Chemical burn of mucous membrane of gum

Chemical burn of mucous membrane of gum is usually observed in the following cases:

• Contact with alkali and acids of different concentration;
• Contact with some substances used in dentistry: phenol, arsenic paste, silver nitrate, formalin, and other similar substances.

Nowadays chemical burns are becoming more and more frequent. It is probably caused by the spread of not always safe household chemicals. Chemical necrosis often affects children. The main symptoms of chemical burns of mucous membrane of gum are exudative inflammation and severe pain in the injured area and around it. Exudative inflammation can rapidly turn into necrosis. The degree of manifestation of the abovementioned symptoms depends on the sunstance that caused chemical burn, its concentration, and the duration of contact with oral mucosa.

How to treat chemical burns?

Necrosis of any kind demands immediate intensive treatment. The first thing to be done is to rinse mouth with a great amount of water during one hour. The sooner you remove the irritating substance, the lower the degree of burn will be. Keep in mind that running water is never used to remove burned lime or organic compounds of aluminium. As soon as you have cleaned the mouth cavity from the substance, apply neutralizing solutions. For every chemical agent there is a specific antidote. If you are not sure about the antidote, it is better to consult a doctor or simply find the necessary information in the net.