What to do if your tongue hurts: how to relieve the condition

Tongue hurts - what this symptom can mean and how to deal with it

The tongue takes an important part in the process of eating and is responsible for human speech. The surface of the organ is covered with a huge number of papillae, which contain tiny receptors - they allow us to enjoy the taste of our favorite foods. Among other things, the tongue is a kind of indicator of the health of the body. Many systemic diseases and disorders in the functioning of internal organs immediately affect his condition, thus signaling a problem. One of these “signals” may be pain, and here the question involuntarily arises of how you can numb the tongue and what needs to be done for this. Read about the possible causes of pain in the organ, as well as ways to eliminate it, further in this article.

How to get rid of tongue pain?

Symptomatic features of pain under the tongue

Pain in the sublingual area can have various symptomatic manifestations. First of all, they are accompanied by different types of pain (sharp, aching, throbbing), as well as constancy or frequency.

If you consult a doctor, it is very important to correctly characterize the pain - this will allow the specialist to narrow down the range of symptoms for differential diagnosis. For example, you may have pain in the frenulum under your tongue or pain under your tongue on the right/left.

One of the characteristic manifestations of stomatitis or candidiasis is a white pimple under the tongue. Its presence may indicate the development of a fungal or bacterial process. If such a symptom is detected, treatment will include antifungal and antibacterial therapy with the prescription of antibiotics or special antiseptic rinses. The presence of pimples of a different color may indicate the presence of a wide range of problems, the identification of which requires a thorough diagnosis of the oral cavity or the entire body.

What can cause pain?

There are quite a few factors that provoke pain in the tongue. Therefore, before you try to get rid of unpleasant sensations, you need to understand what caused them. So, more often than usual, the main communication tool begins to hurt in the following situations:

• mechanical damage,
• inflammation of soft tissues,
• allergic manifestations,
• neuralgia,
• blockage of the salivary glands,
• problems in the functioning of internal organs and systems,
• oncology.

Often this symptom becomes an allergic reaction of the body to certain foods or medications. Many also experience soreness and sharp tingling under the tongue after eating acidic foods, citrus fruits, alcohol and smoking cigarettes. A reaction to an allergen can also manifest itself in the form of stomatitis or the spread of a fungal infection.

On a note! When the tip of the tongue or its lateral areas begins to hurt, most often the cause of the problem lies in injury to the organ. This could be an accidental bite, burn, cut or small scratch. In addition, damage can be caused by a chipped tooth, an incorrectly fitted prosthetic structure, a brace system, or a sharp-edged filling.

The most common neuralgic factor that provokes pain in the tongue is glossalgia. The pathological condition develops against the background of disturbances in the functioning of the endocrine system or as a result of experiencing a serious stressful situation. The tongue may become completely or only partially numb, and the patient will experience a sharp tingling and burning sensation. Patients also complain of pain in the lips, dizziness and numbness of the tongue1.

Stress can cause tongue pain

On a note! Mild soreness and numbness of the tongue may be felt after dental treatment under anesthesia, especially after wisdom tooth extraction. How can you alleviate the condition after such an operation? To relieve pain, you can take a painkiller tablet, but if the pain is severe and intensifying, you should definitely see a doctor.

No less often, this symptom indicates problems in the functioning of internal organs and the development of systemic diseases. These include malfunctions of the digestive, cardiovascular and endocrine systems, anemia and even oncological pathologies.

Peritonsillar abscess

Peri-almond abscess, or phlegmonous tonsillitis, is most often a complication of the usual form of acute tonsillitis. The condition develops due to the spread of an infectious lesion into the tissue near the tonsils. The pathological condition in 60% of cases is unilateral, however, the formation can be identified from different sides, that is, from each side. For example, with pain in the root region of the tongue on the left, we can say that the abscess arose there.

In addition to the fact that the patient has pain in the root part of the tongue on the left or right, and the unpleasant symptoms increase during the process of swallowing, other symptoms :

• migraines and less intense headaches;
• increase in body temperature up to critical;
• swelling in the tongue area;
• Difficulties in maintaining dialogue up to the loss of voice;
• trismus (spasm of the masticatory muscles).

One of the reasons is a spasm of the chewing muscles.
Also, in some cases, they complain of the appearance of bad breath and the fact that the patient’s head may be slightly tilted in the direction that was affected.

To ensure effective treatment of peri-almond abscess, antibiotic components are prescribed. Most often they refer to penicillins or cephalosporins. Amoxicillin has traditionally been the first choice drug.

Pain at the tip of the organ

To answer the question of how to remove pain in the tip of the tongue, it is necessary to consider the possible causes of the appearance of a symptom in this particular localization. And here are the most common ones:

• damage to the tip: usually the cause of the problem is simply biting this part of the tongue while eating or talking. Too hot food or drink, dentures and braces can also cause injury. This pain subsides on its own over time as the damaged tissue heals. If the problem is in the orthopedic or orthodontic system, sharp edges of the crown or filling, you should contact your dentist to eliminate the irritating factor,

  
  A common cause of pain is damage to the tip of the tongue.

• glossalgia: a rather serious pathology in which this particular part of the organ usually hurts, less often the sides. In this case, the patient experiences a strong burning sensation, comparing it with the consequences of a burn. Such a symptom requires immediate contact with a specialist - the disease is long and difficult to treat, therapy is very exhausting for the patient,
• glossitis: an inflammatory disease that often causes pain in the tip of the organ, and the explanation for this lies in its susceptibility to mechanical damage, in particular biting. Through the wound, the infection penetrates the tissue and causes inflammatory processes.

  
  The photo shows glossitis of the tongue

Stomatitis can provoke the symptom, but in this case, usually the entire surface of the organ is covered with small, painful tongues. Allergies may be the cause of the problem.

Diagnostics

The cause of the symptom is determined by the dentist. If there are indications, patients are referred for consultation to a gastroenterologist, therapist, neurologist, and other specialists. The doctor determines when the pain first appeared, what symptoms were accompanied, and how the disease developed. To clarify the diagnosis, the following procedures are performed:

• Inspection
  . During the physical examination, general changes are sometimes detected (for example, pale and dry skin with anemia). When examining the tongue, swelling, hyperemia, discoloration, the presence of erosions, ulcers, and infiltrates may be detected. With neuralgia, areas of pain indicate damage to one or another nerve. During a dental examination, carious teeth, defects in dentures and orthodontic structures may be detected.
• Instrumental techniques
  . To exclude xerostomia and assess the condition of the salivary glands, sialography and ultrasonography are recommended. If gastrointestinal pathologies that provoke glossalgia are suspected, esophagogastroduodenoscopy and a contrast study of the stomach are performed. For neuralgia, electromyography is indicative.
• Lab tests
  . Confirm the presence of pernicious or iron deficiency anemia. As part of the differential diagnosis, saliva is examined. In case of candidiasis and bacterial lesions, the discharge is inoculated onto nutrient media. For viral infections, PCR is performed.

Pain in the sublingual area, at the root

How to relieve pain that appears in the far part of the tongue, at its very base? Before answering this question, let’s look at the most common causes of this symptom, and they can be as follows:

• glossalgia: pain is usually localized at the tip, but can sometimes occur at the base,
• allergies: literally any part of an organ can hurt,
• digestive system diseases,
• vitamin deficiency: pain is often accompanied by severe tingling.

This is what glossalgia looks like at the base of the tongue.
Cellulitis and abscess are considered serious prerequisites for the symptom in question. In this case, it is painful for the patient to open and close his mouth, a bad odor occurs, and the intensity of salivation increases. The tongue visibly swells, making it difficult for a person to speak and breathe. This requires urgent medical attention.

Possible diseases

Plaque and soreness of the tongue are not always associated with damage to this particular organ. Sometimes this is a consequence of pathologies of other systems.

Possible diseases:

• glossitis;
• oral candidiasis;
• gastroenteritis, peptic ulcer;
• damage to the nervous system;
• blockage of the salivary ducts;
• acute tonsillitis (tonsillitis);
• endocrine disorders (diabetes mellitus);
• autoimmune pathologies;
• infectious diseases (herpes, long-term tuberculosis, etc.);
• leukoplakia (characteristic of severe immunodeficiency).

Often a white coating and pain due to dry tongue accompany dehydration. In this case, the person urgently needs medical help.

Pain from the chewing teeth

Discomfort and pain in this part of the tongue most often indicate mechanical injury to soft tissues. Other probable provoking factors include glossalgia, glossitis, allergies and stomatitis. Often the cause of the problem is a deformed denture, which constantly rubs and requires relining or replacement.

“I woke up one night with severe pain in my tongue, and it hurt only on one side. This is what happens when you wait too long to reline your denture. I have a removable one on the lower jaw, it’s been squinting for a long time, but I thought I’d endure it, it’s okay. As a result, my whole mouth became swollen, and then I couldn’t speak normally for a week. A denture is no joke; it needs to be adjusted on time. And then there are wounds in the mouth, and through them the infection penetrates ... "

Lyubov Andreevna K., 56 years old, from correspondence on the woman.ru forum

Pain from the chewing teeth can be caused by various factors.
By the way, the sides of the tongue may begin to hurt due to too frequent smoking. But if no visible causes for this symptom can be found, there is reason to think about neuralgia. In any case, to understand the true source of the problem, you need to make an appointment with a doctor.

General recommendations for treatment and prevention

Whatever the reason that led to damage to the lateral part of the tongue, recommendations for treatment and prevention should be followed. Here are the following tips:

1. For the duration of the treatment, it is necessary to switch to soft, pureed food. Food should be warm so as not to irritate the papillae of the tongue, mucous membrane of the mouth and gums.
2. Recommended are puree soups, chicken broth, berry or fruit jelly, steamed cutlets, and mashed potatoes.
3. vegetables only boiled or stewed, preferably pureed, without large pieces or seeds.
4. Crackers, seeds, and chips are strictly prohibited
5. You should not eat food that is too hot or, conversely, cold, as well as quite spicy or sour. Here the harm of excess sugar and salt is noted.

It is necessary to carefully care for the oral cavity, brush not only your teeth, but also your tongue and gums from plaque. It is important to use only high-quality hygiene products: toothpaste, mouthwash, and it should be alternated between an alcoholic variety and one without the main component.

It is necessary to monitor your health, visit your doctor on time and not ignore his appointments. If your tongue is painful, you should consult a specialist without delaying it or self-medicating.

To protect yourself from this problem, you need to think about stopping smoking and drinking alcohol. These bad habits also cause tongue pain. Before getting a piercing, you need to think carefully about the consequences - you can provoke an infection in the oral cavity, which occurs as a result of the wrong choice of salon. There is nothing more important than health - this should be constantly remembered.

Methods for relieving pain at home

Having considered the most common factors that provoke pain in the tongue, we can move on to recommendations on how to quickly remove pain and alleviate the condition. If it is not possible to visit a doctor in the near future, you can relieve an acute symptom using the methods presented below.

Medications

To carry out antiseptic treatment of soft tissues and relieve severe inflammation, it is recommended to rinse the mouth using the following pharmaceutical products:

• "Chlorhexidine" is an antimicrobial drug in the form of a solution. Before the procedure, you must rinse your mouth with boiled water, then rinse for 30 seconds with the addition of a solution. The procedure can be repeated 2-3 times a day,

• “Stomatofit” is a product based on plant components that have antiseptic and anti-inflammatory effects. A teaspoon must be dissolved in 50 ml of warm boiled water and rinse your mouth with the resulting mixture for 2 minutes. You can repeat the procedure 3-4 times a day,
• “Miramistin” is a solution in a jar with a convenient sprayer. Before use, you need to fix the nozzle on the neck of the bottle, then just press the cap and direct the sprayer into your mouth. 4 repetitions a day are enough.

To relieve acute painful pain, you can resort to the help of a pharmaceutical anesthetic, for example, use the drug “Lidocaine” in the form of a spray. Before using any medications, it is better to first consult with a knowledgeable specialist.

Folk remedies

Some traditional medicine remedies will help quickly relieve acute pain and reduce inflammation. Just remember that such prescriptions can only be used with the consent of a doctor. Here are some tried-and-tested recipes:

• decoction of chamomile - pour boiling water over a tablespoon of dried herb and let cool to room temperature. It is recommended to rinse 5-6 times a day, after meals,
• raw potato juice - peel and grate several raw tubers, and then try to squeeze the juice out of them. You can use the mouthwash 2-3 times a day,
• sage decoction - pour boiling water over two tablespoons of dried herb and let it brew for half an hour. After this, pass the liquid through a sieve and use to rinse your mouth 3-4 times a day.

Chamomile decoction is great for rinsing
. Keep in mind that the use of traditional medicine in no case cancels a visit to a specialist. These are only auxiliary measures to relieve acute manifestations of the problem, which only an experienced doctor can solve after diagnosing and identifying its causes.

Features of diagnosis and treatment of pain under the tongue

Treatment of pain in the sublingual area should be carried out after a high-quality diagnosis to determine the root cause of the problem. Sometimes, pain in the frenulum under the tongue or in the surrounding tissues is treated by therapists or allergists, but in most cases this is done by dentists, because about 90% of all cases of treatment are associated with a dental problem.

Diagnosis of pain under the tongue is carried out in several stages:

1. Initial appointment - the doctor collects anamnesis, finds out information about the nature and location of pain, and also examines the patient’s oral cavity;
2. A complete diagnostic examination is carried out in the absence of characteristic symptoms of common dental diseases. It is possible to use hardware techniques (X-ray, ultrasound, MRI, etc.);
3. Differential diagnosis – a specialist differentiates the underlying pathology from similar diseases;
4. Making a diagnosis and prescribing treatment - based on the data of the initial examination and diagnosis, the doctor establishes an accurate diagnosis and prescribes an adequate treatment regimen.

Note! The method of treatment and the choice of drugs to eliminate pain in the sublingual area directly depend on the root cause of the symptoms. For example, if your frenulum hurts due to a mechanical injury, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory solutions for mouth rinsing will be prescribed, including: chlorophyllipt, hexoral, stomatophyte, alcohol tincture of calamus, stomatidine or others. If the pain is associated with the development of bacteria or fungi, antibacterial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory therapy is prescribed.

Which doctor should I contact?

If you experience discomfort in your tongue, it begins to tingle or hurt, be sure to make an appointment with a specialist. In such a situation, you can contact both a dentist and an otolaryngologist. In any case, if necessary, the doctor will redirect you to the right specialist.

Only a specialist can prescribe the correct treatment

You can choose the right course of treatment only if you have an accurate diagnosis. Pain in the tongue is a symptom that is characteristic of many pathological conditions, and may be an echo of a serious systemic disease of the body. Self-medication is simply inappropriate here. Otherwise, you can only aggravate the situation and bring it to very disastrous consequences. If pain appears in the main speech organ, be sure to see a doctor.

1. Kazarina L.N. Diseases of the oral mucosa, 2000.

What to do

The symptoms of various causes are similar to each other, but for clarification, consultation with a specialist is required - only he will decide what to do next. If this is mechanical damage, then there is no need to worry, but in the case of glossitis or glossalgia, the help of more than one doctor may be required.

Who treats tongue

The tongue plays an important role in human life: this muscular organ is involved in speech activity and also helps in chewing food; by its appearance one can judge a person’s overall well-being.

In any case, you should start with the dentist. During the examination, he will identify the problem and, if it is due to a poorly installed filling or prosthesis, he will solve the problem on the spot - he will simply grind off the sharp edges. If the cause of the trouble is a product with a complex design, he will refer you to the appropriate specialist.

If a dental problem is not detected, consultation with a therapist, surgeon, gastroenterologist, allergist, or dermatologist will be required. You cannot delay the examination and self-medicate; an experienced doctor will find the cause and prescribe the correct therapy.