Sore Tongue: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment
A sore tongue is any pain or discomfort of all or part of the tongue. Pain is a sensation caused by the nervous system in response to inflammation or tissue damage. If you have a sore tongue, you may feel a dull, stabbing, stabbing, burning, or tingling sensation. The tongue is mainly made up of muscles. A sore tongue can happen from infection, inflammation, trauma, malignancy, and other unusual processes of the tongue tissues. A common condition that causes tongue pain is glossitis, an inflammation of the tongue that also results in swelling and discoloration of the tongue caused by irritants, infections, or other disorders.
Causes
A common cause of tongue pain or discomfort is glossitis, a condition characterized by swollen tongue and color changes. Glossitis can be caused by bacteria, yeast, or viruses. Other causes may include a variety of irritants and exposure to very hot foods or drinks, spicy foods, tobacco, and alcohol. Many other inflammatory and abnormal processes can affect the tongue.
Common Sore Tongue Causes:
- Injury, such as biting or burning the tongue
- Irritation from braces or dentures, brushing your teeth too hard, or rubbing your teeth at night
- Swollen taste buds (enlarged papillae), also called lie bumps
- Mouth ulcers
- Oral yeast infection (yeast infection in the mouth)
- Infections such as syphilis, hand, foot, and mouth disease, HPV, and scarlet fever
- Menopause
- Food sensitivities or allergies
- Smoking and chewing tobacco
- Acid reflux
- Dry mouth (xerostomia)
- Medications
Less common causes of tongue pain include:
- Vitamin deficiencies, such as vitamin B-12, iron, folic acid, niacin, or zinc
- Oral mucositis caused by chemotherapy and radiation therapy
- Burning mouth syndrome
- Neuralgia
- Lichen planus
- Behcet's disease
- Moeller's glossitis
- Pemphigus Vulgaris
- Sjogren's syndrome
- Celiac disease
- Oral cancer
Sore Tongue Symptoms
Here are some common symptoms of a sore tongue that you can include on your webpage:
- Pain or discomfort on the tongue
- Redness or inflammation
- Swelling of the tongue
- Difficulty eating or swallowing
- Sensitivity to hot, spicy, or acidic foods
- Changes in taste perception
- Formation of ulcers or lesions on the tongue
- Difficulty speaking or articulating words
- Burning sensation on the tongue
- Dryness or the rough texture of the tongue
These symptoms might vary depending on the cause of the soreness, so it's essential to consult an expert for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
Diagnosis
During an examination with a doctor or dentist, information is collected based on symptoms and clinical appearance. Imaging may also be needed to aid in the diagnosis. Different imaging modalities include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), and positron emission tomography (PET). A diagnosis is made from the collective information. However, if there is no single sign or symptom to distinguish the tongue problem, a differential diagnosis is reviewed. A differential diagnosis lists all the causes of the signs. It is a systematic process of weighing the probability of a disease against that of other diseases that can explain the problem of the tongue. For example, a white tongue lesion may have a differential diagnosis of lichen planus, leukoplakia, or contact inflammation of the dentures. Each of these causes can be carefully considered based on diagnosis. Later, a treatment plan can be made.
For many tongue conditions that can be cancer, a special dye called toluidine blue has been helpful during the initial evaluation. Toluidine blue staining may aid in the early detection of precancerous or cancerous tumors.
A more definitive diagnosis requires a biopsy. A biopsy is a procedure in which a sample of cells or tissue is assessed under a microscope. Perfect treatment requires an accurate diagnosis.
Sore Tongue Treatment
Antibiotics
Bacterial infections, such as syphilis, can lead to sores in the mouth. Be sure to take the entire course of antibiotics, even if you feel better.
Antifungals
Antifungals, such as fluconazole (Diflucan) and clotrimazole (Mycelex Troche), are prescribed to treat oral yeast infections.
Prescription mouthwash
A prescription mouthwash or antimicrobial mouthwash can help prevent infection as a sore tongue heals.
Steroids
A doctor may prescribe a corticosteroid to lower inflammation caused by mouth sores or another inflammatory condition, such as lichen planus.
Vitamin supplements
You may need a prescription vitamin supplement, such as an injection of B-12, folic acid, or iron, to help treat a vitamin deficiency.
Medications to increase saliva production
If you have a dry mouth, there are recipes available to help increase saliva production.
Cancer treatments
Oral cancer therapy typically comprises surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation.
Topical gel
Topical gels can ease mouth pain by numbing the area. This medication is available without a prescription, but stronger topical gels may require a prescription.
Pain medication
Over-the-counter pain relievers can reduce the discomfort of tongue pain. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen, may help reduce swelling. For severe canker sores, a doctor may prescribe more potent corticosteroids to treat the swelling and pain.
When to visit a Doctor?
If you notice changes to your tongue (such as color changes, lumps, or sores) that last more than two weeks, visit a doctor or dentist. You should consult a doctor first if you have the following symptoms along with a sore tongue:
- Fever
- Rash
- Fatigue
- Bleeding gums
- White patches in the mouth
- Diarrhea
- Inability to eat or drink
- Blisters or sores on other parts of the body
Tongue problems caused by infections, such as oral yeast infection or syphilis, will probably need a prescription to get rid of the problem, so don't delay in making an appointment.
Home Remedies To Cure Tongue Sores
Many conditions can cause dysarthria, so it's challenging to prevent it. But you can lower your risk of dysarthria by adopting a healthy lifestyle that reduces your risk of stroke. For example:
- Brushing your teeth with a soft toothbrush, flossing, and mouthwash can help you get rid of the sore tongue and prevent infection.
- Aloe vera is known for its soothing properties for the skin. This also applies to the tongue. You can rinse your mouth with aloe juice several times a day.
- For pain and swelling, try rinsing your mouth with warm water and baking soda, which is helpful.
- Applying small amounts of magnesia milk, an acid neutralizer, to a sore tongue can help relieve pain and promote healing.
- Gargling with salt water is another way to reduce pain and inflammation and prevent infection.
- You can rub some honey directly on the sore area several times a day or drink hot honey tea.
- Ice has numbing properties, so drinking ice water or sucking on an ice cube or popsicle can help relieve tongue pain, including pain caused by dry mouth or burning mouth.
- Antacids are used to neutralize stomach acid and can help relieve burning or sore tongue, mainly if it is caused by acid reflux.
