Managing Pain And Discomfort At Home
How To Heal Cracks In Your Tongue
This article was medically reviewed by Erik Kramer, DO, MPH. Dr. Erik Kramer is a Primary Care Physician at the University of Colorado, specializing in internal medicine, diabetes, and weight management. He received his Doctorate in Osteopathic Medicine from the Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2012. Dr. Kramer is a Diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine and is board certified. This article has been viewed 33,675 times.
Having cracks in your tongue is a sign of a condition known as fissured tongue. Though its usually harmless and benign, it can cause a burning sensation and could lead to a potential infection if food particles get lodged between the cracks. It can also be unsightly and embarrassing. Fortunately, fissured tongue often doesnt require any medical treatment and you can heal the cracks on your own with a few healthy habits. However, if your tongue shows signs of an infection, or youre unable to heal the cracks on your own, youll need to visit your doctor for treatment.
Symptoms And Causes Of Pain Under Tongue
If you have any kind of pain under your tongue, looking at the symptoms can help to identify the cause of the soreness. For example, the pain below your tongue may be accompanied by redness and inflammation that could indicate that irritation, a biting injury, or allergic reaction is to blame.
If canker sores or cold sores cause pain under your tongue, then you will probably notice blisters or bumps that may also weep fluid. The sores may be very tender to touch and may cause more pain in your mouth if you consume spicy food. They may even bleed if you injure them while brushing your teeth.
Certain infections may cause white patches on the top of your tongue or under your tongue. As well as the painful symptoms beneath your tongue you may have difficulty when speaking, chewing food, or swallowing.
In fact, the condition of your tongue can be an indicator of your health in general and you should always pay attention to how your tongue looks and feels.
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Apply Hydrogen Peroxide Topically
Hydrogen peroxide can help treat blisters caused by canker sores. It has strong antibacterial and antiseptic properties that help kill bacteria as well as reduce the risk of infection.
Note: Only 3% hydrogen peroxide will get the job done, so itâs well advised to keep the concentration limited to that. Besides, hydrogen peroxide can prove to be toxic if ingested and must only be used topically. Thus, exercise precaution when using this remedy.
Rinsing The Mouth With Cool Chamomile Tea
According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health , chamomile is a herbal remedy that can soothe mouth sores. Although it is generally safe, there is limited evidence for its benefits.
People commonly consume chamomile as an infusion or in tea. To treat a mouth sore, a person can gently rinse the mouth with cooled tea. They can also soak a chamomile tea bag and press lightly on to the affected area.
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Addressing The Causes Of Ulcers
Side Effects From Cancer Treatment
Cancer treatments including chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and radiation can damage cells in the mouth and cause tongue ulcers. Additional oral side effects can include other types of mouth sores, dry mouth, and changes in taste or smell. Your cancer care team can help you manage these symptoms so you can still get the hydration and nutrition you need during your treatment.
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Causes Of Canker Sores
- Canker sores have many causes.
- Minor injuries to the mouth can trigger a canker sore. Examples are from a rough food or a hard toothbrush. Biting oneself while chewing can start one.
- Food allergies or irritants may also be a trigger.
- Vitamin deficiencies can also be a cause. A vitamin deficiency can occur if your child is a picky eater.
- Canker sores can run in families .
- Often, the cause is unknown.
Is It Mouth Cancer
In a few cases, a long-lasting mouth ulcer can be a sign of mouth cancer. Ulcers caused by mouth cancer usually appear on or under the tongue, although you can get them in other areas of the mouth.
Risk factors for mouth cancer include:
- smoking or using products that contain tobacco
- drinking alcohol smokers who are also heavy drinkers have a much higher risk compared to the population at large
- infection with the human papilloma virus the virus that causes genital warts
It’s important to detect mouth cancer as early as possible. If mouth cancer is detected early, the chances of a complete recovery are good. Regular dental check-ups are the best way to detect the early signs.
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What Are The Causes Of Sore Tongue
There is a range of various triggers that can cause tongue problems. Most of them heal on their own and are not a serious issue. In other cases, however, the pain, discoloration, and change in texture could be a sign of a more complex health issue.
That includes vitamin deficiency, oral cancer, or food allergies. Therefore, its critical to find a dentist or consult with a GP to find the exact cause. Here are the typical causes of tongue issues.
How To Avoid Oral Sores
The best way to avoid oral health issues such as blisters, canker sores and oral thrush, is to do the following:
- Daily brushing with fluoride toothpaste and flossing
- Make sure to brush your tongue and gums
- Rinsing your mouth out after meals
- Maintain a healthy diet, and avoid highly acidic and sugary foods
- Visiting the dentist regularly for check-ups
- Remove dentures every night
- Ensure other medical conditions are under control
- Avoid oral hygiene products with sodium lauryl sulfate
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Natural Remedies To Heal Tongue Blisters
November 24, 2016 By Sruthika
Tongue blisters are painful sores that are formed due to an injury like scalding the tongue accidentally. These sores cause burning sensation and may be in white or yellow surrounded by a reddened area of the tongue. The blisters will interrupt the activities in which tongue involves and makes the sufferer difficult to eat or drink or speak.
Other reasons that contribute to the tongue blisters include canker sores , burning tongue syndrome, food allergies, enlarged papillae, oral cancer, certain medical problems, smoking, use of chemical based mouthwashes, sudden tongue biting with your teeth, hormonal imbalance, consuming fatty foods, deficiency of vitamin B, viral infections, certain medications, mouth injuries, poor dental work, etc.
They last for about 7 10 days and disappear itself. If not, its time to consult your doctor for proper diagnose and treatment accordingly. Meanwhile, follow some natural remedies at home, which help you to alleviate the pain and irritation caused due to tongue blisters.
How To Treat Tongue Burn Blisters
This article was co-authored by Laura Marusinec, MD. Dr. Marusinec is a board certified Pediatrician at the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, where she is on the Clinical Practice Council. She received her M.D. from the Medical College of Wisconsin School of Medicine in 1995 and completed her residency at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Pediatrics in 1998. She is a member of the American Medical Writers Association and the Society for Pediatric Urgent Care.There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, 80% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 227,214 times.
Most people have probably experienced a tongue burn at some point in their lives. These can range from a mild singe to a serious burn complete with blisters and severe pain. If you’ve sustained a burn on your tongue, there are several things you can do to relieve the pain and quicken the healing process.
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What Can I Do To Look After Myself If I Have A Mouth Ulcer
Here are some tips to look after yourself when you have a mouth ulcer:
- Try not to touch the sore area. Touching can disturb the healing process and can also spread an infection. If you do need to touch the area, make sure to wash your hands before and after.
- Use a soft toothbrush to clean your teeth. If your sores are so painful that you canât brush your teeth, use a mouthwash containing chlorhexidine instead. This is available from most local pharmacies and some supermarkets. Avoid using mouthwashes that contain alcohol.
- Rinsing with salt water can help relieve pain and reduce the chance of infection. Make a saltwater rinse by mixing one teaspoon of salt into a cup of water. Take a mouthful of the liquid and hold it in your mouth so it covers the affected area for two minutes, then spit it out. Do not swallow it. Repeat this process 4 times a day.
- Eat soft foods.
- Avoid very hot or spicy foods and drinks. Drinking cool water can help to ease a painful mouth.
- If your mouth is very sore, try drinking through a straw.
What Are The Symptoms Of A Mouth Ulcer
Mouth ulcers are easy to spot. They usually appear as sores on your lips, gums, tongue, inner cheeks or roof of the mouth. While red around the edges, mouth ulcers are typically white, yellow or gray in the center. You may only develop one ulcer, or there might be more. Other symptoms could include:
- Swelling around the ulcer.
- Increased soreness when brushing your teeth.
- Pain that worsens when eating spicy, salty or sour foods.
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Avoiding Irritants While Your Mouth Heals
What Caregivers Can Do
- Use a flashlight to check the patients mouth for red areas or white patches, which often become sores. If the patient wears dentures, remove them before looking.
- Offer liquids with a straw, which may help bypass the sores in the mouth.
- Offer soft foods. Mash or puree foods in a blender to make them easier to eat.
- Try coating mouth sores with Anbesol® or Orajel® before meals to numb them during eating, if OK with the cancer care team.
- Offer pain medicines 30 minutes before mealtime.
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Use Ice To Soothe The Blisters
Ice has a numbing effect that will give you soothing and immediate relief from the debilitating pain as well as reduce the swelling and inflammation two common symptoms that usually accompany tongue blisters.
How to use:
- Hold ice chips or cubes directly on the blisters or rub an ice cube on them until they become numb.
- Alternatively, you can take sips of ice-cold water from time to time to mitigate the pain.
Dont Let Tongue Blisters Get You Down But Do Get Them Checked Out
For the most part, tongue blisters arenât going to be a big deal. More often than not, they will result from biting your tongue or burning it with hot food. In those cases, our home remedies could work quite well, and help soothe the pain and discomfort that comes with tongue blisters. But there is also the possibility that they could be the sign of a bigger health concern. If the blisters last for more than a few days with little healing, make sure you see a doctor to ensure that your tongue blisters are not caused by something a little more sinister.
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Treating A Sore Tongue With Home Remedies
Home Remedies For Tongue Blisters
In this article:
However innocuous the tongue might seem given its puny size, it wields the power to greatly inconvenience you when indisposed.
A painful, sore, blister-ridden tongue, for instance, makes it incredibly hard for you to carry out some very basic yet essential functions like eating and speaking.
Thus, as much as you would want to shrug off your ailing tongue as a temporary nuisance, it becomes almost impossible to ignore the discomfort while it lasts.
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