Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCanker SoresThrushOral Lichen PlanusGeographic TongueTongue CancerTransient lingual papillitisTongue TraumaVitamin DeficiencySjögren’s DiseaseNeuralgiaAllergies
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Canker Sores
Thrush
Oral Lichen Planus
Geographic Tongue
Tongue Cancer
Transient lingual papillitis
Tongue Trauma
Vitamin Deficiency
Sjögren’s Disease
Neuralgia
Allergies
Common tongue diseases and problems include canker sores, thrush, oral lichen planus, and tongue trauma. Other problems or conditions that can impact the tongue include tongue cancer, transient lingual papillitis, geographic tongue, vitamin B12 deficiency, Sjögren’s disease, neuralgia, and allergic reactions.
Tongue diseases and problems can cause pain, bumps, and changes to the color or texture of the tongue as a whole.
Treatment will vary depending on the specific tongue problem. In some cases, it will go away on its own or improve with the use of over-the-counter medications. However, you may need to see a healthcare provider for more serious tongue diseases or conditions.
Learn more about common causes of tongue diseases, tongue pain, and tongue infections.
Martin Barraud / Getty Images
Canker soresare a very common cause of oral pain. In fact, about half of people will experience them at one time or another.
What They Are
Canker sores are small, round sores that appear on the soft tissue of the mouth, including the tongue. They often appear yellowish and look a bit like a pimple in your mouth.
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Symptoms
The symptoms of canker sores are a spot in the mouth that is sore to the touch.
Most of the time, canker sores are less than 1 centimeter (cm) across and appear alone. However, in about 5% of cases, canker sores can present as a cluster of smaller sores.
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Causes
Healthcare providers aren’t sure what causes canker sores. In some cases, they can be related to lifestyle factors, like what you eat. If you experience repeat canker sores, you should try keeping a journal to identify any trends that are associated with your sores.
Treatment
Canker sores don’t require treatment. In 85% of cases, they’ll go away on their own within a week; the rest usually resolve within two weeks. However, over-the-counter medications can help manage the pain of canker sores.
What It Is
Thrush is ayeast infectionin the mouth. Yeast, also known as the fungusCandida, occurs naturally in the mouth. When it becomes too abundant, it can cause the symptoms of thrush.
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The symptoms of thrush include white patches on the tongue or elsewhere in the mouth.
In some cases, you might experience red patches as well. People with thrush can feel pain when eating or swallowing and may temporarily lose the sense of taste.
A first-linetreatment for thrushis antifungal medications or creams, which are applied to the mouth. If that doesn’t clear the symptoms, your healthcare provider may prescribe more powerful antifungals that are taken orally or through an IV (intravenous) drip.
Lichen planusis a dermatological condition that can cause bumps and sores on the skin or in the mouth. Oral lichen planus can appear on the tongue.
Oral lichen planus is a common dermatological condition. It can appear in anyone but is most common in middle-aged women and people withhepatitis C.
The symptoms of lichen planus in the mouth include red or white spots that may have a lacy appearance. These sores can produce pain or a burning sensation.
Healthcare providers don’t understand exactly what causes lichen planus, but they believe it’s anautoimmune disease. In rare cases, lichen planus runs in families.
Lichen planus episodes can last up to two years, and about 20% of people will have a secondary outbreak. Lichen planus on the skin is treated using an array or methods, fromantihistaminestosteroidsto light therapy.
However, oral lichen planus can be more difficult to treat.If you think you might be experiencing oral lichen planus, reach out to a healthcare provider. If a white or red patch lasts for more than two or three weeks, see consultation with an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist or oral surgeon, as this may represent a cancer.
Geographic tongueis a harmless condition that affects the appearance of the tongue but often has no symptoms. Geographic tongue makes the tongue appear patchy, with unpredictable lines similar to those on a map. The condition comes and goes over time.
Geographic tongue is an aesthetic condition that gives the tongue a patchy appearance but does not affect health. It occurs in 1%–3% of the population.
People with a geographic tongue have a patchwork look to their tongue. However, other than that, the condition usually has no symptoms and is not a cause of tongue pain. In rare cases, people with a geographic tongue have pain or a burning sensation and may be sensitive to spicy foods.
In most people, the tongue is covered in small bumps called papillae. People with geographic tongue are missing these bumps in some places, giving those areas a shiny, smooth appearance.The look of the tongue and the areas with and without bumpy patches change with time.
There’s no treatment for geographic tongue.If you experience increased symptoms when you eat spicy foods, you should consider a bland diet. If your geographic tongue causes you pain, speak with a healthcare provider.
Tongue cancercan occur either on the part of the tongue you can see, which is the front two-thirds of the organ, or in the back one-third, which extends down your throat.
Tongue cancer appears most often in men who are older than 40. It’s five times more likely to occur in smokers than nonsmokers.
Tongue cancer is an abnormal growth of cells on the tongue. It is a type oforal cancer.
The most common symptom of tongue cancer is a red, pink, or greyish bump on the tongue. Cancerous lesions often bleed easily. Symptoms of cancer at the base of the tongue can include:
Human papillomavirus (HPV) exposure is also a strong risk factor for tongue cancer.
If your cancer has not spread, it will likely be treated with surgery to remove the lump or tumor. If your cancer has spread to other areas of your mouth or elsewhere in the body you’ll need additional treatment, which may includechemotherapyorradiation.
If your tongue cancer is a base of tongue cancer, it will most likely be treated with chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
Transient lingual papillitisis the temporary swelling and inflammation of the fungiform papillae, the bumps toward the front of the tongue.
There are three types of transient lingual papillitis:
The main symptom of transient lingual papillitis is swelling or irritation on thebumps of the tongue, particularly toward the front. It can also present as white or yellow bumps all over the tongue.
With eruptive lingual papillitis, kids can also experience a fever or swollen lymph nodes. Oftentimes, people with transient lingual papillitis have tongue pain.
Transient lingual papillitis has a lot of causes, including:
Lifestyle choices and injuries, like burning the tongue, eating lots of acidic foods, or smoking, can also contribute to the condition.
Transient lingual papillitis resolves on its own in a matter of days and doesn’t requiretreatment. However, rinsing with salt water and avoiding spicy or hot foods can help the tongue heal.
Tongue trauma can occur when you bite or burn your tongue.
Tongue trauma is an injury that occurs to your tongue. Common causes of tongue trauma arebiting the tongue(while eating or during a fall) orburning the tongueon hot food.
Tongue trauma can lead to pain and bleeding.
In most cases, injuries to the tongue will resolve on their own.If you’re experiencing bleeding, know that it’s normal for tongue injuries to bleed heavily; however, if you’re worried about whether you might need stitches, reach out to your healthcare provider.
If you do not have enoughvitamin B12, your tongue may change in appearance.
Vitamin B12 plays a role in the production of red blood cells, as well as a host of other functions in the body. Having avitamin B12 deficiencycan cause an array of symptoms, including making your tongue hurt and giving it a puffy, red appearance.
Oral symptoms of a vitamin B12 deficiency can include a red, puffy tongue or patches of red on the tongue. You may experience burning or pain while eating.
Othersymptoms of a vitamin B12 deficiencyinclude:
Sjögren’s disease(formerly known as Sjögren’s syndrome) is an autoimmune disorder that can cause burning or cracking on the tongue.
Sjögren’s disease is an autoimmune disease that affects the salivary glands and other moisture-producing glands. In people with Sjögren’s, these glands don’t function properly, which leads to dry mouth and can cause cracking or burning on the tongue.
Sjögren’s disease often occurs in people with other autoimmune conditions, likelupusandarthritis. However, it can also develop on its own.
The oral symptoms of Sjögren’s include extreme dryness in the mouth. This can make it difficult to even speak, and it can leave the tongue cracked and painful.
Treatments for autoimmune diseases, including steroids and medications, like hydroxychloroquine, can help with Sjögren’s. Drinking more water and using oral lubricants can also help manage symptoms.
If you believe that you might have Sjögren’s disease, you should speak with a healthcare provider.
Neuralgiais sudden nerve pain. It can happen anywhere in the body, including in the mouth and on the tongue.
Glossopharyngeal neuralgia (GN) is a type of neuralgia that causes nerve pain in the mouth, including the tongue. The pain originates from the glossopharyngeal nerve, also called the ninth cranial nerve. The cause of the pain can include blood vessels pressing on the nerve or an infection that makes the throat swell, which can then put pressure on the nerve.
A first-line treatment for GN is medication, which may include anti-seizure medications or antidepressants. If you don’t respond to medication, your healthcare provider may recommend surgery to remove pressure from the nerve or to cut the nerve. Your healthcare provider will also treat any underlying conditions, like infection, that might be contributing to your neuralgia.
Sometimes,allergiesto foods or environmental irritants can cause your tongue to become swollen or itchy.
An allergic reaction to food or environmental irritants can cause your tongue to become itchy or swollen. This can happen even if you’re not allergic to the food itself as long as it contains traces of pollen or other allergens.
The symptoms of allergies can include swelling or itchiness on the tongue. It’s critical to realize that an allergic reaction can escalate quickly. If you experience any difficulties breathing or speaking, call 911 immediately.
If you frequently have an itchy or swollen tongue due to allergies, talk to a healthcare provider about an allergy shot, which can help control symptoms.You should work with your healthcare provider to identify the cause of your allergy and avoid those triggers as best you can.
Summary
Some common tongue infections will go away on their own, while others can be treated with over-the-counter medications, so getting a proper diagnosis for tongue pain is important.
A Word From Verywell
Having a tongue infection or tongue pain can be inconvenient and uncomfortable. There are many causes of tongue pain, so if your pain doesn’t go away on its own in a few days, or if it begins to interfere with your ability to eat or speak, consult with your healthcare provider.
Anytime that your symptoms suddenly get worse, call your healthcare provider or 911. This is especially important if your tongue injury makes it difficult to breathe.
Figuring out the causes of your tongue infection and the appropriate symptoms can be hard. Don’t hesitate to reach out for medical guidance.
11 SourcesVerywell 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.MedlinePlus.Canker sores.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Candidiasis.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Lichen planus.American Academy of Oral Medicine.Geographic tongue.Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.Geographic tongue.Cedars Sinai.Tongue cancer.Kaiser Permanente.Tongue injury: care instructions.Pontes, Hélder Antônio Rebelo.Oral manifestations of vitamin B12 deficiency: A case report.The Journal of the Canadian Dental Association.Lupus Foundation of America.What you need to know about Sjogren’s syndrome.MedlinePlus.Glossopharyngeal neuralgia.American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology.Oral allergy syndrome (OAS).
11 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.MedlinePlus.Canker sores.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Candidiasis.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Lichen planus.American Academy of Oral Medicine.Geographic tongue.Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.Geographic tongue.Cedars Sinai.Tongue cancer.Kaiser Permanente.Tongue injury: care instructions.Pontes, Hélder Antônio Rebelo.Oral manifestations of vitamin B12 deficiency: A case report.The Journal of the Canadian Dental Association.Lupus Foundation of America.What you need to know about Sjogren’s syndrome.MedlinePlus.Glossopharyngeal neuralgia.American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology.Oral allergy syndrome (OAS).
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.
MedlinePlus.Canker sores.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Candidiasis.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Lichen planus.American Academy of Oral Medicine.Geographic tongue.Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.Geographic tongue.Cedars Sinai.Tongue cancer.Kaiser Permanente.Tongue injury: care instructions.Pontes, Hélder Antônio Rebelo.Oral manifestations of vitamin B12 deficiency: A case report.The Journal of the Canadian Dental Association.Lupus Foundation of America.What you need to know about Sjogren’s syndrome.MedlinePlus.Glossopharyngeal neuralgia.American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology.Oral allergy syndrome (OAS).
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Candidiasis.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Lichen planus.
American Academy of Oral Medicine.Geographic tongue.
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.Geographic tongue.
Cedars Sinai.Tongue cancer.
Kaiser Permanente.Tongue injury: care instructions.
Pontes, Hélder Antônio Rebelo.Oral manifestations of vitamin B12 deficiency: A case report.The Journal of the Canadian Dental Association.
Lupus Foundation of America.What you need to know about Sjogren’s syndrome.
MedlinePlus.Glossopharyngeal neuralgia.
American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology.Oral allergy syndrome (OAS).
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