Sore on Side of Tongue

A person can develop mouth sores due to many reasons. The areas where a person can develop sores inside the mouth can be the tongue, sides of cheek, gums or on one's palate which is the roof of the mouth. However, a person can develop sores on the side of the tongue especially due to a chipped tooth near the affected area of the tongue. Keep reading to learn about the causes of sores on sides of the tongue, and the treatment one needs to opt for to prevent these sores and maintain dental health.

Causes
Listed below are the causes which give a person sore on the side of tongue.

• A chipped tooth near the side of the tongue, can lead to a sore
• Biting your tongue can cause a sore
• Braces can give a person sore on the sides of the tongue
• Burning the mouth due to eating or drinking some hot foodstuff
• Chewing of tobacco is another cause
• Poorly fitting dentures many times cause sores
• Deficiency of vitamin B 12 or folate, can cause ulcers
• Infection can lead to painful sores on the side of tongue
• Low immunity can also give a person mouth sores
• Hormonal changes causes mouth sores, which are observed more in women than men
• Stress can lead to canker sores
• One of the lesser known causes is cancer, which can give a person sore on the side of tongue

Treatment
With some home remedies, one can reduce the severity of these sores and eventually get rid of them. However, if the sores don't heal with the home remedies, it is important that you seek medical care because, the sore can a sign pointing to cancer.

Home Remedies
The sores generally last for a period of 10 - 14 days, but sometimes can last really long for a period of 6 weeks. Use these remedies for mouth sores cure.

• Cold Water: Gargle your mouth with cool water, it especially helps if you have developed a sore due to burn.
• Salt Water Gargling: If you have canker sores, then rinse your mouth with salt water. This will reduce infection, if any.
• Applying Gel: If you have canker sores on the tongue which are severe, then apply some fluocinonide gel (Lidex). It will help you to deal with the pain better.
• Ice: In case of fever blisters, apply ice to sores on the tongue. Just like plain ice you can also suck on popsicle to reduce the pain and heal the sore faster.
• Lysine Tablets: You can also take some lysine tablets to get rid of sores caused due to fever blisters.
• Eating Right: Eat light and non-spicy and easy to swallow foodstuffs.
• B-complex: Eating supplements of B-complex can speed up the process of healing of mouth sores.
• Baking Soda: In a bowl add a teaspoon of baking soda and a bit of water, to form a thin paste. Apply this paste to the affected region. This remedy is helpful in case of canker sores.
• Reduce Stress: As stress can cause canker sores, consider performing yoga or meditation regularly for relaxation.
• Aloe Vera Gel: You can also use aloe vera gel to soothe the sore. To use fresh aloe gel, take an aloe leaf and cut it lengthwise, then scoop out the gel inside using a spoon. Apply a bit of gel to the sore and leave it for ten minutes, then rinse it off.
• Change Toothbrush: If you keep getting mouth sores, then consider using a soft toothbrush. Also, make sure you keep replacing your toothbrush every 2 months. Soft toothbrush is gentle and will also prevent irritating the sore further.
• Healthy Diet: Maintaining healthy eating habits will also give you immunity and help in healing the sores faster. So, eat lots of fruits and vegetables throughout the day.

When to Seek Medical Care
Seek medical care in the following situations:

• If the tongue sores, last for a period of more than 2 weeks.
• If you develop sores on the tongue or mouth area, after you started taking new medication.
• If you have severe symptoms like fever, skin rash, difficulty during swallowing, and extreme pain along with sores on the side of the tongue.
• If you have low immunity, due to conditions like HIV or cancer.
• If there are large white patches present on the roof of the mouth or tongue.

By following the above home remedies you can treat a sore on the side of tongue easily. However, seek immediate medical help for dental care, in the aforementioned cases. You also need to observe some prevention tips like avoiding eating spicy or hot foodstuffs, avoiding chewing tobacco and smoking to prevent the occurrence of mouth sores. Also, chew your food slowly to prevent mouth sores.