Red Bumps on Tongue

Tongue sores and bumps are usually benign ulcers or blisters that can appear due to several factors. More commonly, such bumps can be a result of minor trauma or irritation of the tongue. Certain people have been observed to have a tendency to develop bumps on the tongue more frequently. Though harmless, bumps on the tongue can cause a lot of discomfort while chewing and eating foods. Such bumps on the tongue can be white or red and can appear in clusters at times.

If they are too large in size, occur in clusters and are also very painful, then medical intervention can be required for the treatment of such red bumps. But usually, small or minor tongue bumps, and sores resolve on their own without requiring any medical treatment.

Red Tongue Bump

Causes
As has been mentioned already, the most common factor that can lead to this problem is physical injury or trauma. Such injury or trauma can be caused by biting, harsh brushing, drinking or eating hot liquid and food. Even consumption of highly acidic foods, nutritional deficiency, especially, deficiency of vitamin B12 , folic acid and iron, as well as hormonal changes can have a role to play in the development of such small bumps. The type of bumps that commonly appear on the tongue and in the oral cavity is the canker sore.

Allergic reaction to a particular food can also lead to this condition. Allergic reaction can produce bumps on any part of the tongue including, the back of the tongue. Another condition that can produce sores and bumps on the tongue is cold sores, caused by the herpes simplex virus. But many times, what appears to us as red bumps can be nothing but, the enlarged papillae or taste buds. The condition can occur, if the taste buds get irritated. The irritated papillae or taste buds can swell and become painful bumps.

Rarely, tongue sores and bumps can be an indicator of tuberculosis and early stage syphilis. If you observe large red bumps on the back of the tongue, then these could be caused by an autoimmune condition, known as Kawasaki disease. This condition, however, mainly affects the children. Lastly, bumps appearing on only one side of the tongue can be an indicator of oral cancer, if they are painless and hard to touch. Such bumps can also appear on the floor of the mouth.

Symptoms
Red tongue bumps can be accompanied by pain or a burning sensation. The pain and the burning sensation caused by such bumps can make eating and chewing foods quite difficult. However, these symptoms resolve gradually on their own within a couple of days. Sometimes, tongue bumps may not be painful and they feel like hard lumps to touch. This can be the symptom of cancer of the oral cavity. Tongue bumps caused by cancer usually appear only on one side of the tongue, and the floor of the mouth.

Treatment
Tongue bumps can be usually alleviated with some simple home remedies like, saline water. Using saline water as a mouthwash can considerably accelerate the healing of such bumps. Along with saline water, applying ice on the bumps can also reduce the pain and ensure rapid healing of such tongue bumps. However, ascertaining the particular type of red bumps is very important to alleviate this condition. As for example, in the case of canker sores, you apply a paste of baking soda, clove oil, tea tree oil, Aloe vera juice, benadryl and milk of magnesia to heal the sores. For cold sores, ice and herbs like chamomile and lemon balm can provide some relief. If the bumps caused by cold sores are too large and do not subside within a few days, then medications can be required. Usually, antiviral medications are employed for this purpose.

The proper treatment depends on the identification of the underlying causes, and only a physician can ascertain these causes. Therefore, if tongue bumps do not heal within a couple of days and appear quite frequently, or if they feel like hard, but painless lumps, then you should consider visiting your physician.