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Some links in this article are affiliate links. We may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through these links, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products we find useful to our readersBlisters or sores aren’t a very new concept. But have you ever experience tongue sores or tongue blisters in your life? That painful bump on the tongue that makes it difficult to chew and swallow different kinds of food?
Tongue sores can root from a variety of reasons, the most common being the accidental biting of the tongue. This is one of the most common reasons which can be a painful experience and can be caused because of a number of reasons.
In this article, we are going to be discussing about everything that one needs to know about tongue sores along with the 19 possible home remedies to cure the problem.
What are Tongue Sores?
In severe cases, the tongue sores can also cause inflammation and may hinder with one’s speech and eating habits.
What Causes Tongue Sores?
There are various causes of tongue sores. Some of the major causes of tongue sores are given below.
1. Trauma
Biting of your tongue accidentally may prove highly painful to you. The blisters on the tongue can also be formed on the tongue due to the consumption of hot foods. Trauma due to grinding or clenching your teeth may cause severe pain on outer edges of the tongue. The problem can make you uncomfortable until it heals fully.
2. Infection
The formation of certain infection such as enlarged papillae may created red bumps or sores under the tongue. They can be highly painful but may get cured by themselves. Oral thrush may cause yeast infection along with tongue pain and may form certain white patches on your tongue. This may also appear due to the uncontrolled used of antibiotics.
3. Mouth ulcers
This ulcer forms small bumps on specific points on your tongue. These bumps are known as an oval ulcer or canker sores. They may be red, yellow or gray in colour. These spots may appear due to biting your tongue, consuming something which is sharp of hard, stopping smoking as well as undergoing hormonal change process.
4. Smoking
Tongue pain may also cause due to smoking or due to a stopping of smoking. Smoking also raises the risk of developing cancer in your mouth as well as throat. Various other issues which may cause due to smoking includes stained teeth, tooth decay or loss, brown spots on gums as well as bad breath, etc.
5. Food Allergy
Consumption of certain foods may cause hurting of your tongue. This is also known as oral allergy syndrome. These food allergies most commonly caused by the consumption of raw vegetables, fruits or tree nuts.
6. Vitamin Deficiency and Anemia
Lack of certain essential vitamins in the body end up being one of the primary reasons behind the development of tongue sores. The deficiency of Vitamin B-12 often results in imparting a beefy red colour to the tongue. Other than that, the lower levels of zinc and folate even contribute to the problem of tongue sore.
7. Neuralgia
Yet another cause of tongue sores is the nerve irritation or degeneration. If you haven’t been experiencing any serious trauma or shock but there is still a persistent pain in your tongue, there are chances that you are suffering from the condition known as neuralgia. Condition like this results in recurrence of severe pain in the tongue along with sore on side of tongue.
8. Burning Mouth Syndrome
Just what the name suggests, burning mouth syndrome is actually characterized by a burning sensation in the tongue and the mouth, in general. People suffering from this problem often complain of a scalding heat coursing their mouths even if they actually haven’t had anything overly spicy or hot. One f the most common symptoms of this syndrome are the blisters on tongue.
9. Behcet’s Disease
This is one of the rare causes behind the formation of tongue sores or inflammation but the same can very much a reason behind the tongue sores and inflammation. These are often seen as bumps on the tongue rather than lesion which is what makes it an even more cause of irritation. This condition is often times even characterized by the presence of joint pains and digestion problems.
10. Oral Cancer
Oral cancer is yet another common reason behind tongue blisters or canker sore which is how it is alternatively termed as. Now, the possibility of cancer should always be the very last thing on the list, primarily because of the fact that the same might not be the cause. If you are witnessing a persistent bump and lesion on your tongue, it is best to consult a doctor for the same.
Now that we are more or less well versed with the causes of tongue sores, let us walk ourselves through the symptoms of tongue sores.
What are the Signs and Symptoms of Tongue Sores?
You may also feel difficulty in eating, drinking or swallowing. This may further develop while breathing and talking. Some major symptoms include,
- Rash
- Joint pain
- Diarrhea
- Fever (extreme conditions)
- Mouth sores
- Sores, larger than a diameter of ½ inch
- Lesions on the tongue
- Blister like bumps on the tongue
- Inflammation in the tongue
- White patches on the tongue
- Pain and irritation on the tongue
- Burning sensation when comes in contact with food
- Rashes inside the mouth
- Fever (extreme conditions)
How to Get Rid of Tongue Sores
- Avoid eating spicy or hot food because the spices and hotness from the food can often interact with tongue sores or blisters and aggravate the situation even further, causing a burning sensation along with irritation in the tongue.
- Switch over to mashed or soft foods till the sore on side of tongue heals completely. For even better sore tongue treatment, pair your food with some cold drinks or beverages so that it provides with a soothing feeling.
- The over the counter oral medications or ointments even come in handy for the treatment of the condition.
- If the situation persists, it is always best to go see a doctor to get rid of the symptoms that come along with it.
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Check Out These Effective Remedies For Treating Tongue Sores.
Home Remedies for Tongue Sores
Much like a variety of other diseases and medical conditions, even the treatment for tongue blisters can easily be sorted out with some simple home remedies.
The list of effective home remedies for tongue sores include:
- Cold Water
- Baking Soda
- Ice for Tongue Sores
- Coconut Oil
- Salt Water
- Aloe Vera
- Hydrogen Peroxide
- Lysine
- Licorice
- Honey
- Cayenne Pepper
- Sage
- Basil For Tongue Sores
- Vitamin B for Tongue Sores
- Coriander for Tongue Sores
- Turmeric
- Garlic and Ginger
- Milk
- Essential Oils
1. Cold Water for Tongue Sores
What to do?
- Add a few cubes of ice to a glass of water well this around your mouth and let it stay there for a few seconds before swallowing or spitting it out (depending on your preference)
- Do this multiple times throughout the day
2. Baking Soda for Tongue Sores
Swirling the baking soda solution in your mouth will help ensure the regulation of the correct maintenance of the pH levels of the mouth. It also washes away any possible bacterial growth in the tongue because of the blisters or sores.
What to do?
- Mix half a teaspoon of baking soda to a glass of water
- Swirl this around your mouth and hold in there for a 10-30 seconds
- Spit it out and do this till you are done with the glass of water
- Repeat this twice or thrice a day
Side note: try and avoid consuming the baking soda (R) water because the alkalizing property can impact ghastly effects on the body which won’t be beneficial for the overall functioning of the body.
3. Ice for Tongue Sores
What to do?
- You can directly rub some ice on your tongue sores whenever they start burning or cause pain
4. Coconut Oil for Tongue Sores
What to do?
- Melt some edible coconut oil and bring it to room temperature
- Apply this with a cotton swab over the tongue sores
- Leave it just like that and repeat this twice or thrice throughout the day
Side note: Make sure to only use edible and organic coconut oil (R) to treat tongue sore and not the ones that are used for cosmetic purposes for topical application.
5. Salt Water for Tongue Sores
Salt water rinse is yet another method of getting rid of tongue blisters. The salt from this mixture helps dry out the sores in the tongue, thereby gradually healing them.
What to do?
- Mix a teaspoon of salt to a glass of water
- Stir it till everything completely dissolves
- Sip this and swirl it around the mouth and hold in there for 30 seconds before spitting it out
- Repeat this process till you finish the glass of salt water
- Do this every day once or twice till you get rid of tongue sore completely
6. Aloe Vera
What to do?
- Cut an aloe vera leaf and scoop the pulp out
- Apply this onto the sores and the blisters and leave it on
- You can also opt for aloe vera (R) juice and use it instead of the pulp directly
- Repeat this process once or twice daily till the sore completely go away
7. Hydrogen Peroxide
One of the most visible properties of hydrogen peroxide (R) that showcases its benefits in this specific regard is its mild antiseptic property. It helps relieve a percentage of the mouth irritation that one often feels because of the tongue sores or blisters. Not just that, the hydrogen peroxide solution even helps get rid of any kind of microbial infestation that could a possible reason for an infection.
What to do?
- Mix 1 teaspoon of 3% hydrogen peroxide to a glass of water
- Use this as a mouth rinse and spit the remnants out because swallowing can have adverse effects on the body
- Repeat this once every day for evident results in the treatment for tongue sores
8. Lysine for Tongue Sores
What to do?
- Chew on the lysine tablets, preferably the one with the 500 mg power
9. Licorice for Tongue Sores
So, the next time you are suffering from tongue sores and someone mentions licorice as a remedy, don’t just think they are talking about the candy, rather the medicinal root.
The licorice root is beneficial in shrinking the size of the tongue sores, thereby contributing to their gradual healing. Not just that, the adhesive treatment with the aid of licorice on the sores helped heal the screeching pain right after a few days of application. It also inflicts anti-inflammatory properties (R) on the sores and helps heal the swelling and inflammation.
What to do?
- Place an adhesive patch of licorice on the affected areas of the tongue sores and leave it be for a few hours
- Repeat this process, changing the patches, everyday till the signs and symptoms go away.
10. Honey for Tongue Sores
What to do?
- Wet a piece of cotton and clean the sore/s or blister/s
- Dip a cotton swab in the honey and apply it over the sores
- Repeat this process multiple times throughout the day for pronounced effects
11. Cayenne Pepper for Tongue Sores
Cayenne pepper is rich in the compound Capsaicin which has mild analgesic and numbing (R) properties. So, if your tongue sores have been causing you a lot of pain, try this remedy to get a bit of relief from the pain caused by the blisters on the tongue.
What To Do?
- Take a teaspoon of cayenne pepper powder in a bowl
- Add some water to make a smooth and applicable paste
- Apply this over the affected area of the sore
- Leave it on for some time and then rinse your mouth if the hotness of the pepper becomes overwhelming
12. Sage for Tongue Sores
What To Do?
- Heat some water in a saucepan and bring it to a boil
- Switch the heat off and add the sage leaves into it
- Let the concoction steep for 5-10 minutes
- Swirl this liquid around your mouth for a minute or two and spit it out
- Repeat this process multiple time throughout the day till you notice changes in the condition of the sores
13. Basil for Tongue Sores
What To Do?
- Crush some basil leaves in a mortar and pestle to make a fine paste
- Clean the sore on side of tongue with a cotton cloth
- Apply the basil leaves paste over it and leave it on
- If the taste of basil is not something you are good with, rinse your mouth or else just let it be
- Repeat this multiple times throughout the day till you get rid of tongue sores
14. Vitamin B for Tongue Sores
The deficiency of Vitamins, especially that of Vitamin B6 and B12, are the primary causes of tongue sores and tongue blisters. The lack of it in the body often results in inflammation in the tongue, thereby causing pain and irritation in the process.
What To Do?
- Increase the consumption of foods rich in Vitamin B6 and Vitamin B12 in your diet
- You can also opt for the over the counter Vitamin B supplements if you want faster results in healing the problem
15. Coriander for Tongue Sores
What To Do?
- Boil a teaspoon of coriander seed in a saucepan of boiling water. You can also use a bunch of coriander leaves instead of the seeds.
- Bring it to a boil and let it steep for a few minutes, the more the better
- Strain the liquid and bring it to room temperature
- Rinse your mouth with this solution, making sure that you hold the liquid for a few minutes and then expel it out of the mouth
- Repeat the same every day multiple times till you get rid of tongue sores
16. Turmeric for Tongue Sores
What To Do?
- Mix one tablespoon of turmeric powder with two teaspoons of honey
- Make a smooth paste with it
- Apply it on the tongue sores and leave it on for 5 minutes
- Wash it off by rinsing your mouth with lukewarm water
- Alternatively, you can also drink turmeric milk (R) to heal these tongue sores from within
17. Garlic and Ginger
What to do?
- Increase your dietary consumption of ginger and garlic on a daily basis
- You can even chew on raw garlic for better healing properties
18. Milk for tongue sores
What to do?
- Drink one to two glasses of milk in a day, without any added sugars in it
19. Essential Oils
a) Clove Oil
The beneficial effects of clove oil (R) in the treatment of oral pain are not unknown. It has been used as a remedy for a toothache since way back in history and the same also has pronounced effects in the treatment for tongue blisters. It helps shrink the sores, thereby aiding in healing them from within.
What To Do?
- Rinse your mouth with some water to clean the area of the tongue sores
- Dip a cotton swab in clove oil and apply it on the sores
- Leave it on
- Repeat this twice or thrice throughout the day
b) Tea Tree Oil
What To Do?
- Rinse your mouth with some lukewarm water to clean the sores on the tongue
- Dip a q-tip in the tea tree oil and apply it over the sores
- Leave it on for 15 minutes and rinse your mouth again with lukewarm water to get rid of the stench of the tea tree oil
How to Prevent Tongue Blister Or Sores?
Some of the common yet effective prevention tips for tongue sores include:
- Proper Oral Hygiene
- Eating consciously if prone to tongue sores
- Restrict the consumption of highly acidic foods
- Reduce the sugar intake
- Cut down on the amount of gluten and wheat you are consuming
- Do not eat too spicy or hot foods
- Consume only soft foods with cold beverages until the condition gets healed.
- You can try various over-the-counter oral pain medications.
- Try out various home remedies given above.
- Consult with your doctor immediately if you found anything serious linked to the condition.
Are Tongue Blister Contagious?
This is a misconception that tongue sores are contagious when in reality they are not. It is often times confused with cold sores, which are contracted from the contagious Herpes virus.
The tongue sores normally just tend to spread on the tongue itself if left untreated but there are no studies that claim that these are contagious in any way, shape or form.
Tongue sores can often be very taxing on a person’s health because it restricts normal eating and even the inflammation and pain can take a toll on an individual. If you have been suffering from problems like these, it is best to either administer any of the above mentioned home remedies to treat tongue sore or reach out to a doctor if nothing else works in your favour.