Ask Your Family Dentist: What’s Wrong with My Tongue?

Do you have a sore tongue and are worried about it? Tongues can be painful for many reasons. We get questions about it at our local family dental practice. The good news is it’s usually not serious,  but it’s best to be sure by understanding the common causes of sore tongue.

Infection

The soreness might stem from enlarged papillae on your tongue. Papillae are white or red bumps, sometimes called lie bumps or transient lingual papillitis. Enlarged papillae typically mean your taste buds are swollen. It can be fairly painful but usually heals in a few days.

It’s also common to develop oral thrush, a yeast infection on your tongue. The white patches look like cottage cheese. Oral thrush often occurs in babies and older people or after you’ve taken antibiotics.

Food Allergy or Sensitivity

Your tongue might hurt because it’s developed a food or oral allergy. Also known as pollen-food syndrome, this allergy is usually a reaction to raw fruits, vegetables, and certain tree nuts. Symptoms include itchy tongue, scratchy throat, or tongue swelling.

Oral allergies are common among older children, teens, and younger adults, but some cases can be severe. Your doctor may recommend carrying an epinephrine auto-injector in case you get a severe allergic reaction.

Oral Lichen Planus

Oral lichen planus is a raised network of white lines on your tongue with a lace-like appearance. Pinpointing the cause of this condition can be difficult, but it usually goes away on its own. Doctors recommend abstaining from tobacco and irritating foods. Also, keep up your good oral hygiene regimen and consider using mouthwash.

Smoking

Among several other health issues, smoking can cause tongue pain, even after you’ve stopped. Smoking has been linked with oral cancer, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If your tongue pain persists and you think it’s related to smoking, talk to your doctor. Twice-yearly dental checkups allow you to get regular oral cancer screenings.

Vitamin Deficiency or Anemia

A sore tongue may also result from a lack of vitamin B12, iron, or folate, signaled by a beefy, red color. You and your tongue may feel better with a well-balanced diet, supplements, or vitamin injections.

Scarlet Fever

If you have a strawberry red tongue and a fever, you may suffer from scarlet fever. If the fever is high, contact a doctor immediately. Treating scarlet fever with antibiotics immediately is usually sufficient, but your condition will become serious if you ignore it.

When to Contact a Dental Expert

Most tongue conditions are painful but temporary. Practicing good dental hygiene and eating a healthy diet will improve your symptoms. If your sore tongue doesn’t get better or you develop a fever, call your doctor. In the meantime, talk to your Cincinnati family dental care provider about identifying common mouth conditions and practicing better oral care. You can also contact us at Beckham Square Family Dental to schedule your next checkup and professional cleaning close to home.