Sore Tongue Treatment

Sore tongue can be a sign of so many health conditions that it can become quite difficult to pinpoint the exact causes. But most often, it is caused by some minor factors like, accidental trauma or injury to the tongue, or development of tongue sores or ulcers. At times, it can be caused by viral and bacterial infections as well.

What Causes Sore Tongue?

As has been mentioned already, it can be caused by trauma or injury such as, accidental biting. Sometimes, the tongue can rub against a jagged tooth or the edge of an ill-fitting denture, which in turn, can cause soreness or pain. The soreness caused by such injury usually subsides within a couple of days. Sometimes, consumption of hot foods or liquid can also cause sore tongue. Development of sores can also cause sore and painful tongue. One of the most common tongue sores is canker sore. Canker sores on tongue can develop due to injury or trauma to the tongue, nutritional deficiencies, hormonal imbalances, food allergies, bacterial infections and overexposure to chemicals like, sodium lauryl sulfate.

If tongue soreness or pain is accompanied by the development of white patches on tongue or white tongue, then it can be a sign of oral thrush. Oral thrush is a fungal infection caused by the overgrowth of candida albicans in the body. This condition gives the tongue a cottage cheese like appearance. Apart from these, some other possible causes are diseases like, anemia and diabetes, deficiency of vitamin B complex, especially vitamin B12 and folic acid, irritation caused by spicy and acidic foods, viral infection caused by herpes simplex virus, gastrointestinal problems, smoking, enlarged papillae, gingivitis and oral lichen planus.

Sore Tongue Cure

The treatment depends on the specific underlying causes. If it is a sign of vitamin B deficiency, then it can be alleviated, as well as prevented in the future with vitamin B supplements. If the development of canker sores is the reason behind the soreness, then benadryl and milk of magnesia can be used for canker sore treatment. Benadryl is usually used as an oral rinse to get relief from tongue pain caused by such sores, while milk of magnesia can be applied directly on the sores. If such sores appear in clusters and they are quite large and painful, then physicians can recommend the use of corticosteroid preparations.

For small and minor canker sores or tongue ulcers, saline water or vinegar can be used as a mouthwash. A paste of baking soda or diluted hydrogen peroxide can be applied on the canker sores to get considerable relief. For treating sore tongue caused by the development of cold sores, anti-viral medications can be used. Simple home remedies like, application of ice, aloe vera juice, lemon balm and licorice can also help to speed up the healing of such sores on tongue. A diet rich in iron, vitamin C and B vitamins can also play an important role in its treatment.

Sore tongue caused by oral thrush can be treated with appropriate antifungal medications, and by consuming yogurt and buttermilk. Apart from these, there are certain other effective remedies like turmeric powder. Turmeric powder can be mixed with a cup of warm milk and then applied on the tongue at least twice daily. Tea bag is yet another natural remedy which can be applied on the affected area to reduce the pain. You can also mix alum powder with honey and apply it on the tongue. Alum powder can help to cure canker sores as well. Consumption of yogurt and honey can also help to reduce tongue soreness. If sore tongue is associated with health conditions like, anemia or diabetes, then proper treatment of that disease can help to cure and prevent sore tongue.

If you have got sores on tongue, then be sure to avoid the consumption of spicy and hot foods or liquid, and highly acidic and salty foods, as they can aggravate the pain and the irritation. For brushing your teeth, a soft bristled brush should be used, so that the sores or the painful areas of the tongue do not get irritated. Also try to reduce the use of sodium lauryl sulfate, which can be found in many toothpastes. Tongue soreness usually resolves within a few days with proper care and the use of the home remedies. But, if this condition persists then get it properly evaluated with the help of a physician, as it could be a sign of some underlying health problems.