Painful Tongue Sores

The tongue is one of the most sensitive parts of our body, and so, tongue diseases or problems can be quite uncomfortable. The development of sores can be considered one of the most common conditions that affects the tongue. Tongue sores may or may not be painful, and some sores can produce a stinging or burning sensation along with pain. Several different factors can cause the development of such painful sores in the mouth.

The painful sores that usually develop on the tongue are known as canker sores. These sores appear as small, white sores with a red border or edge. Usually, such sores are caused by a minor injury or trauma to the tongue, like an accidental bite or a burn received while consuming hot food or liquid. An injury caused by the braces or ill-fitting dentures can also cause the development of painful canker sores on the tongue.

Sometimes, substances like sodium lauryl sulfate, which is found in many toothpastes, can irritate the tissues of the tongue, and cause the development of painful sores. Painful mouth sores can sometimes develop due to an allergy to a particular food or medication. The consumption of highly acidic and spicy food can also cause the development of painful tongue blisters in some individuals.

Apart from these, it has been observed that people with peptic or stomach ulcers can get painful tongue ulcers more frequently. Occasionally, the enlarged papillae or swollen taste buds can also look like sores. Certain factors, such as eating hot, spicy, and salty food, and the exposure to substances like tobacco can irritate the taste buds, and cause the appearance of some really painful bumps or sores.

In addition to these, some other important causes are, viral or bacterial infections, cold sores, nutritional deficiencies, especially the deficiency of vitamin B12, iron, and folic acid, hormonal fluctuations, smoking, excessive use of alcohol, and tuberculosis. Tongue sores are usually not cancerous, especially if they are painful. Cancerous sores or bumps appear on one side of the tongue, and they are painless and hard to touch.

Tongue and mouth sores usually resolve on their own, without requiring any medical intervention. However, they can cause a lot of pain and discomfort while eating and brushing your teeth. To prevent irritation, be sure to avoid acidic, spicy, and hot food and liquid, until the sores heal.

To relieve the pain caused by tongue blisters, you can use some simple home remedies. One such home remedy is saline water. You can use saline water several times a day as a mouthwash or as an oral rinse.

You can also put ice on the affected area, which can help reduce the pain and accelerate the healing process. Like saline water, diluted vinegar can be used as an oral rinse. Another remedy is tea bags. Wet tea bags placed on the sores can effectively relieve the pain and inflammation.

Baking soda can also be used to cure this condition. Mix baking soda with water to make a paste, and apply this paste directly on the sores. Leave it for about 5 to 10 minutes, and then rinse it off with clean water.

Apart from these, you can employ some other home remedies, like clove oil, tea tree oil, lemon balm, chamomile, papaya leaves, honey, and licorice root extract to get rid of painful tongue blisters. But if the sores are extremely painful, and they occur in large clusters, then it is better to seek the help of your physician to identify and address the underlying causes.

For treating painful canker sores, physicians may recommend corticosteroid medications. On the other hand, antiviral medications can be required to treat cold sores that develop on the tongue, if they do not heal on their own within a couple of days.

If your tongue sores are extremely painful, hard or lumpy, or if they look a bit weird, then consider to visit your physician or dentist. Sometimes, such sores can be caused by certain underlying health problems, which should be properly evaluated to ensure prompt treatment and recovery.

Disclaimer: This story is for informative purposes only, and should not be treated as a substitute for professional medical advice.