What do sores on your tongue mean

Other symptoms include red or white patches in your mouth or burning while eating or drinking. You may even develop painful red gums with this condition. Treatment may be ongoing. These sores begin as round, raised areas of irritation. They may last anywhere from one to three weeks and may return with time.

This condition is a type of inflammation of the tongue. It can cause pain, irritation, or a burning sensation. Your tongue may become smooth and even glossy in appearance because your taste buds have atrophied.

This condition is usually related to nutritional deficiencies, like vitamin B deficiency or anemia, or even celiac disease. Do you take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, like naproxen Aleve , or beta-blockers? Some studies have suggested that these medications may make your tongue sore by causing ulcers. Mouthwashes may also irritate your tongue and make it sore.

Though rare, pemphigus vulgaris is a disorder that can cause painful sores in your mouth or on your genitals. These sores may show up as blisters in your mouth. They may rupture and ooze and become infected. You may even find it difficult to eat or swallow. Treatment usually involves different medications or therapies like those that are used to treat severe burns. Another rare cause of tongue pain is oral cancer. Again, there are many reasons you may have a sore tongue — cancer is only a remote possibility.

In people with chronic dry mouth, the tongue can become dry and fissured, and can easily develop ulcers and infections. Call your doctor or dentist if you notice any changes in your tongue that concern you. These changes may include anything from a change in color, lumps, and sores to pain that continues for two weeks or longer.

Learn about the types, causes, and diagnosis of tongue problems. A tongue bump or sore can be caused by various conditions, ranging from enlarged papillae to mouth cancer.

Find out what these bumps mean and how to…. Burning your tongue can be painful and frustrating. Drinking hot liquids and eating hot foods can put you at risk of burning your tongue. However, the following tips may help people with minor, temporary sores. It is not always possible to prevent cold sores, but some people find that tiredness or stress can trigger flare-ups.

If this is the case, it may help to stick to a regular sleep schedule where possible or to practice stress-relieving activities, such as mindfulness or yoga. Drinking alcohol also raises the risk. Stopping smoking and drinking lowers the risk of oral cancer. Many tongue sores are canker sores or cold sores. These are relatively harmless conditions that can cause pain and discomfort but will typically heal on their own.

People can take OTC medications or try topical remedies for symptom relief. Recurring sores on the side of the tongue may indicate an underlying condition. In these cases, a doctor or dentist can help determine the cause and put a treatment plan in place. Canker sores can appear on the tongue. Learn more about tongue ulcers, including their symptoms, causes, and treatment, and how to identify them. A cold sore usually occurs due to an infection with HSV It can occasionally form on the tongue.

Learn about the causes, symptoms, and treatment…. A canker sore on the tongue may cause discomfort, but it will usually heal without treatment. Possible causes include mouth injuries and certain oral…. A range of health issues can cause blisters to form on the tongue. Some are harmless and resolve on their own, while others need treatment. Learn more…. Learn about some of the causes of bumps under the tongue, including salivary stones and oral mucous cysts, and how doctors diagnose and treat them.

Causes of a sore on the side of the tongue. Signs and symptoms. The reasons for it might be anything from…. A tongue bump or sore can be caused by various conditions, ranging from enlarged papillae to mouth cancer. Find out what these bumps mean and how to…. Here's what may be behind a scalloped tongue, also known as a wavy tongue.

Learn about the causes and treatments for this symptom. Learn more about the different causes of a yellow tongue and what you can do to treat it. A tingling tongue usually isn't anything to worry about and will clear up soon.

But what if it doesn't? Here's what may be causing it and when to see…. Burning your tongue can be painful and frustrating. Drinking hot liquids and eating hot foods can put you at risk of burning your tongue.

Learn more…. Macroglossia is usually caused by an underlying condition, or it could be present at birth without an underlying cause. It should be treated by a…. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Tongue Problems. Symptoms of tongue problems. Recurrent aphthous ulcerations. American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology. Mouth sores and inflammation. The Merck Manual Home Edition.

Recurrent aphthous stomatitis. Goldstein BG, et al. Oral lesions. Stoopler ET, et al. Oral mucosal diseases: Evaluation and management. Medical Clinics of North American. Belenguer-Guallar I, et al. Treatment of recurrent aphthous stomatitis: A literature review. Journal of Clinical Experimental Dentistry.