The tongue is a powerful muscular organ in the mouth floor extending back to the pharynx. The organ helps with chewing, speaking, and swallowing. If you have issues with the mouth, they might manifest through the tongue’s appearance and sensation. A sore or mouth ulcer is one symptom of a problem with the mouth that can manifest through the tongue. It can appear on the tongue's sides, tip, or back.
Ulcers on the tongue can be very uncomfortable, but some can go away without medical intervention. However, they could indicate an underlying health problem if they are persistent. If you have a sore tongue that does not seem to go away, you want to understand why it has developed and when it is appropriate to consult a dental expert. Here are the common causes of a sore tongue.
Physical Trauma or Injuries
Injuries or physical trauma are the most prevalent cause of sores on the tongue. The injuries can develop when you accidentally bite your tongue while sleeping or biting. Besides, you can injure your tongue when consuming a hot substance, food, or drink that burns the tissue. Scraping it with a sharp tooth or a crisp substance can also lead to tongue injuries.
When not appropriately fitted, dental devices like dentures tend to rub against the tongue, causing sores. Again, broken braces or fractured natural teeth can injure the tongue. If you suffer from bruxism, also called teeth grinding or clenching, you can develop a sore tongue because of the continuous pressure applied to the tongue.
If the trauma on the tongue is severe, you should seek immediate medical attention. Nevertheless, you can manage minor injuries from home without seeking treatment, but you might experience pain or discomfort when eating or drinking. You can apply topical pain medication to the sore to relieve the pain.
Oral Thrush or Yeast Infection
Oral thrush or candidiasis is a fungal or yeast infection caused by Candida that affects the mouth or throat. The symptoms of the condition include tinny lesions that are creamy and appear on the top of the upper surface of the tongue. Besides, oral thrush could manifest as cottage-cheese-like white patches, taste loss, pain, or redness in the mouth. The condition is common in:
- Infants younger than a month
- Diabetes patients
- Denture patients
- Individuals with a weak immune system
- Individuals who have recently used antibiotics
- Patients on inhaled corticosteroids for asthma management
- Smokers
When you notice ulcers on your tongue that point to an oral thrush, you should consult a medical expert immediately for diagnosis and treatment. If your dental expert confirms that the sores are due to a fungal infection, they will administer antifungal drugs.
Mineral Deficiencies
Another cause of a sore tongue is a deficiency of minerals and vitamins. Vitamin B12 deficiency causes glossitis, which causes the tongue to turn red, smooth, and painful. Glossitis can also be caused by iron deficiency. A deficiency in vitamin B9, responsible for a healthy tongue, predisposes this muscular organ in the mouth to various problems, including sores.
When you notice the symptoms of glossitis, visit your dental clinic for a thorough examination and treatment. Your dentist or doctor will recommend eating a more balanced diet. The medical expert can also prescribe supplements or vitamin injections. Once the mineral deficiency is fixed, the tongue problems disappear.
Mouth Ulcers
Also called canker sores, mouth ulcers are tiny, painful sores that form on the tongue. The symptoms of mouth ulcers. They manifest differently depending on the cause. The symptoms of the condition are:
- Tiny sores initially manifest as a red lump, which develops white or gray patches in the middle and is flat and red on the edges.
- Pain and soreness on the tongue
- The symptoms become exacerbated when you consume acidic or salty substances
Mouth sores have several causes, including:
- Vital infections
- Stress or anxiety
- Taking sharp or hard substances
- Vitamin B12 deficiency
- Iron deficiency
- Particular medications, like NSAIDS
- Intolerance or allergic reaction to particular foods or dental hygiene products
- Chronic illnesses, like celiac disease
- Minor physical traumas, like biting the tongue when eating
A canker sore can go away without medical attention within one or two weeks. However, some can be stubborn, lasting even months.
Mouth ulcers are usually painful; having them for days can devastate your life. However, you can alleviate the pain using over-the-counter medications, like acetaminophen. You apply the drug on the mouth ulcer to enable you to go about activities, like chewing and swallowing, which can trigger pain when you have canker sores.
When the mouth ulcers become frequent, it could be a significant underlying health issue, such as diabetes or mineral deficiency. So seek medical attention from a dental or medical practitioner.
Allergens or Food Intolerance
Certain foods irritate or inflame the tongue, a sign of oral allergy syndrome (OAS). When you suffer from OAS, particular vegetables, nuts, or fruits, when consumed, can cause an allergic reaction in the mouth and throat. These foods cause an allergic reaction because they contain proteins with a structure similar to pollen proteins. The body cannot differentiate between the structures, resulting in environmental allergy symptoms. OAS symptoms are prevalent in specific periods of the year when pollen levels are elevated.
Because many OAS symptoms are triggered by pollen, OAS is also called pollen-fruit or food syndrome. Foods that trigger the allergy include bananas, carrots, apples, cherries, sunflower seeds, peaches, oranges, fresh herbs, cucumbers, tree nuts, and zucchinis.
When you suffer from OAS and take any of these foods, you might experience an allergic reaction. Fortunately, the allergy is not fatal; it only affects the mouth and throat area.
The syndrome’s symptoms vary from one patient to another and are often concentrated around the oral cavity. Apart from having a sore tongue, other symptoms that you may experience due to food intolerance are:
- Itchy or tingling tongue
- Itchy or tingling mouth roof
- Numb or inflamed lips, tongue, or mouth
- A scratchy throat
- Nasal congestion
The most effective way to prevent food allergies or manage the symptoms is to eliminate the trigger foods from your diet. If you cannot avoid these foods, you can minimize the OAS symptoms they trigger by:
- Purchasing canned fruits and vegetables
- Peeling the skin from fruits and vegetables before eating removes the pollen proteins often found on the skin.
- Prepare your vegetables or other trigger foods using heat to alter the protein structure and eliminate the allergens.
Additionally, you can manage the symptoms through OTC medications, such as antihistamines, which are used to treat environmental allergies like hay fever. Allegra and Benadryl can also alleviate itching and a scratchy throat.
If your food allergy symptoms do not go past the throat, you can manage them without seeing a dentist or doctor. However, you should seek treatment when your symptoms persist or become severe.
Smoking
The chemicals and heat produced when smoking can directly irritate the tongue, causing pain. Tobacco contains many irritants, and persistent exposure to these chemicals and the heat can lead to continuous irritation of the tongue tissue.
Similarly, smoking causes chronic inflammation in the body, which affects even the tongue. So, this causes continuous soreness in the tongue and increases susceptibility to other oral concerns due to the change in cell composition.
Also, tobacco contains nicotine. When you smoke, the chemical narrows the blood vessels, limiting blood flow to the soft tissue and tongue. With reduced blood flow, the tissues are prone to infections. Again, minor cuts on the tongue take longer to heal because of the restricted blood flow, hence, pain in the tongue.
Your tongue has papillae, which are small bumps. Smoking causes the inflammation of the bumps, causing them to trap harmful bacteria and food particles. If this continues for some time, you develop a white layer on the tongue and experience soreness.
Additionally, smoking increases the risk of oral cancer, gum disease, tooth damage, abrasion, and oral thrush, all of which are associated with a sore tongue.
Tongue soreness, even in smokers, should disappear in a few days. However, you should consult your dentist or doctor for a diagnosis and treatment when the symptoms persist. Quitting smoking is the most effective way to manage tongue soreness. Nevertheless, it is not an easy journey. If you are struggling to stop, you can seek counseling or join a local quit smoking group. Alternatively, you can try nicotine replacement therapy or smoking cessation drugs.
Burning Tongue or Mouth Syndrome
Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is a condition that causes a burning sensation in the tongue, lips, palate, cheeks, or gums. When you develop the symptoms, it feels like you have seared the tongue.
BMS can be a sign of several oral conditions. Therefore, visiting your dentist or medical expert for a diagnosis is advisable. Your dentist will run an oral swab, salivary flow test, blood test, or allergy test to determine the source of the condition. If the tests show that you do not have an underlying condition, you will be diagnosed with primary BMS. You will be diagnosed with secondary BMS if you are diagnosed with dry mouth, hormonal changes, mouth infection, acid reflux, or allergies.
If your doctor identifies the cause of BMS, they will address the symptoms by treating the underlying cause. For acid reflux, the doctor will administer medication to regulate stomach acid, like PPIs and antacids. The dentist will prescribe vitamins or supplements to increase saliva production if you have dry mouth. For mouth infections, the dental expert will prescribe pain relievers and antibiotics.
If you have a primary BMS, or the burning is not caused by an underlying condition. It will resolve on its own. However, you can minimize the tongue soreness by:
- Steer clear of acidic foods
- Take cold drinks throughout the day for relief
- Avoid beverages and foods that exacerbate or cause burning
- Change your toothpaste if the burning on the tongue increases after you brush
- Reduce stress levels through exercise, meditation, or yoga
Oral Lichen Planus
Lichen planus is an autoimmune disease that causes itchy skin on the oral cavity's mucous membrane and tongue. The symptoms of the condition include:
- Painful ulcers
- Inflamed gums
- Changes in the color of the tongue
- Bright-red swollen patches that later develop into ulcerations
- White, tender, lacy, and raised patches that mimic a spiderweb
The red and inflamed lesions are usually painful. They can cause pain on the tongue, discomfort when eating or speaking, increased sensitivity to hot, spicy, and acidic substances, and gingival tissue inflammation.
Apart from autoimmune disorders, lichen planus can be caused by oral infections, mouth trauma, allergic reactions to dental products or foods, or certain drugs.
When you notice lichen planus symptoms, you should see your dentist immediately for a thorough oral examination and diagnosis. In the initial examination, the dentist will examine your mouth and throat. Additionally, they will ask about your symptoms and explore the areas with lesions. In severe cases, they can order a biopsy of the lesions. Oral swab tests could also be necessary to identify secondary infections.
Lichen planus is a chronic disease, meaning your dentist can only manage the symptoms, as there is no cure. The available treatments for managing the condition are:
- Immune response drugs
- Oral corticosteroids
- Topical corticosteroids that are applied directly to the area with lesions
Alternatively, you can make a few lifestyle adjustments to manage your symptoms. The changes include lowering stress levels, exercising, eating a balanced diet, and switching to mild toothpaste.
Oral Cancer
The pain in your tongue could also be due to oral cancer. In the early stages, oral cancer has no visible symptoms, so you are encouraged to visit a dentist regularly for oral examination. During these visits, if the dentist notices a lump or sore on the tongue that is persistent or does not disappear in weeks, even if you are not experiencing discomfort, the dentist could refer you to an oncologist for an oral cancer test.
Find an Experienced Dental Practitioner Near Me
You should see your dentist or doctor immediately if you notice lumps, blisters, unexplained discomfort, or color changes on the tongue. The symptoms could indicate an underlying condition that you must identify and treat early before it becomes severe. At Tarzana Dental Care, we will conduct a thorough examination and accurate diagnosis to ensure we administer the proper treatment to manage or treat your sore tongue. Call us at 818-708-3232 to schedule an appointment.