What Causes Tongue Sores?

by Abbas Jahangir · June 22, 2024

Tongue sores are a health problem that is very common in society and can make speaking and eating difficult.

What Causes Tongue Sores?

Tongue sores can occur due to many reasons. Common causes of tongue sores:

Trauma

Biting the tongue is a very painful situation. Hot foods or drinks can also burn the tongue and cause blisters. Behaviors such as teeth grinding are among other reasons that can cause sores on the edge of the tongue. Just like when you hit your hand or arm, tongue injuries caused by trauma may not heal immediately. Pain and discomfort in the tongue may continue until the wound heals.

inflammation

Swelling may occur in the taste buds on the tongue. Swollen taste buds can appear as red or white bumps on the tongue. This swelling in the taste buds can be quite painful. Taste buds usually return to normal within a few days.

Thrush is a fungal infection that can cause pain in the tongue. Thrush lesions appear as white patches on the tongue. This infection is especially common in babies, the elderly, oral denture users, and people with weakened immune systems. The likelihood of thrush is also increased in people who have recently used antibiotic drugs or use steroid inhalers for asthma treatment.

Wounds on the tongue; It may develop due to hand-mouth-foot disease, Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infection and syphilis. These diseases can cause sores to develop inside the mouth and on the tip of the tongue.

Mouth Ulcer

If the pain in the mouth concentrates on a specific point, a wound may have formed on the tongue due to a mouth ulcer. Mouth ulcer sores are round or oval in shape. Mouth ulcer; It can occur due to a wide range of reasons, from stress to biting the tongue, from eating hard foods to hormonal changes. Aphthous ulcers can cause sores under the tongue.

Mouth ulcers heal within a few weeks, even without treatment. In the meantime, painkillers can be taken to reduce wound-related pain.

Food Allergies

Oral allergy syndrome is a food sensitivity triggered by the consumption of various plant-based foods, especially raw vegetables, fruits and nuts. Oral food allergy can cause swelling of the tongue, lips and mouth. In addition, it may cause symptoms such as itching and tickling in the throat and tongue pain. Oral allergy syndrome usually begins in childhood or adolescence.

Vitamin and Mineral Deficiencies

In vitamin B12, iron and folate deficiency, the tongue may be smooth and painful. In B12 deficiency, the tongue turns bright red. In zinc deficiency, burning sensation may be felt in the mouth. Vitamin and mineral deficiencies can lead to wound formation on the tongue.

Lichen Planus

Lichen planus is a chronic dermatological disease that causes an itchy rash on the skin. Lichen planus can cause white, lace-like sores to form on the tongue. This disease can cause redness and pain in the gums. Due to lichen planus, white or red lesions that cause a burning sensation may occur in the mouth.

Behcet ‘s disease

Behçet’s disease is a disorder that causes inflammation of the blood vessels in the body. This disease causes aphtha on the tongue and mouth. These canker sores are initially round and may enlarge over time.

Although oral aphthous ulcers due to Behcet’s disease usually regress spontaneously within a few weeks, care should be taken because they may reoccur over time.

Moeller Glossitis

In Moeller glossitis, the taste buds on the tongue atrophy. Taste buds are structures that appear as small bumps on the tongue. Taste buds that become atrophic (shrink, extinguish) lose their swelling. Therefore, the tongue appears smooth. Moeller glossitis can cause pain, irritation and a burning sensation in the tongue.

Pemphigus Vulgaris

Pemphigus vulgaris is a chronic disease that causes sores in the mouth and genital area. Pemphigus vulgaris can cause small blistered vesicles to form on the tongue. These skin lesions can burst and become infected over time, making it difficult for the patient to eat and swallow.

Oral Cancer

Oral cancer has many symptoms such as tongue sores, tongue pain, and bleeding lesions. Oral cancer can make it difficult to eat and swallow things. If the sore on the tongue does not go away for two weeks and there is no reason that could cause a sore, a doctor should be consulted. Early diagnosis of oral cancer increases the likelihood of treatment success.

Sjögren’s Syndrome

Sjögren’s syndrome is an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation in the salivary and tear glands. This syndrome causes chronic dryness in the mouth and eyes. Chronic dry mouth can cause the tongue to become dry and cracked. The tongue, whose surface integrity is disrupted, becomes vulnerable to infection and ulcer formation.

What is Good for Tongue Wounds?

Many people with sores on their tongues ask, “How can the sore on the tongue be healed?” he asks. There are simple treatments that can be done at home for wounds on the tongue. These practices help the wound heal faster and relieve the pain caused by the wound.

Applications that are good for tongue wounds:

Paying Attention to Oral Hygiene: Keeping the inside of the mouth clean contributes to faster healing of the tongue wound. Brushing your teeth and using mouthwash are among the practices that can reduce the risk of the wound becoming infected.
Sucking Ice: Sucking ice in the mouth can help reduce pain and discomfort caused by the wound. Care should be taken not to bite the ice while it is being sucked. This may cause the tooth enamel to crack or the tooth to break.
Gargling with Salt Water: Salt water accelerates wound healing by reducing the risk of infection in the wound. To prepare gargle water, it will be enough to add half a teaspoon of salt to a glass of warm water and mix it.
Be Careful in Food Selection: Spicy, salty, sour and acidic foods can irritate the tongue. Foods with sharp edges, such as potato chips, can also cause injury to the tongue. People with wounds on their tongue should stay away from such foods until the wound heals.

If there is a tongue wound that does not heal with these applications carried out with the knowledge and recommendation of physicians, or if the following symptoms are observed, you should seek support from physicians by applying to healthcare institutions:

The wound becomes larger than normal
Having more than one mouth sore
New wounds occur before old tongue wounds heal
Tongue sore not healing for a period of two weeks
Tongue sore that spreads from tongue to lips
Extremely painful wound formation
Having problems eating and drinking due to the wound on the tongue
Tongue wound accompanied by fever symptom

How is Tongue Wound Treatment?

If the treatments that are good for the tongue wound are not sufficient for the wound to heal, doctors may resort to drug treatment. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen can be used to relieve pain in the tongue. In more severe cases, corticosteroid medications may be preferred to reduce pain and swelling in the tongue.

Topical gels are medicines that are applied to the wound. These medications can be applied to the wound and numb the relevant area. Additionally, the gel acts as a barrier between the wound and the mouth, preventing further irritation of the wound. Prescription mouthwash solutions can also be used to relieve pain caused by tongue sores. People who experience dry mouth may experience problems such as thrush. To prevent this situation, medications that increase saliva production can be prescribed. Antibiotics are used in the treatment of wounds caused by bacterial infection.

Tongue sores can occur due to many different reasons. Most of the time, tongue sores do not cause any serious problems and go away on their own. However, it should not be forgotten that conditions such as persistent tongue sores may also be a symptom of a serious condition such as oral cancer. It is recommended that individuals who complain of long-lasting tongue sores contact the nearest health center and have the necessary check-ups. We wish you healthy days.