Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsOverviewAllergiesTraumaBurning Mouth SyndromeNeuralgiaOral ThrushTongue Cancer
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Overview
Allergies
Trauma
Burning Mouth Syndrome
Neuralgia
Oral Thrush
Tongue Cancer
A sore tongue and throat can have a number of possible causes. Most are not serious, such as allergies, minor trauma, and oral thrush. In some cases, however, a sore throat and tongue may have a more serious cause, such as cancer.
Finding the cause of your sore throat or tongue can be imperative in deciding what, if any, treatment you might need.
Jessica Olah / Verywell
Sore Tongue and Throat Overview
Most of the time, a sore tongue and throat aren’t something to be concerned about. Typical causes include trauma, such as a burned tongue, or a mild allergic reaction to something in the air or something you ate.
Sometimes, however, a sore tongue and throat can be a sign of a more serious problem. If you have a lump, persistent sore throat, open wound, or color change that doesn’t go away after a couple of weeks, see your healthcare provider.
1. Allergies
Allergies to substances such asmold, pollen, dust, or dander cancause a sore throat. Occasionallyfood allergiesmay cause symptoms that affect the tongue, including itchiness or tongue swelling (this sometimes occurs during a severe and dangerous allergic reaction calledanaphylaxis).
Symptoms
Symptoms of allergies may include:
Symptoms of anaphylaxis may include:
You should call 911 or go to the emergency room if you have symptoms of anaphylaxis as this is a life-threatening condition that needs to be treated promptly and professionally.
Causes
Allergies are common and often hereditary.Allergy symptoms occur when the immune system overreacts to a certain substance (called a trigger), such as pollen, food, or pet dander. Most of the symptoms occur when the immune system releases a substance called histamine.
Treatment
The underlying condition may benefit from treatment withantihistamines, most of which are also available over-the-counter, although it is recommended that you consult your healthcare provider about which product to use. Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening illness that requires emergency medical attention.
Why are there red spots on the back of my throat?Strep throat is known to cause the formation of small red spots in the mouth and throat. These spots are known aspetechiae. Other strep throat symptoms can include the sudden appearance of sore throat, fever, painful swallowing, swollenlymph nodeson the neck, and red or swollen tonsils that can show white spots of pus.
Why are there red spots on the back of my throat?
Strep throat is known to cause the formation of small red spots in the mouth and throat. These spots are known aspetechiae. Other strep throat symptoms can include the sudden appearance of sore throat, fever, painful swallowing, swollenlymph nodeson the neck, and red or swollen tonsils that can show white spots of pus.
2. Trauma
Injuries from a variety of sources can result in a sore tongue and throat.
Biting your tongue or burning your tongue or throat while consuming hot foods or liquids may cause a sore tongue and/or throat. While it is more common to burn only your tongue when eating or drinking, cases have been reported of burning the throat or esophagus with food and drink as well.
If you are experiencing a sore throat from GERD, it’s best treated in consultation with a qualified healthcare provider. Antacid medications andproton pump inhibitorsare frequently used. Elevating your head while you sleep can also help with nighttime GERD symptoms.
3. Burning Mouth Syndrome
Burning mouth syndromeis a very complex illness that mostly affects people over the age of 60, especially those who have gone throughmenopause.If you suspect this may be the cause of your sore tongue or throat, talk with a healthcare professional.
Symptoms of burning mouth syndrome may include:
Symptoms of burning mouth syndrome can manifest quite suddenly or can gradually appear over time.
The causes of burning mouth syndrome can be numerous and difficult to identify. Some conditions known to contribute to burning mouth syndrome include:
Medications used to reduce blood pressure can cause burning mouth syndrome (BMS). When a drug is identified as the cause of BMS, a doctor may prescribe a different medicine.
Treatment for burning mouth syndrome depends on the underlying cause. It may involve:
Treatment will not be the same for everyone. The most effective therapies will depend on a person’s symptoms.For example, a fungal infection needs to be treated with anti-fungal medication, and hormone imbalances and vitamin deficiencies must be corrected.
Other less common treatment methods may be aimed at blocking the pain receptors through electrical devices or with the use of topical medications, behavioral or lifestyle changes, or counseling if stress or psychological issues are thought to be a contributing factor.
4. Neuralgia
Glossopharyngeal neuralgiais a condition that causes severe nerve pain in the tongue, throat, and sometimes the ear.
Symptoms may include:
Over-the-counter medications such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen are not very effective for neuralgia. Instead, your healthcare provider may recommend:
5. Oral Thrush
It is also common for newborns to develop thrush.
Mild thrush can be treated with OTC acidophilus pills. Eating yogurt may also help restore the healthy balance of bacteria in your mouth.
If you have a more severe case of oral thrush, your healthcare provider may recommend:
6. Tongue Cancer
Oral cancer involving the tongue is one of the most common types ofhead and neck cancer. Traditionallycancer of the tonguehas occurred more frequently in males of older age who have a history of drinking alcohol or smoking tobacco.
In recent years, although the overall incidence of tongue cancer has been decreasing, this type of cancer has increased in incidence among younger women who do not have a history of drinking alcohol or using tobacco.Tongue cancer has also been increasing in younger patients due to exposure to thehuman papillomavirus(HPV).
The most common and first noticed symptom of tongue cancer is usually a sore on the tongue that does not go away.This sore may hurt and may bleed easily. Other symptoms may include:
It is not always possible to identify the exact cause of tongue cancer. Still, certain risk factors are associated with this type of malignancy, including alcohol and tobacco use, inadequate oral hygiene, andhuman papillomavirus infection.
This type of cancer is highly associated with smoking. The overall incidence of the disease has decreased, and this is thought to coincide with fewer people who are smoking cigarettes.
Tongue cancer is highly associated with smoking. The overall incidence of the condition has decreased and is thought to coincide with fewer people who are smoking cigarettes.
The treatment for tongue cancer depends on the stage of cancer at the time of diagnosis.If caught early, surgery may be the only treatment necessary.
The extent of surgery required depends on the size of the tumor, whether more than one tumor is found, or if there is localized spread of the cancer. Depending on how much of the tongue is affected, reconstruction may be necessary to preserve speech and the ability to swallow.
Later stages of the disease usually require several types of treatment. Depending on where the cancer is found, surgery or combinations of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy may be necessary.
Summary
Several medical conditions can cause you to experience a sore throat along with a sore tongue. Most are not serious and will resolve on their own or can be treated with the help of your healthcare provider.
If you have a sore in your mouth that isn’t healing on its own, see your healthcare provider. Though it is much less common than conditions such as allergies or oral thrush, sometimes oral cancer can cause you to experience a sore throat and tongue.
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22 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Harvard Health Publishing.Allergy overview.American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Anaphylaxis.American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Who has allergies?Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About strep throat.Pinther S, Codino J, Rubin A.Laryngeal burn from a sweet potato: A case report.SMRJ. 2020;4(2). doi:10.51894/001c.11641InformedHealth.org [Internet]. Cologne, Germany: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG).Heartburn and GERD: Overview.Kaiser Permanente.Tongue injury: Care instructions.Albarqouni L, Moynihan R, Clark J, Scott AM, Duggan A, Del Mar C.Head of bed elevation to relieve gastroesophageal reflux symptoms: A systematic review.BMC Fam Pract. 2021;22(1):24. doi:10.1186/s12875-021-01369-0National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.Burning mouth syndrome.Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center.Burning mouth syndrome.Cleveland Clinic.Burning mouth.National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.Burning mouth syndrome.National Institutes of Health (NIH).Burning Mouth Syndrome.Mayfield Brain & Spine.Glossopharyngeal neuralgia (throat pain).Park JS, Ahn YH.Glossopharyngeal neuralgia.J Korean Neurosurg Soc. 2023;66(1):12-23. doi:10.3340/jkns.2022.0178National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke.Glossopharyngeal neuralgia information page.National Library of Medicine.Thrush - children and adults.Kato MG, Baek CH, Chaturvedi P, et al.Update on oral and oropharyngeal cancer staging - International perspectives.World J Otorhinolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2020;6(1):66-75. doi:10.1016/j.wjorl.2019.06.001American Cancer Society.Risk factors for oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers.American Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer.Kato MG, Baek CH, Chaturvedi P, et al.Update on oral and oropharyngeal cancer staging - International perspectives.World J Otorhinolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2020;6(1):66-75. doi:10.1016/j.wjorl.2019.06.001American Cancer Society.Treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Harvard Health Publishing.Allergy overview.American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Anaphylaxis.American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Who has allergies?Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About strep throat.Pinther S, Codino J, Rubin A.Laryngeal burn from a sweet potato: A case report.SMRJ. 2020;4(2). doi:10.51894/001c.11641InformedHealth.org [Internet]. Cologne, Germany: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG).Heartburn and GERD: Overview.Kaiser Permanente.Tongue injury: Care instructions.Albarqouni L, Moynihan R, Clark J, Scott AM, Duggan A, Del Mar C.Head of bed elevation to relieve gastroesophageal reflux symptoms: A systematic review.BMC Fam Pract. 2021;22(1):24. doi:10.1186/s12875-021-01369-0National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.Burning mouth syndrome.Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center.Burning mouth syndrome.Cleveland Clinic.Burning mouth.National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.Burning mouth syndrome.National Institutes of Health (NIH).Burning Mouth Syndrome.Mayfield Brain & Spine.Glossopharyngeal neuralgia (throat pain).Park JS, Ahn YH.Glossopharyngeal neuralgia.J Korean Neurosurg Soc. 2023;66(1):12-23. doi:10.3340/jkns.2022.0178National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke.Glossopharyngeal neuralgia information page.National Library of Medicine.Thrush - children and adults.Kato MG, Baek CH, Chaturvedi P, et al.Update on oral and oropharyngeal cancer staging - International perspectives.World J Otorhinolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2020;6(1):66-75. doi:10.1016/j.wjorl.2019.06.001American Cancer Society.Risk factors for oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers.American Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer.Kato MG, Baek CH, Chaturvedi P, et al.Update on oral and oropharyngeal cancer staging - International perspectives.World J Otorhinolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2020;6(1):66-75. doi:10.1016/j.wjorl.2019.06.001American Cancer Society.Treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers.
Harvard Health Publishing.Allergy overview.
American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Anaphylaxis.
American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Who has allergies?
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About strep throat.
Pinther S, Codino J, Rubin A.Laryngeal burn from a sweet potato: A case report.SMRJ. 2020;4(2). doi:10.51894/001c.11641
InformedHealth.org [Internet]. Cologne, Germany: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG).Heartburn and GERD: Overview.
Kaiser Permanente.Tongue injury: Care instructions.
Albarqouni L, Moynihan R, Clark J, Scott AM, Duggan A, Del Mar C.Head of bed elevation to relieve gastroesophageal reflux symptoms: A systematic review.BMC Fam Pract. 2021;22(1):24. doi:10.1186/s12875-021-01369-0
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.Burning mouth syndrome.
Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center.Burning mouth syndrome.
Cleveland Clinic.Burning mouth.
National Institutes of Health (NIH).Burning Mouth Syndrome.
Mayfield Brain & Spine.Glossopharyngeal neuralgia (throat pain).
Park JS, Ahn YH.Glossopharyngeal neuralgia.J Korean Neurosurg Soc. 2023;66(1):12-23. doi:10.3340/jkns.2022.0178
National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke.Glossopharyngeal neuralgia information page.
National Library of Medicine.Thrush - children and adults.
Kato MG, Baek CH, Chaturvedi P, et al.Update on oral and oropharyngeal cancer staging - International perspectives.World J Otorhinolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2020;6(1):66-75. doi:10.1016/j.wjorl.2019.06.001
American Cancer Society.Risk factors for oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers.
American Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer.
American Cancer Society.Treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers.
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