Let’s Begin Understanding a Sore Tongue
A sore tongue or glossodynia that it called medically can arise out of a number of causes and could range from minor problems to very serious ones. Derived from the words gloss meaning tongue and dynia meaning pain, it is good to note that sore tongue should not be tolerated for long time, with soreness persisting for a long time requiring the attention of professional medical help.
It is first very important to note that tongue is hailed as the strongest muscle in the human body, with the tongue containing various other muscles that help you to taste food, swallow and talk. As a general rule the tongue is pink and is covered by small nodules called papillae.
It has been noticed that the tongue is one of the most used part of the body, with its constant use leading to frustrating and uncomfortable problems that could result not only in soreness but also lead to discoloration. In most cases a sore tongue may not be indicative of any serious problems, but it is found that certain serious conditions that lead to a discolored and painful tongue like vitamin deficiencies, AIDS and oral cancer cannot be ruled out.
Sore tongue could find one of its main reasons in dental trauma, where a rough calculus or sharp teeth could not only cause irritation in the tongue, but biting of the tongue that is habit among also traumatizes the tongue.
It is also true that dental treatment and oral surgery or an injection given during dental treatments could also cause pain in tongue. It is still more significant to note that kidney disease, drug sensitivities, blood dyscrasias lichen planus, chemical or drug toxicities, salivary disorders, metabolic disorders, hormonal imbalances, and collagen vascular disorder could also cause soreness or pain in the tongue.
Some prominent causes for soreness or pain in tongue
Soreness in the tongue could find its cause to trauma of the tongue that could be caused by accidently biting the tongue or scalding it by eating something really hot that continues to be sore till the damage heals and the tongue is back to normal. It is also found that not just biting of teach, but clenching the teeth and grinding it has also resulted in irritation on the sides of the tongue that could be sometimes very painful.
It is again significant to find that smoking excessively leads to irritation and soreness of the tongue. Smoking has not only altered the taste of foods in a smoker’s mouth, but has also led to serious conditions as tongue cancer.
It is true that smoking could cause a coating that is whitish to look at and there could be white spots too. The condition is known as leukoplakia and could cause cells in the mouth to multiply at a very fast pace.
It is significant to note that leukoplakia may not be an important indicator of cancer, but it is best to get a dentist’s opinion as it has been found that it is most commonly found in those that use tobacco products and could ultimately lead to more serious conditions.
It is still more significant to note that a sore tongue that is accompanied by painful bumps could be an indication of canker sores that most people experience at some time or the other in their lives.
The real cause of canker sores is unknown, but it has been noted that stress could be the cause, as these sores worsen during excessively stressful periods. You would find that your tongue could turn reddish due to vitamin deficiencies that are mainly caused by deficiencies of Vitamin B12 and folic acid.
A strawberry tongue that is sore could be caused as a result of suffering from scarlet fever or streptococcal infection. This calls for immediate attention in case of high fever and a red tongue, with antibiotic treatment proving to be the highest priority. It is still more important to note that Kawasaki syndrome that is seen in young children could bring about high fever accompanied by a strawberry tongue and also swelling and redness on your hands and feet.
A sore tongue could also accompany certain medical conditions like anemia and diabetes and be one of the symptoms for these health disorders. In addition enlarged papillae where one or more taste buds are irritated or inflamed could also lead to swelling and painful bumps on the tongue.
A sore tongue that is red or white could be caused by Candida infection that is an infection that could occur as a side effect to certain existing medical conditions. It is significant to note here that the patient does not take care to hydrate him or her well, with not drinking enough water, but drinking other fluids that are rich in alcohol and caffeine could cause this condition. The tongue could be furry. It is good to note that Crohn’s disease and celiac disease could also cause sore tongue conditions.
Lastly what a sore tongue means is best answered with food allergies that could cause not only ulceration of the mouth and throat, but also cause sore tongue. It is significant to note that toothpaste, mouthwash, chewing gum, acrylic dentures, denture adhesive, dental amalgam (filling material) and artificial cinnamon flavoring have all been linked to stomatitis that anything foreign could aggravate. In addition some prescription medications could also find their side effects in a sore tongue.