Tongue Ulcers

This write-up will provide information on the common causes of tongue ulcers, along with the symptoms, treatment, and a few home remedies for the same.

Tongue ulcers are also known as liar's bumps. One way of treating this condition is to apply milk of magnesia (MOM) to the sore(s) 3 to 4 times a day. This helps relieve the pain and also speeds up the process of healing.

Mouth ulcers are categorized into canker sores (aphthous ulcers) and cold sores. This is a condition characterized by white spot-like lesions or ulcers on surface of the tongue, including sides. Tongue ulcers off-white colored -- not a severe type, although when they turn dark pink due to inflammation, it is a severe type with probable bleeding.

Canker sores are a very common type of mouth ulcers. These sores may also develop anywhere inside the mouth, like the cheeks, gums, palate, etc. More often than not, lesions appearing on the tongue are canker sores. Cold sores are mainly found on the lips, outer edge of the mouth, cheeks, and the gums.

While canker sores can be caused by various reasons, cold sores are caused by a viral infection. However, ulcers on the tongue may develop due to various other reasons too.

These ulcers can vary in size, and based on their diameter, they are further classified into minor ulcers (2 - 8 mm in diameter), major ulcers (diameter greater than 10 mm), and herpetiform ulcers (ulcers of 1 - 3 mm in diameter usually appearing in clusters).

In the mouth, the most painful and worst place to have a canker sore is on the tongue. The tongue is responsible for important functions -- senses the taste, directs the food; and the ulcers make all these actions difficult. They may appear in varying sizes or in clusters. There are a few avertable and non-avertable causes for these sores, mentioned here.

↬ Emotional stress
↬ Lack of sufficient sleep
↬ Hormonal imbalance
↬ Menstrual periods
↬ Food allergies
↬ Lack of oral hygiene
↬ Viral infections
↬ Genetic inheritance
↬ Sudden weight loss

↬ Bad reaction to citrus fruits
↬ Weakened immune system
↬ Use of certain medications (which one might be allergic to)
↬ Physical trauma (accidental biting or toothbrush abrasions)
↬ Strong toothpaste containing sodium lauryl sulfate
↬ Deficiency of certain vitamins (vitamin B-12 , iron, or folic acid)

Certain medical conditions and diseases associated with tongue sores are:

• Crohn's Disease - an inflammatory bowel disease
• Ulcerative Colitis - acute inflammatory disease of the large intestine
• Celiac Disease - an autoimmune intestinal disorder
• Behçet's Disease - an uncommon disorder of the blood vessels causing chronic inflammation

A few causes that are definitely avoidable are:

✘ Tobacco chewing
✘ Smoking
✘ Excess alcohol consumption
✘ Excessive intake of tea and coffee, spicy food, etc.
✘ Use of toothpaste and mouthwash containing harsh chemicals

Apart from canker sores, tongue ulcers can be caused by other conditions. They include:

Oral Thrush - It is characterized by yellowish white patches, that may sometimes transform into open sores or ulcers.

Oral Cancer - A malignant tumor of the lips causing small white lumps or white patches on the tongue.

Oral Lichen Planus - This is an inflammatory condition of the mucus membranes in the mouth, characterized by red patches and open sores.

Herpes Simplex - A herpes virus that causes the infection which affects the skin and the nervous system. It results in small impermanent blisters on the mucus membranes and the skin.

Gingivostomatitis - This can be described as a combination of both gingivitis and stomatitis. In this case, the gums as well as the mucus membranes of the mouth get inflamed, leading to sores inside the mouth, including the tongue and palate.

The various other symptoms depending upon the underlying conditions that accompany tongue ulcers may vary. In general, ulcers on the tongue may be accompanied by pain, a burning sensation and inflammation.

Oral indicants along with ulcers are:

↬ Sore throat
↬ Trouble swallowing
↬ Swollen tongue
↬ Inconvenience while speaking
↬ Bruising and bleeding
↬ Ulcers on other parts of the mouth

Lesser occurring symptoms related to the bodily systems accompanied by ulcers are:

• Body pain
• Fever
• Rashes
• Diarrhea
• Extreme fatigue and malaise
• Swollen lymph nodes

Note.- Immediate medical attention must be sought if there is high fever, breathing trouble, and sudden swelling of the throat and tongue.

The efficacious way to cure these very annoying tongue ulcers is to take B-complex tablets and vitamin supplements. Besides, topical application of glycerin on the affected area will help heal the bruises soon. There are over-the-counter products like Orajel and Anbesol, which contain benzocaine -- a numbing agent; this would help soothe the pain.

A few home remedies which alleviate irritation and cure the ulcers are mentioned here:

☛ Topical application of honey, butter or coconut oil on the ulcers will alleviate the ulcerative pain.
☛ Applying milk extracted from a banyan tree will rapidly heal the lesion. This should be done preferably in the morning and before bed at night, for two days minimum.

☛ Mix salt in warm water and rinse your mouth, this will keep stickiness due to ulcers away.
☛ Drink one teaspoon pure coconut oil regularly for few days, as this will cure stomach ulcers, which would heal ulcers.
☛ Munch on some ripe papayas, bananas, or green apples, till the sores vanish. This too has proved to be very effective in treating tongue sores.

☛ Crush some fig tree leaves, mix it with honey, and apply this mixture on the lesions for quick relief.

☛ Include plenty of yogurt in your daily diet, as it contains acidophilus (a bacterium) which stimulates the immune system.

As mentioned earlier, the treatment may vary according to the underlying cause. In most cases, these ulcers are caused by simple reasons like a tooth abrasion, intake of hot food or the use of certain medications. In such cases, the condition may subside within a few days.

However, an underlying cause like an infection, vitamin deficiency, etc., requires medical intervention. You must consult your doctor if these ulcers are persistent or recurrent in nature. Those who experience severe and additional symptoms must also get themselves checked.

Now here's something to make you feel special until the sores vanish, Shakespeare wrote that "Loathsome canker lives in the sweetest bud." :)

Disclaimer: This post is purely for informative purposes, and should not be treated as a replacement for professional medical advice.