eat or drink. There are many home remedies for burning mouth from hot peppers; here are some of them:
1. Vanilla Ice Cream
Vanilla ice cream is a delicious and refreshing way to cool down the burning mouth from hot peppers. It also provides a sweet, creamy taste that won’t irritate the burning sensation.
2. Whole Milk
A study has suggested that consuming whole milk can help people to cool down the burning sensation from hot peppers. Whole milk contains casein protein which could be responsible for the numbing effect on your tongue. Milk is a natural source of calcium and vitamin D, which are essential for bone health. It also contains vitamins A, B12, and K2, which are essential for eye health and immune system function.
3. Coconut Water
Coconut water has been found to be an effective remedy for the burning sensation caused by capsaicin because it contains electrolytes which are known to help with the cooling of the mouth.
4. Creamy Peanut Butter
One of the best ways to cool down a burning sensation is by consuming something creamy. One suggestion is to eat something like peanut butter. This will coat your tongue and help with the sting.
5. Honey
Many people are unaware of the power of honey. While most know it is a natural sweetener, people often overlook its medicinal health benefits. Honey can be used in various ways to help soothe ailments such as sore throats and coughs, but it is also used as a remedy to soothe the burning sensation of hot peppers.
6. Pure Granulated Sugar
Pure granulated sugar is a great way to cool down the burning sensation in your mouth from hot peppers. This is a quick and easy way to reduce the pain while soothing your tongue.
7. Graham Crackers
If you are stressed out due to a burning mouth after eating spicy food, you could eat something with fat, like a graham cracker. This is because our bodies produce endorphins when we consume fats, which help to reduce stress.
8. Olive Oil
The topical treatment of olive oil is believed to be a traditional folk remedy for relieving burning mouth syndrome, also known as glossodynia, from hot peppers. This is a condition in which the tongue and mouth are abnormally sensitive to heat or spicy foods.
There are several ways that olive oil can be used topically to relieve this condition. One way is by using it as a mouthwash by swishing and gargling with it for about 15 minutes daily before eating or drinking anything else.
Another way of using olive oil to treat burning mouth syndrome is by applying it directly on the tongue with cotton swabs. This should be done every hour until the symptoms subside, usually within 3-4 hours after application.
9. Sour Patch Kids
Sour Patch Kids is recommended as an effective way to cool down the burning mouth caused by hot peppers because it helps cool the mouth and can also alleviate some of the symptoms of this condition, such as burning sensation, dryness, and painful swallowing.
10. Junior Mints
The best way to cool down your burning mouth is to eat something cool. One way to do this is by eating something ice cold like junior mints. The coolness from the mints will numb the receptors in your mouth and provide relief from pain or discomfort.
11. Ice Cubes
One of the most popular methods to cool down your lips after eating spicy foods is to use ice cubes to cool down the mouth and tongue.
12. Chewing Gum
You could chew sugarless gum after eating spicy food because chewing gum stimulates saliva production, which helps cool off the tongue and throat.
13. Milk with Baking Soda
You could also try drinking a glass of milk with baking soda mixed into it because they both have natural cooling properties that will help reduce the spiciness in your mouth.
14. Banana
Another remedy is to eat a banana which will not only soothe your burning mouth but also provide you with potassium which will help neutralise any acidity in your stomach.
Conclusion:
- The capsaicin in chilli peppers irritates or inflames the nerve endings in your mouth, causing a burning sensation after consuming spicy foods.
- There are many remedies to cool down burning lips from hot peppers, such as vanilla ice cream, whole milk, coconut water, creamy peanut butter, honey, pure granulated sugar, graham crackers, olive oil sour patch kids, junior mints, ice cubes, chewing gum, milk with baking soda, and banana.
- Do not panic if you feel burning lips eating spicy food because this is entirely normal.
FAQs
Can spicy foods damage your lips?
There’s no damage to lip tissue itself: The interaction is simply a signal that our brains interpret as a blast of heat. And it certainly doesn’t damage your taste buds, as capsaicin doesn’t interact with them.
When should you see a doctor if your lips are burning from chilli?
If you’re worried about an allergic reaction, you may see a doctor as soon as possible. The symptoms of an allergic reaction can include itching, swelling and difficulty breathing. If you’re not sure whether or not your lips are burning from chilli because of an allergy, then the best thing to do is speak to your GP about it.
How long does burning from capsaicin last?
The heat from capsaicin can be felt immediately, but it does not always cause pain. The heat usually dissipates after 10-15 minutes, and the burning sensation goes away after 30-45 minutes.
