Sore Tongue

Sore tongue is a medical condition (precisely a symptom) that is common and is experienced by almost everyone at one time or the other. There are certain kinds of ailments that may have sore tongue as one of their symptoms and sometimes these ailments can be severe by nature, depending upon the severity of the sore tongue. Most cases of sore tongue can be taken care of by using over-the-counter medicines. However, medical intervention becomes necessary if the sore tongue is taking too much time to heal or to subside. Here is a brief description of some of the major sore tongue causes and sore tongue symptoms.

Sore Tongue Causes
Tongue injuries like accidentally biting the tongue is the most common and obvious cause of sore tongue. The bite tends to be both painful at and after the time the tongue has been bitten. Apart from this, oral infection, canker sores (an ulceration, especially of the lips or lining of the mouth), cold sores and the herpes simplex virus are the other causes of a sore tongue.

Oral thrush is another common cause of sore tongue. It is basically an overgrowth of a yeast, called Candida, that makes the tongue sour and raw. It happens due to excess consumption of sugar. Unknowingly rubbing the tongue against the teeth out of anxiousness, also results in causing a sore tongue.

Tongue ulcer, poorly fitting dentures, anemia, tongue cancer, neuralgia (pain associated with a particular nerve) are the other causes of sore tongue. Prolonged smoking tends to make the tongue more sensitive towards hot or cold beverages or more vulnerable to be affected by oral disease or infection. A habit of chewing beetle nut also contributes immensely in developing a sore tongue. It has the same effect as smoking does, i.e. it also makes the tongue more sensitive towards all factors which can easily cause a sore tongue.

Other causes of sore tongue are associated with disorders related to the bowel, brain, heart, trauma, ranula (a cyst on the underside of the tongue), gingivitis, myositis (inflammation of muscle tissue), trichinosis {infestation by trichina larvae that are transmitted by eating inadequately cooked meat (especially pork)}, antibiotic glossitis and lichen planus. It is not necessary that the causes of the sore tongue have their origin in the tongue itself. Causes may occur indirectly, due to disorders of other organs of the body such as angima, depression, anxiety and pain throughout the body.

Sore Tongue Symptoms
There aren't many symptoms of a sore tongue, as it is a symptom in itself. Nevertheless, people suffering from sore tongue usually experience a sore and dry mouth which is accompanied by a burning sensation in the mouth, palate, lips, gums and tongue. One may feel thirsty and a lose the sensation of taste. Another common symptom of sore tongue is a bitter or metallic taste in mouth.

The field of otolaryngology has helped develop different remedies for treatment of sore tongue that can be followed for about a week. If the healing takes time or condition worsens over time, then it is time to pay the doctor a visit. Avoid putting any kind of pressure on a sore tongue. For this, you can use a toothbrush with soft bristles while brushing. Using a mixture of warm water and baking soda for gargling every half an hour everyday, can prove to be very beneficial in reducing the pain of a sore tongue. Apart from pain-relieving treatments, it is best to seek a doctor's advice in order to ensure timely diagnosis of sore tongue causes and a permanent cure for sore tongue symptoms.