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We rely on our tongues to swallow or food and taste it as well. But, have you ever witnessed something off with your tongue? Like, red spots, burning sensation, pain, or discomfort, something that is completely off track? If such is the case, treatment of tongue problems is a necessity for your health.
For the most part, the majority of the people tend to forego the reasons for tongue problems as trivial, thus causing a ruckus for their health in the long haul. If you do want to keep enjoying your food and relish it the way it should be, keep an eye out on your tongue’s health.
In here, we are going to help you with some of the ways to treat tongue problems at home for a better recovery like no other.
Types of Tongue Problems
When it comes around to the tongue problems, it is very important that you do focus on some of the factors involved around.
Before you opt for the treatment of tongue problems, it is important that you do focus on the types of tongue problems because, in the long haul, that is what that matters.
To help highlight, some of the primary types of tongue problems include:
- White tongue
- Red or strawberry tongue
- Black hair tongue
- Sore or bumpy tongue
These are some of the major and the most common types of tongue problems that you are likely to experiences around.
Read: Metallic Taste In Mouth – Know The Causes
What are the Causes of Tongue Problems?
When it comes round to the causes behind the condition of the tongue problems, chances are that you are going to experience multiple reasons that could be causing the problem in the first place.
For better and targeted treatment, it is very important that you do focus on the causes and initiate ways to combat that for good.
Depending on the type of tongue problem, the causes are going to vary. This is why it is best suggested that you target the cause to get better results in the treatments.
Read: 20 Habits That Wreck Your Teeth – Know What You Are Doing Wrong!
White tongue
The very first and most common type of tongue problem is the white tongue. This condition is characterized by the presence of white spots and coating that consistently forms over the tongue.
Some of the common causes behind this condition include:
- Leukoplakia – where the cells in the mouth grow at an unprecedented rate
- Oral thrush – a type of yeast infection that affects the mouth
- Oral lichen planus – raised white lines with a bumpy appearance on the tongue
Read: Best Home Remedies For Tongue Sore (Blisters)
Red or strawberry tongue
The next on the line is the type of tongue problem which is characterized by the formation of a red tongue instead of the normal shade of pink which is what is seen for the most part. Often times, majority of the people have even witnessed the enlarged appearance of the taste buds around on the tongue too.
Some of the common causes behind this condition include:
- Vitamin deficiencies – the lack of folic acid and even the Vitamin B12 in the body can cause this
- Geographic tongue – characterized by the presence of the reddish spots all over the tongue
- Scarlet fever – characterized by high fever and a reddish tongue. Doctor consultation is suggested
- Kawasaki syndrome – generally seen in kids and affects the blood vessels in the body
Read: How to Get Rid of Wavy Tongue
Black hairy tongue
As gross as it sounds, it actually is a type of the tongue problems that affected individuals. This happens when the papillae on the tongue enlarges and grows consistently instead of being worn down by the day to day activities that we indulge in on a daily basis. This causes bacterial infestation in the tongue, thus ending up causing the condition of the appearance of the black hairy tongue.
Some of the common causes behind this condition include:
- Trauma – when you accidentally bite into your tongue or end up experiencing an accident
- Canker sores – often categorised as mouth ulcers, it is s type of sores that is caused because of excess stress in the body
- Smoking – persistent smoking can cause the disorientation of the papillae
Read: Remedies To Restore Loss Of Taste And Smell
Sore or bumpy tongue
Last but not the least is the painful of them all which is caused because of the induction of mouth ulcers, sores and even the bumps and inflammation that further make it a possible option. These painful bumps and ulcers can be the result of a number of factors.
Some of the common causes behind this condition include:
- Burning mouth syndrome – sudden flaring and tingling sensation without any kind of consistent cause behind the same
- Oral cancer – the last stage and the most serious one that could stem from multiple reasons
- Medical conditions – chronic conditions like diabetes and anemia can be contributing factors
Signs and symptoms of tongue problems
When it comes round to the signs and symptoms of tongue problems, it is best suggested to ensure that you do focus on the unwarranted signs and symptoms that you might have been experiencing around.
This is what helps in bettering the recovery process with the targeted treatment of tongue problems.
Some of the common symptoms of this condition include:
- Partial or even the complete loss of sensation of taste
- Inflammation in and around the tongue
- Changes in the color, texture and the appearance of the tongue
- Pain and irritation
- Burning sensation on the tongue
- Formation of white or even red patches all across the tongue
- Furry appearance on the tongue
How to diagnose tongue problems?
Distinguishing between a healthy and unhealthy tongue can be a problem that many often tend to face around. If you witness any kind of starking difference when it comes to your tongue health, it is possible that you need to consult a doctor before it does get worse.
Any kind of pain, inflammation or even the change in the color and texture of the tongue is a marker for the condition of a tongue issue altogether.
In order to get rid of tongue problems, it is very important that you get it diagnosed first.
This itself often tends to make all the difference that you have been seeking around.
If you find unexplained and persistent changes on your tongue, it is best suggested that you do get yourself a doctor’s appointment scheduled before it takes a different turn.
Your doctor will examine and if he finds something out of the line, chances are that the same is taken care of with the correct diagnosis and the treatment of tongue problems.
How to cure tongue problems?
When it comes round to the ways to treat tongue problems at home, chances are that there are a number of them.
The only thing that you personally need to do is to ensure that you don’t end up suffering through with it and opt for the right remedies for the condition.
To help you out with the same, I have sorted out some of the best treatment of tongue problems that you can personally do in the comforts of your own home.
1. Avoid triggering foods
If you are suffering from the condition of the tongue problems, it is best suggested to ensure that you do prevent the consumption of the hot and spicy foods.
Given that the burning sensation or even the sores on the tongue can be aggravated by the condition, it is best suggested that you do keep your spicy food consumption to a bare minimum. For the most part, it is best suggested to ensure that you keep your diet pretty neutral, keeping the spice to a bare minimum.
The last thing you want is to end up triggering the condition further or putting your mouth on fire because this is exactly what these kinds of food will do.
Read: How To Stop Our Love Affair With Junk Food and Aim at Healthier Foods
2. Maintain oral hygiene
Your oral health plays a very crucial role in how your tongue health is going to be. For the best results and to keep the reasons of tongue problems in check, it is best suggested that you always keep your oral hygiene in check.
More than anything, it is a necessity that you just can’t do without. For the best results, it is best suggested that you should every day brush your teeth twice, floss and even use a mouth wash every now and then for the best results.
It is important that you don’t allow any kind of bacterial growth in the mouth that could be further causing a nuisance for your health all the more. Lack of oral hygiene often tends to be the primary reason behind the induction of infection in your mouth, affecting your tongue in the process as well.
Read: 14 Best Oral Health Foods – Take Care of Your Pearly Whites!
3. Eat something cold
Yet another one of the amazing ways to treat tongue problems at home is to eat something cold.
For the most part, ice creams work amazingly, especially the ice popsicles. If you have been experiencing constant pain and discomfort on your tongue, especially in terms of the pain and discomfort, it is best suggested to ensure that you do focus on eating something the cold majority of the day.
The cold helps in numbing any sort of pain that one could be experiencing and even helps around in getting rid of the pain and the discomfort before anything else.
If ice cream isn’t that enticing to you, then ice chips work just as fine. You can put a few on your tongue and let it melt on your tongue.
4. Salt
Salt is yet another one of the best remedies that work like a magic. The primary reason why it works is because of the potent antiseptic (R) and anti-inflammatory properties.
It is true that you might experience pain and irritation when you opt for direct application of salt, so be careful not to do that. Instead, you can mix 1 tsp of salt in a glass of water and use that to swish around your mouth.
This gets rid of any kind of possible sign of infection or sores that could be causing the condition to get worse.
What to do?
- Take a glass of water
- Add ½ tsp of salt to the water and mix till it is dissolved
- Use this to swish around your mouth till the glass of water is done
How often?
- 1-2 times daily
Read: Health Problems That Salt Water Gargle Can Cure Amazingly
5. Aloe vera
Aloe vera gel is yet another one of the important factors that can help you out a lot with the treatment of tongue problems.
Given that it is rich in healing (R), anti-inflammatory (R) as well as antiseptic properties, the same has been found to have beneficial impacts in helping round with the pain and the inflammation that many often tend to struggle with.
It is best suggested to ensure that you do focus on getting the best and the freshest aloe vera for yourself and apply the same on the affected parts for faster recovery.
What to do?
- Cut open an aloe vera leaf and scoop out the pulp
- Blend in completely to form a smooth paste
- Freeze them into small ice cubes
- Apply the same on the affected part
- Leave it on for 10-15 mins
How often?
- 1-2 times daily
6. Vitamin Supplements
It might not necessarily be a home remedy but for the most part, it is important that you consult a doctor for the same.
Often times, vitamin deficiency is often considered as one of the most common reasons behind the condition of the tongue problems.
To get rid of the same, it is important that you get which vitamin is less in your body and consume supplements for the same.
Often times, the lack of Vitamin B12 is often considered as one of the most common reason behind the condition of the tongue problems. So, for the best results, ensure to get the condition checked out.
7. Yogurt
Yogurt is yet another one of the best treatment options for tongue sores or other tongue problems that actually do work. For the best results, it is best suggested to ensure that you do consume yogurt and keep it on your tongue for a few minutes before swallowing it.
Moreover, yogurt has been found to have natural anti-inflammatory (R) properties which further help in propagating the healing process even more so.
Additionally, yogurt has also been found to have beneficial antiseptic properties that further help in getting rid of any form of infections, and such that could be affecting your health.
For the best results, you can consume around a cup of yogurt every day.
Read: Top 9 Yogurt Benefits
8. Milk of magnesia
Magnesia is yet another one of the best remedies that can help get rid of the reasons of tongue problems. If you have been struggling with the constant problem of tongue sores, pain and the discomfort, the same can be gotten rid of with the milk of magnesia.
It has beneficial anti-inflammatory properties which have been found to have beneficial properties in curbing the pain and the inflammation that comes along with the condition of the tongue problems.
What to do?
- Take ½ tsp of milk of magnesia out on a teaspoon
- Using your fingers, apply a small amount on the affected area on the tongue
- Leave it on
How often?
- Once every day
9. Clove oil
The application of clove oil is very effective to get rid of tongue problems. The main reason why it is considered as the primary effective remedy is because of the anesthetic property that it has.
Additionally, it also has beneficial antibacterial as well as anti-inflammatory properties which further help in getting rid of the pain and the discomfort that you have been experiencing.
The active compound in the clove, Eugenol is what is believed to get the job done, mainly because of the fact that it has beneficial properties required for the process of recovery.
What to do?
- To a glass of water, add 1-2 drops of clove oil
- Swish this liquid around your mouth till you run out of the water
How often?
- 1-2 times daily
10. Hydrogen peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is yet another one of the effective ways to get rid of tongue problems that you possibly had no idea about.
For the most part, it is best suggested to ensure that you do focus on the application and the concentration of the solution that you apply. It is best suggested to use 3% hydrogen peroxide for best impacts in terms of the recovery.
Make sure to always dilute it before applying it otherwise it can further cause burns.
What to do?
- Take 1 tsp of 3% hydrogen peroxide and dilute it with some water
- Using a cotton ball, dab it over the affected area
- Leave it on for 10 minutes
- Rinse it off with some water
How often?
- 1-2 times daily
Read: Benefits Of Gargling With Hydrogen Peroxide
11. Tea tree oil
Tea tree oil is yet another one of the effective remedies that helps get rid of tongue problems effectively.
The main reason why it works is mainly because of the presence of the antimicrobial as well as anti-inflammatory properties that you just can’t skip out on. For the most part, it has beneficial impacts in keeping the risks of infection at bay which could be a contributing factor to the condition of tongue problems.
What to do?
- Dilute the tea tree oil with some coconut oil
- Apply the combination on the affected part
- Leave it on to let it work its magic
- Rinse your mouth with water after 10-15 mins
How often?
- 1-2 times daily
Read: Benefits of Almond Oil For Health
12. Basil
Basil is yet another one of the effective remedies that help treat tongue problems at home.
If you are finding changes in the texture and the constant pain and inflammation, the same can be cured with the basil. The main reason behind the same is because of the fact that basil has beneficial anti-inflammatory as well as antimicrobial properties which not just keep the swelling in control but also keep the pain in check.
It has also been found to help drive away the signs of infection as well which further helps with the condition even more so.
What to do?
- Destem a few of the basil leaves
- Once done, wash them thoroughly under the water
- Chew on them raw for 1-2 minutes
How often?
- 2-3 times daily
13. Ginger and garlic
Ginger and garlic is yet another one of the best ways to get rid of tongue problems that you have been experiencing all this while. For the best results, it is best suggested to increase the consumption of the ginger and garlic in the day to day in an individual.
For the most part, it does help with the recovery of the tongue problems like sores, blisters and even the infection.
The main reason why this works is because of the fact that they both have beneficial analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties (R) which have beneficial properties through the healing process.
What to do?
- Enhance the consumption of the ginger and garlic by consuming more in the day to day diet
- For the best results, you can even enhance the consumption by chewing on them raw
How often?
- 2-3 times daily
Read: Benefits And Limitations of Chinese Garlic
14. Turmeric
Turmeric is yet another one of the best ways to help yourself through this is to ensure that your tongue’s health is in place.
The combination of the antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and the soothing properties of the turmeric is what helps in the beneficial recovery like no other.
It is best suggested that you either drink the golden turmeric milk for the best benefits or even rely on the direct application of the turmeric for the maximum benefits like no other.
When it comes round to the treatment of tongue problems, know that the possibilities are quite extensive. With so much of the amazing benefits that these remedies bring along, it isn’t a surprise at all that you can effectively recover without any issues as such. The only thing that you need to keep in mind is to ensure that you adhere to the necessary steps involved in the same.
