Red Bumps On Tongue Causing Pain

The formation of red bumps on tongue is a fairly troublesome but common tongue problem that can be caused by a variety of reasons. The condition is often accompanied by pain, burning sensation and inflammation. Nonetheless, in certain cases, a red bump on tongue can also be painless.

More often than not, common red bumps, cuts and red spots on your tongue tend to heal on their own.  For instance, redness in tongue because of the consumption of extremely hot or acidic foods or drinks usually goes away on its own within a few days, provided you are not bent on aggravating the problem by disregarding common precautionary steps.

Similarly, the condition may also be present in the form of enlarged taste buds due to irritated taste buds caused by the consumption of certain foods like pineapple. On the other hand, persistent bumps on tongue that are hard and painless may be indicative of oral cancer too.

Causes of Red Bumps on Tongue

Tongue injuries due to tongue biting, poorly fitted dentures, harsh brushing etc are the most common causes that lead to sore red bumps on tongue. Repeated tongue trauma can give rise to Oral Fibromas over a period of time. However, they usually do not become cancerous.

Oral Fibromas can also develop on the insides of the cheeks, corners of the mouth, lips and other such areas. The condition is characterized by pinkish or whitish fibrous tumor-like growths of the oral soft tissues. Removal of large Fibromas that cause difficulty while speaking should be done by a qualified dentist.

Canker sores and allergic reactions (whether due to specific foods or medicines), oral herpes, early stage syphilis, tuberculosis, viral infections and bacterial infections are some typical red bumps on tounge causes that cause a great deal of discomfort.

Prolonged use of antibiotics may also result in the same. In some cases, Strep Throat tends to give rise to the problem of red spots on tongue.

Apart from this, factors like hormonal changes and nutritional deficiencies, particularly that of iron, zinc, folic acid and vitamin B 12 tend to increase the chances of developing common red bumps on tongue, whether on its surface or underneath the tongue.

Factors like improper oral hygiene, lack of adequate moisture on the tongue, drinking too much tea or coffee, cigarette smoking, tobacco abuse, getting radiation therapy etc can create lead to the development of hairy tongue characterized by overgrowth of papillae on the tongue.

Treatment

Some common ways of dealing with painful red bumps on tongue are:

• Applying ice on the affected area to reduce pain and inflammation.

• Rinsing the mouth with saline solution to cure red bumps caused by infection. Saline solution can be easily prepared by mixing a teaspoon of salt in a cup of lukewarm water. For best results, hold this solution in the mouth for about 30 seconds, swish it in your mouth and finally throw it. Do not swallow it.

• Focus on adequate oral hygiene to prevent the condition from getting worse.

Moreover, have a nutritious diet with special emphasis on the inclusion of vitamin B and vitamin C rich foods such as citrus fruits, sprouts, legumes, cabbage, broccoli etc. Drink sufficient water at regular intervals to avoid dry mouth as it creates a host of other mouth and tongue related problems.

Besides, restrict the consumption of alcohol and avoid cigarette smoking and tobacco abuse to avoid further troubles as these substances tend to irritate the tongue further. In addition, try to avoid having foods or drinks when they are too hot to bear. Needless to add, stay away from spicy foods as well.

In case red bumps on tongue are persistent and continue to grow even after taking corrective measures then it is advisable to consult a dentist to rule out the possibility of any serious underlying condition.