Any burn that affects the mouth should be treated promptly by a doctor or pediatric dentist to ensure that it heals properly, without inflicting permanent damage. In some cases, a special appliance may be necessary to prevent the wound from contracting as it heals, leaving a child with a condition known as microsomia (literally, small mouth).
Dietary Guidelines
If your child has sustained a deep, extensive burn, encourage him to drink lots of liquids to replace fluids that may have been lost through the burn.
After any trauma to the body, a diet high in protein helps promote healing.
Give your child a diet high in green and yellow vegetables to provide ample beta-carotene and vitamin C.
Nutritional Supplements
Beta-carotene, a precursor to vitamin A, helps burned skin to heal. Give your child a double dose of beta-carotene, twice a day, until healing is complete.
To support the body during the healing process, give your child one-half dose of vitamin C with bioflavonoids, four times daily, for one to two weeks.
Vitamin C can also be applied topically in a liquid spray. To make a vitamin-C spray, combine 2 tablespoons of powdered vitamin C and ~1/2 cup of aloe vera gel in a 16-ounce spray bottle. Apply this mixture twice a day until the burn heals.
Zinc aids in wound healing. Give your child one dose daily for one to two weeks.
Note: Excessive amounts of zinc can result in nausea and vomiting. Be careful not to exceed the recommended dosage.
Herbal Treatment
Apply aloe vera pulp, gel, or liquid to the burned area to remove the heat and sting from the burn. The pulp of the aloe vera plant has a long history of use as a soothing, cooling, and healing treatment for burns. It works quickly, and is remarkably effective. It is even used in the burn units of some hospitals.
Once the stinging sensation associated with a burn has subsided, apply a calendula preparation topically to help prevent infection. Select either an herbal or homeopathic preparation.
Apply a comfrey root salve or cream to the affected area. Comfrey root contains allantoin, which promotes tissue growth and is very healing to the skin.
Give your child an echinacea and goldenseal combination formula to stimulate the immune system, which is important in preventing and fighting infection. Echinacea is antiviral; goldenseal is antibacterial. Give your child one dose, three times daily, for one week to ten days following a burn.
Note: You should not give your child echinacea on a daily basis for more than ten days at a time, or it will lose its effectiveness.
Gotu kola helps to speed healing of skin tissue. Give your child one dose, three times a day, for one to two weeks following a burn.
Note: This herb should not be given to a child under four years of age.