Tongue

Do you have swollen taste buds? What causes them and how can you get rid of it? In this article, we have explained the various causes of inflamed taste buds, symptoms and how to get rid of it instantly. 

Before you get to know what causes taste buds to become swollen, let us start by finding out what they are.  Taste bud are tiny structures that are found on the upper surface of your tongue, esophagus, epiglottis and inner part of the cheeks
They are responsible for tasting different elements in food i.e. bitter, sweet, sour and salty. However, they cannot perform their function well when they are swollen. They may also cause some discomforts when swollen or inflamed.

Why do we get swollen Taste Buds?

The main causes includes the following:

• Allergic reactions

Different allergens found in food, medications and dental care products among others can irritate your taste buds making them to become swollen. An allergic reaction may also cause other parts of your mouth to swollen such as sides of your inner cheeks and roof of your mouth.
This condition usually emerges a couple of minutes or hours after encountering an allergen. Some people may encounter this problem after taking certain foods like grapefruits, citrus, sea food or nuts. Making some changes on your diet and dental care products can help to fix this condition.

• Mouth infections

There are various mouth infections that can cause inflamed and swollen taste buds. This condition is common to individuals who have acquired mouth ulcers, oral thrush or yeast infection. Some of this mouth condition are also accompanied with other symptoms such as gum bleeding, inflammations, pain or swelling.

• Hot foods and drinks

Taking foods and drinks at high temperatures might burn the taste buds and other parts of your mouth and tongue. This causes the taste buds or the whole tongue to become swollen. This condition normally happens immediately after taking hot foods and drinks.
For instance, taking a very hot tea or coffee may cause a swollen mouth and tongue. It may also cause peeling of mouth roof membranes and other parts. This condition can cause mouth inflammation or pain among other discomforts.

• Spicy, salty and acidic foods and drinks

Spicy, salty or acidic foods can irritate the taste buds and cause them to become swollen. Irritation to the tongue may cause it to become itchy. Avoid the temptation of running your tongue against your teeth as it may worsen your condition.

• Trauma or injury to the tongue

Trauma or injuries to the tongue may result from cuts, burns laceration or biting among others.  An injury or damage to the tongue tissues causes the taste buds to become swollen and painful. You are also supposed to be gentle while cleaning your tongue. Rough tongue cleaners may also cause tiny injuries.

• Alcohol and tobacco smoking

A part from causing red spots on tongue, tobacco and alcohol may cause your taste buds to become swollen. Alcohol and tobacco contains strong chemicals and toxins that irritates the taste receptors. This gives a way to other infections that causes inflammation of taste buds.

• Nutritional deficiencies

Inadequate intake of vitamin B Complex, vitamin C or folic acid can result to swollen taste buds and other mouth problems. The above vitamins are very important in maintaining a healthy oral cavity, ensure that they are included in your diet to avoid deficiencies.

• Acid reflux condition

The acid that is regurgitated from the stomach to the mouth is too strong and it causes the taste buds to swell. It irritates the tongue that results to swelling of the taste receptors.

• Cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiotherapy

Most of the cancer patients suffers from mouth mucous membrane damage due to treatments like chemotherapy and radiation therapy. These treatments affects all cells that are dividing rapidly and they may also affect those that are dividing normally like the taste buds.

• Strong mouthwash products

Mouthwash and dental care products that contains strong chemicals may also be the reason as to why you are experiencing swollen taste receptors. Such products irritates or damages the mucous membrane of your mouth.

• Depression and stress

Have you ever noticed a change in the color and size of tongue when having stress? High levels of stress or depression causes swelling of taste buds. Having a prolonged stress lowers your body immune system. This condition increases the risk of infections that may cause swelling of the taste buds.

• Oral surgery

Having a history of oral surgery procedures such as removal of larynx can result to enlarged or swollen taste receptors as one of its side effects.

What are the Symptoms of Swollen Taste Buds

There are various symptoms that you may experience when your tongue is swollen. They includes the following:

1. The tongue may have partial or total loss of taste in different elements in food, i.e. changes in the ability to taste sweet, sour, salty or bitter.
2. A swollen tongue may also develop painful red or white sores that disappears upon healing.
3. The color also changes from normal to either white, brown, black, brightly pink or have patches of different colors.
4. It becomes painful, inflamed or itchy especially when eating or drinking food. It causes an urge to run the tongue over the teeth which should be avoided as it can worsen your condition.
5. The size also changes as it may become too large due to swelling.
6. You may also experience difficulties when moving the tongue. For instance, during chewing and swallowing food or when talking.
7. The texture also changes.
8. The mouth develops a dad smell as it may be difficult to perform thorough dental and tongue cleaning

The inflammation, pain or swelling can be alleviated by using some of the home remedies for swollen taste buds or over the counter treatment. However, you should visit your doctor for diagnosis and treatment when the symptoms: persists for several days with no improvements, are severe and causes a lot of discomfort or when the cause of your condition is unknown.
The doctors will be able to examine your condition and perform several tests to determine the exact cause of your condition. He or she may also ask you several questions. For instance, you will be asked for how long you have had the symptoms, any treatment you have taken, whether your tongue has lost the taste or not and other more relevant questions.
Once the doctor will have performed the diagnosis and the cause of your condition is determined, he or she will recommend the type of treatment to use. You may be given prescription medicines to use until your condition improves.

Reasons for Enlarged Taste Buds on Back of Tongue

Taste buds located at the back of your tongue are responsible for tasting bitterness in food. It may not be able to perform its function well when swollen. You may also experience some difficulties in chewing and swallowing food when this part of the tongue is affected. It can also be a companied with some pain, inflammation or bleeding.
It is normal to have enlarged taste buds on back of your tongue at some point in your life. It means that you may have ingested food or a substance that irritates them or an allergic reaction that triggers an inflammation and swelling.
An enlarged taste buds as a result of allergic reaction normally heals with little or no treatment. However, raised taste buds on back of tongue can also result from other conditions such as canker sores, herpes or warts and may require a serious medical treatment.
It is therefore advisable to visit your doctor to determine the exact cause of your condition. Other life threatening condition like cancer may also cause enlarged taste buds at the back of your tongue and can easily be treated when identified early.

Can you get Inflamed Taste Buds on Tip of Tongue

The tip of your tongue contains taste buds that are responsible for tasting sweet and salty elements in food. When this taste buds are inflamed, it may be difficult to taste properly and it may lead to loss of appetite since the food may seem tasteless.
The common causes of inflamed taste buds at the tip of your tongue includes: taking too hot food or drinks, too spicy or salty food, trauma or injury to the tongue, infections and allergic reactions among others. However, there are various precautions you can take to avoid inflammation of the taste buds, they includes:

• Try to avoid taking too hot, salty or spicy foods or drinks. They are the major causes of swollen taste buds and other tongue problems such as inflammation, pain or bleeding.
• Avoid taking or using substances that contains high levels of chemicals or toxins such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption and strong dental care products.
• Keep good oral dental hygiene to prevent bacterial infections that causes inflammations of taste buds.
• Be careful when chewing food to avoid injuries that results from tongue biting.
• Visit your doctor to identify and treat the underlying cause of your tongue problem to prevent future occurrences.

When you put the above prevention measures into practice, you will have no problem of inflamed, swollen or painful taste buds on different parts of your tongue including the tip, sides and back.

Can Sore Throat Cause Swollen Taste Buds

Having a sore throat simply means that you are suffering from upper respiratory infection which is also known as common cold. This is an infection that affects the lining of you upper breathing passage that is above your lungs.
This infection usually affects different areas at the same time such as the nose, sinus, ear, throat, windpipe, back part of tongue or the voice box. It is normally accompanied with various symptoms like headache, sneezing, vomiting, fever, running nose, swollen lymph nodes.
This infection may also affect the back part of your tongue to cause swollen or enlarged taste buds. However, it is recommended to visit your doctor for treatment. He or she may recommend to use antibiotics to treat your condition.

How to Treat Swollen Taste Buds

Taste buds are responsible for tasting different foods and drinks. However, it may be difficult to taste different elements in food when they are swollen. Therefore it is very important find out the best treatment that is effective on how to get rid of swollen taste buds on your tongue instantly. Some of the treatments includes the following:

1. Gargle saline water

Gargling salt water in your mouth helps to relieve the swollen parts of your tongue as well as other discomforts. To use this treatment, you simply add one teaspoon of salt in one glass of warm water and stir well to dissolve. Gargle the solution in your mouth for at least three times a day until your condition improves.

2. Take water to get hydrated

Low levels of water in your body or dehydration may cause sore taste buds. Keeping your body hydrated by taking at least 8 glasses of water can be a quick relieve of your condition. Hydration also helps to relieve irritation or inflammation of your taste buds.

3. Try baking soda

Baking soda is also effective on how to get rid of inflamed taste buds fast. It contains anti-inflammatory properties that relieve swelling and irritation when applied on the affected areas. Baking soda is also effective in removing gastric acid in your mouth from regurgitated food.
It is very simple to use this remedy, you simply mix one tablespoon of baking soda and water to make a paste. Apply it directly on the affected areas and leave it there. Repeat the procedure twice or thrice a day until your condition is healed.

4. Use ice chips

Apply ice chips on your tongue and leave it there for some time. It helps to relive swelling, inflammation and other discomforts. You should also be careful when using the ice cubes or chips to relive a sore tongue as it may cause burning. Don’t allow them to overstay on your tongue, 2-3 minutes thrice a day are enough.

5. Use raw honey

Honey is also an effective remedy for relieving a sore taste buds. It contains anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties that works together in fighting bacterial infections as well as soothing your tongue. Using raw honey, swash it in your mouth several times a day to alleviate the swelling.
Alternatively, you can make a warm honey solution and gargle it in your mouth for 2-3 times a day. Repeat this treatment daily until your condition improves.

6. Gargle with tea tree oil

Tea tree oil is also very effective on how to get rid of swollen taste buds on back of tongue. It also contains anti-bacterial properties that help in fighting different bacterial infection may be causing swollen taste receptors.
You simply mix few drops of this natural oil in a glass of warm water and gargle it in your mouth 2-3 times a day to relieve the swelling. You need to be careful when using this remedy to avoid ingesting it also excessive use of tea tree oil has some side effects like hallucination.

7. Use antiseptic mouth wash

Using antiseptic mouth washes help to relieve taste buds swelling especially when caused by a bacterial infection. It also helps to fight the bacteria and hence preventing other future infections. Swish or gargle the antiseptic mouth wash and spit it off. Be careful not to swallow it. Repeat twice daily until your condition improves.

8. Use a mixture of ginger, garlic and pepper

This three ingredients makes an effective combination that relieves sore taste buds. They work effectively especially when a bacterial infection is the underlying cause of your condition. Grind them together to make a paste and apply it directly on the swollen areas.

9. Apply glycerin

Glycerin is effective for treating sore taste buds especially when caused by an injury or trauma. It has excellent healing properties that relive inflammation and other discomforts. Apply it directly on the affected areas.

10. Treat the underlying cause

Swollen taste receptors can be caused by a number of factors as you read earlier. Visit your healthcare provider for diagnosing and treatment to prevent future occurrences of the same condition. Your doctor will recommend treatment that will heal your condition.
You may be required to take antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals or vitamin supplements to treat your condition. Take the medicines as directed by your doctors. Ensure that you complete your dosage even if you may start seeing improvements.
When you are having sore taste buds, they can be of different colors, size and may swell on different part of your tongue. For instance, at the tip, back or sides of your tongue. They are also characterized with other symptoms such as inflammation, pain and itchy.

Dark tongue refers to having small or tiny black dots on different parts of your tongue, i.e. tip of your tongue, sides, back, under or entire surface of your tongue. Their color varies from dark to light grey pigment.
In some cases, the dark patches usually starts from the sides and spreads to the center of your tongue. The appearance of the dark dots usually varies depending with the cause, some may be slightly bumpy or raised above the tongue surface.

Why do I have Black Spots on Tongue?

Here are some of the causes:

1. Hyperpigmentation

Hyperpigmentation is a condition that occurs as a result of excessive melanin. Melanin is a natural occurring pigment that gives the skin, hair or fur the dark color. It can therefore cause darkening of your skin as well as part of your tongue or the whole tongue.
Hyperpigmentation may cause the dark dots to appear on the sides of your tongue, tip of your tongue, back or the whole tongue. You don’t need to worry when your dark dots as a result of hyperpigmentation. It is a condition that is harmless and does not cause any serious problem to your health.
However, some people especially women may not like this condition for cosmetic purposes. It can therefore be removed using various treatments including laser or other cosmetic surgeries, use of over the counter products that contains, kojic acid, hydroquinone or calcium among others. There are also various home remedies that can effectively fade away the dark spots.

2. Oral fibroma

This condition also causes smooth and tiny black spots on tongue. The spots may be slightly elevated above the tongue surface. Oral fibroma is non-cancerous and they can develop on different parts of your mouth including inside the cheeks, on roof of your mouth and under the tongue.
This condition results from repeated trauma or injuries to the tongue that may be caused by habits like biting your tongue or taking very hot, spicy and salty foods or beverages for a long period of time. Some people believe that this condition is hereditary and you can inherit it from other members of your family.
Oral fibroma can be treated using surgery but this doesn’t guarantee you a permanent treatment if you don’t stop injuring your tongue frequently. It may also reoccur and can lead to other oral conditions or diseases. It is therefore good to take good care of your tongue including avoiding injuries.

3. Tongue piercing
   

   

Tongue piercing is a trending fashion among some women and men but it may also come a long with some challenges including black dot on tongue around the piercing site. Dark dots usually occurs because the original pigment is lost at the piercing area.
Poor tongue piercing aftercare practices can also result to various infections like fungal that can leads to dark spots. It is therefore recommended to follow the instructions given strictly after piercing to avoid such conditions.
Black spots on tongue as a result of piercing usually disappears on its own upon healing of your piercing. Visit your doctor or your professional tongue piercer for treatment if the black spots fails to fade away upon healing of your tongue piercing.

4. Oral cancer

Oral cancer is another condition that can causes black dots on your tongue. If you are diagnosed with oral cancer, you are likely to experience black spots on your tongue that doesn’t go away easily even after trying some of the home remedies treatments.
The black spots may develop on different parts of your tongue and mouth including the sides of our tongue and mouth, tip or back of your tongue or the entire tongue. It may be accompanied with other symptoms like bleeding especially when brushing your teeth and cleaning your tongue.
There are various habits that increases your chances of getting oral cancer like excessive smoking and alcohol consumption. The risk of getting this condition also increases if your family members has a history of oral cancer.

5. Excessive intake of alcohol and smoking

Excessive intake of alcohol and tobacco smoking are the major causes of black tongue. It also increases the risk of developing fungal and bacterial infections on your tongue that also causes the black spots to appear on your tongue
To treat this condition, you have to quit smoking and avoid excessive alcohol consumption. You should also visit your doctors for treatment of the existing dark dots. He or she may also advice you on the proper tongue hygiene that will help to get rid of your condition.

6. Poor oral hygiene

Dark spots may also develop on your tongue due to poor oral hygiene of your tongue. Unhygienic tongue harbors various germs like bacteria and fungi that results to various infections that causes tiny black spots on tongue.
Cleaning the tongue properly using a brush or a tongue scraper helps to prevent new spots from developing on your tongue as well as healing the existing ones. When cleaning the tongue, ensure you brush the teeth twice a day and floss regularly.

7. Pregnancy

In some cases, women may develop dark spots on the tongue during pregnancy or when taking birth control pills. Pregnancy and contraceptives causes hormonal changes in your body that may influence your endocrine system that may result to hyperpigmentation of your tongue. This condition normally resolves on its own after delivery or when you stop taking the contraceptives.

8. Cancer treatments like chemotherapy

If you are under cancer treatments like chemotherapy, you may experience black tongue and other symptoms that includes like nail pigmentation. You may use some of the home remedy treatments to restore your tongue back to its color after chemotherapy treatments.

9. Trauma or injuries

Tongue injuries that results from tongue biting, very hot, spicy or salty foods may be another cause of black spots on your tongue. Injuries can also be a companied with other symptoms like irritation, inflammation or swelling.

10. Allergy

Body allergic reactions to different allergens in food, medication and dental care products can cause black spots on tongue and other parts of your body including the skin. Taking over-the-counter medication like antihistamine can help to fix your condition. However, don’t hesitate to visit your doctor if the symptoms persists.

11. Medication

Black dots can develop on your tongue when taking certain medicines like antibiotics. This condition occurs when the medicines interacts with your tongue. However, not all antibiotics causes black tongue. Those containing bismuth salicylate, asthma inhalers and anti-depressant are among the drugs that can cause this condition.

12. Anemic condition

If you are having anemia, you are likely to experience dark dots on your tongue. The spots may be clustered on different parts on your tongue or scattered all over your tongue surface. This condition is commonly accompanied with a pale tongue.

13. Hairy tongue

This is a condition that causes the whole tongue to develop black spots. It causes tiny black spots on tongue including the tip, side, center, back and under. Excessive smoking, alcohol consumption and intake of antibiotics are major causes of this condition.
It therefore causes the tongue to get infected by fungus that is also another cause of dark patches on your tongue. The patches may spread to the whole tongue turning it black when you fail to stop the use of tobacco and alcohol.

14. Other causes

Apart from what we have discussed above, the other possible causes of black tongue includes excessive body dehydration, frequent use of mouthwash that contains harsh chemicals like peroxide, menthol or witch hazel, taking coffee or tea a lot and not being able to produce enough saliva in your mouth.

What does Black Spots under Tongue mean?

It is recommended to visit your doctor right away once you notice black spots under your tongue. All the causes that are discussed above can cause this condition. It could also be concerning a certain form of mouth cancer which is life threatening and requires immediate medical tension.
In most cases melanoma is among the major causes of dark spots under your tongue. Melanoma is a type of cancer that results from pigment cells that gives your skin the color. It can occur on any part of your body including under the tongue or sides of mouth. This condition is common among smokers.
The other common cause of dark dots under tongue filling some of your teeth with silver or amalgam. In the process of amalgamation, some silver particles are thrown at a high speed and may deposit itself on the lower part of your tongue.
Tongue piercing may also leave a dark spot under your tongue upon healing. Poor tongue piercing aftercare instructions may also lead to infections that causes dark patches under the tongue.

Reasons for Small or Tiny Black Spots on Tongue

As you had read earlier, small or tiny black or dark spots on tongue are caused by various things such as poor oral hygiene, hyperpigmentation, oral cancer, injuries or trauma, allergic reactions, medical conditions, excessive alcohol consumption and smoking among other causes.
They can appear on different parts of the tongue like on the side of the tongue, sides of the tongue, back, tip or on the entire tongue. In most cases tiny dark spots can be harmless although painful and may disappear with no or little treatment.
However, it is recommended to visit your doctor when the dark bumps becomes swollen, painful, inflamed or when they bleed. You will be diagnosed to determine the exact cause before being given prescription medicines to treat the condition.

Meaning of Dark Spots on Tip of Tongue

Smoking and drinking excessive alcohol among other things may cause black spots on the tip of your tongue. If you fail to stop the habit of smoking and chewing tobacco, the spots may spread to the sides and finally to the entire tongue.
The dark spots on the tip of your tongue will disappear when you quit smoking and start practicing good oral hygiene that involves scraping your tongue, brushing your teeth twice and flossing regularly. Taking roughages may also help to clear your stained tongue.

How to Get Rid of Black Spots on Tongue

If the dark spots on your tongue is not caused by a serious condition, you can easily get rid of it by making some adjustment on your lifestyle and oral health.
However, this condition can also be caused by life threatening conditions like oral cancer and it is recommended to visit your doctor for diagnosis and treatment especially when experiencing bleeding, inflammation, swelling or pain. The following treatment and remedies can help to fix your condition:

• Improve your oral hygiene

Improper oral hygiene is the major cause of this tongue condition and it is therefore important to improve on it if you are intending to get rid of stains on your tongue.  Brushing or scraping your tongue at least once or twice a day helps to remove the dirty that harbors the fungi that causes the dark stains.
It is also important to brush your teeth twice daily and floss to remove and kill the bacteria that causes mouth infection. You may also use a mouthwash to kill the bacteria. Avoid mouthwashes that contains harsh chemicals.

• Avoid smoking and excessive intake of alcohol

Smoking tobacco stains your tongue and teeth and encourages the formation of plaque that provides favorable condition for bacterial and fungal growth. Excessive intake of alcohol may also cause excessive dehydration of soft tissues in your mouth and therefore leading to plaque formation.

• Drink plenty of water

Dehydration encourages formation of plaque or stains on your tongue and teeth. Ensure that you take 8 glasses of water or more to keep your body hydrated. Drinking water regularly also helps to clean your mouth.

• Take sufficient and quality roughages

Add more and quality roughages to your diet. It helps in cleaning the black spots on tongue and hence keeping the plaque at bay. Incorporate sufficient fruits and raw vegetables in your diet.

• Gargle garlic and coconut oil solution

Mash a garlic to make a paste, add some coconut oil and some water to make a solution. Gargle the solution in your mouth 3-4 times a day. Garlic and coconut oil has anti-fungal properties that fights the fungal infections in your mouth. Coconut oil also helps in detoxing and pulling off the stains.

• Gargle with cinnamon and clove water

Cinnamon and cloves has antiseptic properties that helps in fighting various bacterial infections in your mouth that stains your tongue. This two ingredients also helps to restore some freshness in your breath. Mix equal amount cinnamon and clove in a glass of water. Boil it for 3 minutes and allow the solution to cool before gargling in your mouth.

• Use Neem

Neem solution is bitter but effective for removing stains on your tongue. To use this remedy, you simply take 6 leaves of Neem tree and boil in a glass of water. Allow to mixture to cool and gargle it twice a day daily until the dark spots vanishes.

• Visit your doctor for diagnosis and treatment

It is advisable to visit your doctor right away for diagnosis and treatment when having dark spots on your tongue that are bleeding, swollen or inflamed. Your doctor will perform the test and prescribe some medicine to use.

References:

1. Tongue problem basics: http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/tongue-problem-basics-sore-or-discolored-tongue-and-tongue-bumps?page=2
2. Causes of black spots on the tongue: http://medicaltreasure.com/black-spots-on-tongue/
3. Black spots on tongue: http://www.md-health.com/Black-Spots-On-Tongue.html
4. Black sports on the tongue causes and treatment: http://www.wowremedies.com/black-spots-on-tongue-causes-and-treatment/
5. Home remedies to get rid of stains from the tongue: http://www.ayushveda.com/magazine/home-remedies-to-get-rid-of-stains-from-the-tongue/

Having red spots on the tongue can be a worry especially when it is as a result of an infection. Before you develop that panic, it is better to visit your doctor for diagnosis to find out the exact cause of your problem.
Red spots can develop on different parts of your tongue including the tip of your tongue, side of the tongue, under the tongue or at the back. They may be small or big in size depending with the cause.
Spots can also appear under your tongue as a result of allergic reactions, cancer sores, injury or trauma, oral cancer, salivary duct stones or irritation to the tongue. Using some of the home remedies treatment can help to relieve the pain and other discomforts caused by this condition.

Why do I have Red Spots on my Tongue?

Common causes include the following:

• Lie bumps or transient lingual papilitis

Both half of adults and children have experienced lie bumps on their tongue at some point in life. They are little red or white bumps that forms on the tongue when the papillae becomes irritated or swollen. The exact cause of this problem is not clearly established.
It is believed that lie bumps are related to hormonal changes in the body, stress, body allergic reactions to allergens or certain infections. They usually disappears on their own with little or no treatment. Lie bumps are quite contagious in children and may be accompanied with other symptoms like fever and swollen lymph nodes

• Trauma or injury to the tongue

Trauma may cause painful red dots on tongue. Trauma or injury is caused by biting the tongue accidentally, burns from eating hot food and drinks, spicy foods or using a rough brush to tongue cleaner when cleaning the tongue. The red spots disappears upon healing of the injury. Trauma may also cause the tongue to become inflamed, swollen or painful.

• Canker sores

Cancer sores are also known as aphthous ulcers. They causes painful sores with white or yellowish center with a red base. Apart from red spots on tongue, they can develop on any other area of your mouth including side of the cheeks, on the gums, roof of the mouth and under or on the surface of the tongue.
The good news is that, this condition may heal on its own without medication within 1 to 2 weeks. However, you may use over-the-counter medicines to relieve the discomfort. Severe infection may cause fever and swollen lymph nodes, you may be required to visit your doctor for diagnosis and treatment.

• Allergy

Body allergic reaction to different allergens found in food, medications and chemicals can cause red bumps on tongue. An allergic reaction is always accompanied with other symptoms like swollen mouth sides, lips and tongue, inflammation or sore throat, dizziness, difficulties in breathing or vomiting. This normally happens after some time of encountering an allergen.

• Oral thrush

Oral thrush is also known as oral candidiasis, it is a yeast infection that causes red spots to appear on the tongue. You are likely to experience this condition under the following circumstances: when you have taken antibiotics recently, having weak body immune system, practicing improper oral hygiene, wearing un-fit dentures or when suffering from diabetes.
Oral thrush can easily be treated by using over the counter antifungal medicines such as tablets, gels or liquids that are applied directly on the sores. You should not hesitate to see your doctors when the symptoms persists or when experiencing excessive inflammation in the mouth.

• Inflamed or enlarged papillae

Inflamed papillae can also cause red spots on tongue.  This can be caused by taking hot drinks and food. An inflamed tongue is characterized by swelling and pain and can be relieved by taking over-the-counter pain relievers.

• scarlet fever

Scarlet fever is an infection that is caused by streptococcal bacteria. This infection causes red spots on tongue and sore throat. It can also be accompanied with other symptoms like high fever, sore throat, headache and nausea among others.
It is also likely to affect other parts of your body including the upper parts of your chest, lips, inside your mouth and even the lower parts of the tongue. This infection can easily be treated using antibiotics. However, if the symptoms persist don’t hesitate to visit your doctor for diagnosis and treatment.

• oral cancer

Oral cancer can also affect different parts of your mouth including the front area of tongue. When in its early stages, it causes painless bumps on different parts on the mouth including the tongue which does not go away easily.
Oral cancer is also accompanied with other symptoms such as numbness of any part of the mouth, pain while chewing and swallowing food and drinks, bumps in the mouth that are resistance to some of the home remedies treatment and some pain while speaking or moving the tongue.

• Viral infections

Viral infections such as oral herpes or herpes simplex virus causes a cluster of red and painful bumps on the various parts of the mouth including the mouth, lips or tongue. Bumps as a result of viral infection usually develops after having unprotected or oral sex with an infected person.
They usually occurs within a period of 7 to 10 days. Taking antiviral medicines does not help to treat this condition but it helps to relieve the symptoms and fastens the healing process. Herpes can also affect other parts of your body including the genitals.

• Vitamin and mineral deficiency

Lack or inadequate vitamins B-12 in your diet can cause red spots on tongue. Taking a diet that is rich in vitamin B-12 can help to fix this condition. Ensure that your diet contains liver, fortified cereals, red meat, skimmed milk, cheese, eggs, fortified soy products, mackerel fish, shell fish and crustaceans.
Iron deficiency results to pernicious anemia which may also cause red spots on back of tongue and other parts. This condition also causes other symptoms that includes weight loss, heartburn, nausea, and depression among others. Take iron and vitamin supplements to get rid of this condition.

• Kawasaki disease

This is an infection that commonly affects children who are below the age of 5 years old. It affects the blood vessels which leads to red dots on tongue. The other parts of the body that can be affected includes the mouth, lymph nodes and the skin.
This infection is characterized by fever, purple and swollen feet soles and palms, enlarged lymph nodes, dry skin, white coated tongues and rashes on different parts of the body including stomach, chest or genitals. Take your kid to a health care provider for treatment right away after observing the mentioned symptoms.

• Digestive disorders

There are various digestive disorders that may cause red bumps to appear on your tongue. Acid reflux is the common digestive condition that results to red bumps on the tongue when it is regurgitated from the stomach to the tongue surface. You can experience other symptoms like heartburn, hiccups or bloating.

• Circumvallate papillae

Red pumps at the back of your tongue that tends to be bigger in size than those that appears at the tip are known as circumvallate papillae. This type of tongue bumps are always there at the back of the tongue and may become prominent or swollen when you are having an infection, sore throat or trauma to the tongue.

• Geographic tongue

Geographic tongue is also known as benign migratory or oral erythema migrans.  It is a condition that results to irregular red patches with a white line to appear on the surface of the tongue. It causes sensitivity of the tongue to certain food and drinks.
The red patches usually disappears within 1-4 weeks and may also re-appears on a different part of the tongue. This condition may heal on its own within some time. Seek medical treatment when this condition becomes persistence over a long period of time.

• Strawberry tongue

Strawberry tongue is also a condition that causes red spots on tongue. This condition causes the tongue to change the color from its normal pink to red. It causes the taste buds to become swollen or inflamed.

• Other causes includes the following: Hand, foot and mouth disease, strep throat, excessive body heat, asthma, excessive smoking, eczema and ulcers.

Bumps on the tongue may disappear on their own with little or no treatment when the cause is not very serious. However, don’t hesitate to visit your doctor when the bumps becomes swollen, inflamed, excessively painful or when you don’t understand the cause of your problem. You are also supposed to be diagnosed and treated for painless bumps that does not go away easily.

What does Red Spots on Back of Tongue mean?

There are various reasons that can cause red bumps to appear on back of tongue. Although most of the bumps may not be serious but it is a good idea to identify the cause of the spots and seek the necessary treatment.
Some of the red spots can easily be eliminated by making some adjustments on your lifestyle while those that are as a result of serious conditions may require medical treatment. Here are some causes of this tongue problem:

1. Inflamed papillae

The tongue surface contains small bumps called papillae and when inflamed they can become swollen and generally show up as red spots on the tongue. Inflammation of the papillae can result from various conditions like trauma or injury to the tongue which may result from biting the tongue, eating very hot food or drinks and very salty, sugary or spicy foods.

2. Circumvallate papillae

Circumvallate papillae are those bumps that appears on the extreme end of your tongue, they are bigger in size as compared to those that appears on the tip. These bumps becomes red and more prominent when having sore throat or other throat infections.
Other causes
There is also a number of things that can cause red spots on back of tongue. The common causes includes allergies, trauma or injury, cold sores, scarlet fever, Kawasaki disease, syphilis, oral cancer, canker sores, leukoplakia and hand, foot and mouth disease among others.
Some of the red spots on tongue can become inflamed, swollen or painful. There are various home remedies treatment that can help to relieve the discomfort. They includes the following:

• Gargle salt water in your mouth twice or thrice a day. It helps to reduce inflammation and the size of the bumps. Salt solution also prevents the infection from spreading to other parts of your tongue.
• Maintain good oral hygiene of your mouth and tongue by brushing your teeth after every meal and floss regularly to prevent bacterial infection on the tongue.
• Avoid eating food that may irritate your taste buds such as hot, very salty or sugary, spicy, and fatty. They mare worsen your condition.
• Clean your mouth daily using medical proven mouthwash to keep away bacterial infections.
• Chewing mint leaves before going to bed can help to reduce the size of the bumps while preventing new ones from developing.
• Apply a cold compress to your tongue by putting ice chips directly to the bumps. It helps to reduce inflammation and other discomforts.
• Taking vitamin and iron supplements may also help to get rid of bumps that are caused by nutritional deficiencies.
• Use over-the-counter products such as topical creams and ibuprofen to relieve the pain and other discomforts.
• A mixture of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide are also effective for treating the bumps. Mix to form a paste and apply directly to the affected part.
• The size of the pimples can be reduced by applying magnesia milk to the bumps twice a day.

However, when the bumps resist home remedies treatment, persists for a long time or becomes excessively painful. It is a good idea to visit your doctor for diagnosing and treatment. Some of the red spots on tongue are caused by serious medical conditions that requires prescription medicines.

What are these Small Red Dots on the Tongue

Small red spots on the tongue can be caused by injury, allergic reactions, nutritional deficiencies, specific medical conditions, smoking, cancer sores, scarlet fever, stomatitis, herpes, burning tongue syndrome, inflamed papillae, oral thrush, Kawasaki diseased, oral cancer or leukoplakia.
They are characterized by various symptoms like painful or painless, burning sensation or inflammation of the tongue especially when taking hot food or drinks. You may also experience some difficulties when chewing or swallowing food, speaking or when laughing.
The other symptoms may include fever, swollen lymph nodes, sore throat or nausea especially when the red spots on tongue are caused by an infection.
Most of the bumps may disappear on their own with little or no treatment. However, sometimes they may become excessively painful, swollen, inflamed or persistence and may require a doctor’s diagnosis and treatment. You should also check for painless and persistence bumps as they may result from serious health conditions.

What are Red Dots on Tongue and Sore Throat a Symptom of?

Sexually transmitted infections or diseases also causes red spots on tongue and sore throat. Syphilis is the common infection that causes this problem and it usually starts with tiny, painless sores that easily goes away after some time.
After the initial stage, it will be followed by a rash or more sores that will also disappear after some time. The sores may develop on other parts of the body like vulva, vagina, and tip of the penis, cervix or lips. The sores will appear on the mouth and tongue during the secondary stage.
When syphilis is discovered in its early stages, it can easily be treated using antibiotics. However, it can lead to various body complications or death when left untreated. Weakened body immune system due to HIV and Aids can also trigger other infections to cause bumps on the tongue.

does Red Dots on Tongue that are not Painful mean Cancer?

Red spots on tongue that are not painful may be as a results of serious conditions like oral cancer. It can affect different parts of your mouth including sides of mouth, lips, part of your front tongue including the under surface.
Mouth cancer does not cause any pain during its early stages. It starts by developing small or tiny dots on any part of the mouth including the tongue. You can easily confuse them with mouth cold sore but the only difference is that, they are persistence and don’t go away easily.
Mouth cancer is usually characterized by other symptoms that includes persistent sore on the tongue that bleeds easily, numbness or tenderness of any part of your tongue, sore throat, flat cells on the surface of the mouth and problems when chewing or swallowing food.
Most of the red dots on tongue normally heals within a period of two weeks. However, you should get worried with those that persist for more than two weeks. Visit your doctor to determine the exact cause of painless bumps on tongue. If it is caused by cancer, there are various treatments that may be offered that includes surgery, drug therapy, radiation therapy or chemotherapy.
There are also other causes that can result to painless red spots on tongue that includes smoking, excessive alcohol consumption or geographic tongue. Avoiding smoking and drinking alcohol responsibly can help to fix this condition.

White spots on your tongue that heals on their own within two weeks are absolutely harmless to your health. However, those that last more than two weeks may be caused by a serious underlying condition that can be life threatening and requires a doctors diagnosis and treatment.
The appearance of white spots on your tongue usually varies depending with the cause. They may be scattered all over your tongue or clustered at the same location. The size also varies, they may appear on the surface of the tongue or slightly raised above the surface.
White spots may also develop at the tip of your tongue, sides, back or the whole tongue. They can be accompanied with other symptoms like inflammation or swellings.

Why do I have a white Spot on my Tongue?

The most common causes include the following:

1. Oral thrush

Oral thrush is also referred to as candidiasis or yeast infection. This condition may develop on different parts of your mouth including the tongue. It causes white patches on the various parts of your mouth like inside the cheeks and on the tongue.
This condition commonly affects children, elderly people and those individuals with low body immunity. Other body conditions like diabetes, asthma or lung infections also increases your risk of getting oral thrush. Taking antibiotics for a long time may also increase your chances of developing oral thrush. They kill useful bacteria from your mouth.

2. Leukoplakia

Leukoplakia is a condition that develops when your tongue is irritated due to various factors like tobacco smoking and taking very hot, spicy and salty foods. This condition causes your mouth cells to grow excessively which may lead to white spots on tongue.
Most of people who are suffering from cancer has encountered leukoplakia. It is therefore recommended to visit a physician to determine the exactly what causes white bumps on tongue. Cancer is easily treated when identified early.

3. Oral lichen planus

This is a condition that causes various raised white strips on your tongue that resembles a lace. The exact cause of this condition is still unknown but it usually disappears on its own after a certain time. Some studies have linked it to poor oral hygiene, tobacco smoking or other tongue irritants found in food.

4. Mouth cancer

There are various types of cancer that can cause white dots on your tongue. The most common one is known as squamous cell carcinoma. The white patches usually develops at the tip or sides of your tongue. Apart from being white, the lumps may also appear grey, pink or red in color and bleeds easily especially when touched.
Oral tongue cancer can also develop on other parts of your tongue including the back area. It can be difficult to identify them in their initial stages as they can be painless as they develop. It is recommended to visit a doctor when you are suspicious with your spots. It can easily be treated either by surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy.

5. HIV and STDs

HIV and STDs is also among what causes white spots on tongue and sore throat. These are infections that are transmitted sexually from infected partner to the other.  The major STIs that causes white patches on tongue includes HIV and Syphilis.
Syphilis usually stars as a small sore that will come and disappear after a short time. They are followed with more sores that will also disappear after some days. It is easy to treat syphilis during the initial stages. However, when left untreated, can cause damage to the brain, tissues and even result to death.
In its initial stages, it also causes white patches on different parts of your mouth including the tongue and roof of your mouth. You may also experience other symptoms like muscle pains, swollen lymph nodes, sore throat, headache and flue like symptoms. This condition can be treated using antibiotics.

6. Canker sores

Canker sores can be the reason as to why you are experiencing white spots on tongue. The white spots are usually surrounded by red streak at the base. The white bumps can appear on the whole tongue or in clusters of small or large bumps.
There are a number of things that can cause canker sores in your mouth. They include: virus or bacterial infections, allergies, trauma or injuries, low body immune system, tobacco smoking or nutritional deficiencies.

7. Tongue piercing

Tongue piercing can cause a white spot to appear near the pierced site. This normally occurs when your piercing is infected. It is commonly accompanied with other symptoms like inflammation, bleeding, presence of discharge, redness or difficulties in chewing and swallowing food.

8. Tobacco and excessive alcohol consumption

White spots on tongue is common among individuals who smoke and consume alcohol excessively. The white spots may also appear on the mucous membrane of cheeks and tongue. This occurs due to regular irritation of your tongue and mouth from smoking and alcohol consumption.
To get rid of this condition, you have to quit smoking and excessive alcohol consumption. Practice good oral hygiene to get rid of the present spots by scraping and brushing your tongue regularly. You also have to clean your entire mouth by brushing and flossing your teeth regularly.

9. Digestive track disorders

Disorders affecting gastrointestinal functions may cause some white patches to appear on your tongue. Some of the disorders causes regurgitation of stomach acid to your mouth that causes irritations to your tongue.

10. Stomatitis

This is a condition that causes inflammation of all structures that are found in your mouth including the tongue, cheeks, gums, palate, lips and roof of mouth among others. This condition is the common cause of white spots on baby tongue.

11. Dehydration

Dehydration or inadequate water into your body also causes temporal white spots on your mouth including the tongue. This condition normally disappears few minutes after taking water. Therefore, you need to keep your body hydrated by taking at least eight glasses of water a day.

12. Mouth infections

There are various bacterial mouth infections like streptococcus pyogenic that causes white or red spots on tongue. This infection is usually accompanied with other symptoms like sore throat, fever, swollen lymph nodes and white patches on the tonsils among others.

13. Other causes of white spots on tongue

Apart from the above causes, there are also other things that can cause white patches to develop on your tongue and other parts of your mouth. They include: poor oral hygiene, reaction to certain medications, illnesses, environmental irritants, spicy foods, common cold and spleen disorders.

What does White Spots on Side of Tongue mean?

White spots, patches or dots that occurs on the sides of your tongue are symptomatic to a certain condition. They may cause some pain while others are absolutely painless. Some people have a wrong believe that painless patches or dots on the tongue are harmless. That may not be true.
It is true that some of painless patches on side of your tongue can result from less serious conditions like dehydration or minor injuries to the tongue. There are also other serious body conditions like oral cancer that causes painless white bumps on the tongue in its initial stages and you are not supposed to ignore such spots.
As you read earlier, white spots on tongue can result from various conditions like canker sores, oral thrush, irritations from spicy food and dental appliances, trauma or injuries from tongue biting, mouth infections, allergic reactions from foods and medications and digestive track disorders among other condition.
The appearance and size of white spots on the sides of your tongue may also vary from small to large. Some also be painful while others are painless depending with the underlying cause. You need to be careful and identify any other symptom that may accompany the patches.
Some of the patches may heal on their own within a period of two weeks while others may persist for a long time. It is therefore recommended to visit your health care provider to determine the exact cause of your condition and prescribe the required medicines to treat the condition.

What are Small, Little Dots on Tongue a Symptom of?

There are various mouth infections and other conditions that can cause small, little dots on your tongue. Some of the dots may be harmless and usually disappears on their own while others that are caused by serious conditions may require treatment to heal.
The common little white dots on tongue are caused by thrush. This is an overgrowth of fungus into your mouth that results to oral thrush. This condition results to small dots or bumps to develop on various part of your mouth including the tongue, inside cheeks or gums.
There are various conditions that encourages the growth of fungus into your mouth like low immune system, diabetes and lung infections among other conditions. Children and elderly people are prone to this condition.
Canker sores is another condition that causes small and painful white spots on tongue. The other parts of your mouth that can be affected includes: inside the cheeks, gum line, lips and throat.
Canker sores can result from nutritional deficiencies and trauma or injuries to the tongue from accidental biting. This condition is not contagious and usually resolves on its own within a certain period of time.
Small or little white or red dots on tongue can also result from transient lingual papillitis. Most of us have experienced lie bumps at some point in our life. This condition results from inflamed or irritated papillae that become slightly swollen.
The exact cause of this condition is not clearly defined but it is believed to result from hormonal changes, spicy and very hot food and beverages and allergic reactions among other conditions. The bumps usually clear on their own without treatment after a few days.

Can you get White Spots on Back of your Tongue

Sometimes it is normal to have white bumps at the back of your tongue as a result of swollen circumvallate papillae. This are bumps that are normal and naturally belong to the surface of your back tongue
Sexually transmitted infections might be another cause of white bumps at the back of your tongue. STIs like syphilis and HIV is among the common infections that causes various symptoms like swollen lymph nodes, white bumps at the back of your tongue and some lesions on other parts of your mouth.

How to Treat White Spots on Tongue

Treating white spots on your tongue depends with the cause. Less serious conditions can easily be treated by the use of home remedies while those that result from more serious conditions requires a doctor’s diagnosis and treatment.  Here are some of the treatments that you can employ to get rid of this condition.

• Improve your oral hygiene

Improving your oral hygiene will help to reduce the amount of white patches on your tongue as well as preventing new ones from developing. It involves brushing your teeth and tongue after taking every meal and before going to bed. You should also floss your teeth regularly to remove food particles that sick between your teeth.
Gargle antiseptic mouthwash into your mouth daily and spit it out. It helps to kill bacteria and other pathogenic microorganism that causes different mouth infections. It also gives you a fresh breath.

• Avoid smoking and reduce alcohol consumption

Smoking tobacco causes inflammation of the taste buds as well as staining your tongue. Bacteria and other microorganisms can get trapped into your stained tongue to cause infections that result to white patches and other problems to your tongue.
Smoke contains harmful chemicals that can damage other parts of your mouth like. Smoking is also a risk factor to various diseases including oral cancer.
You also have to avoid excessive consumption of alcohol. It causes inflammation of taste buds as well as causing excessive dehydration of your body that is another cause of white patches on the tongue.

• Take enough water to avoid dehydration

Keeping yourself hydrated helps to avoid white spots on tongue that results from dehydration. Keep a glass of water at hand, once you feel thirsty, it means that your body is already dehydrated.
The amount of water you are supposed to take per day depends with your body weight, the activities you are doing and climate of your area. It is therefore recommended to take at least 8 glasses of water per day.

• Remove the white spots

There are several tips you can use to remove the white coating on your tongue. They include brushing your tongue with a tooth brush, using a tongue scraper to scrape off the white coatings, using an antiseptic mouthwash to kill the bacteria or washing your tongue with clean water.

• Limit intake of salty and spicy foods

Salty and spicy food and beverages causes inflammation of the tongue and hence resulting to white patches. When you limit its intake, your tongue will restore back its normal healthy color.

• Use vegetable glycerin

Vegetable glycerin is an effective home remedy treatment for white spots on tongue. It helps to moisturize a dehydrated mouth. It also restores a fresh breath into your mouth. You simply place few drops to the surface of your tongue and rinse your mouth thoroughly using water and spit it out.

• Try oil pulling

This is an effective remedy that was used from ancient time to get rid of white patches on tongue. It helps in treating oral thrush by eliminating the yeast. Before performing your routine dental cleaning, put 1 tablespoon of extra-virgin coconut oil on the surface of your tongue. Swish around the mouth and spit it out.

• Visit your doctor for treatment

There are various infections or disorders that requires to be diagnosed before treatment. It is therefore recommended to visit your doctor when having persistent white spots on your tongue and other parts of your mouth.