As the name suggests, sores or fluid-filled bubbles on the tongue are referred to as tongue blisters. Before the blister occurs, the area of the outbreak starts to burn, tingle or itch.
Introduction
Blisters on the tongue are a frequent oral condition that can cause swelling, patches or sores. Although it is of no harm, the blisters can irritate some and impede their sense of taste.
Tongue blisters affect almost one-third of people at some point in their lives. Although tongue blisters are very painful, the soreness that comes with them subsides naturally after 7–10 days.
Some typical causes of tongue blisters include a yeast infection, accidentally biting the tongue, mouth ulcers, allergies, warts and medical diseases like stomatitis and cancer. Tongue blisters can also be brought on by trauma or an underlying infection.
Causes of tongue blisters
Hypersensitivity
Hypersensitivity occurs as an allergic reaction to certain substances. A wide range of clinical manifestations, including redness, whitening of the mucosa, swelling of the tongue, ulcers and blisters, may result from hypersensitivity reactions in and around the mouth.
Infection
Oral herpes may manifest as tongue blisters. Transmission of the contagious oral herpes can happen through saliva, close touch with the affected area or contact with the tongue and mouth lining. Herpes simplex virus is responsible for fever blisters and cold sores.
Hormones
Hormonal imbalance or fluctuations also cause oral herpes, which manifests as tongue blisters.
Some women experience oral changes, such as bright red, swollen gums, swollen salivary glands, and the emergence of canker sores or bleeding gums, resulting from hormonal changes.
The hormonal fluctuations are mostly the rise in progesterone levels that take place throughout the menstrual cycle.
Stress
The ideal reason for the emergence of tongue blisters can be attributed to the interaction of mental stress and exhaustion.
Symptoms of tongue blisters
The following are a few signs and symptoms of tongue blisters,
- Painful blisters
- Red or white lesions
- Sores on cheeks or tongues
- Sense of burning in the mouth
- Fever (in a few cases)
Treatments for tongue blisters
Salt water gargle
The remarkable natural cure of common salt helps to reduce blister pain and inflammation. In addition, salt’s antimicrobial qualities aid in the natural treatment of underlying infections.
To treat tongue blisters, mix a teaspoon of salt with a cup of warm water and thoroughly rinse the mouth. Repeat this several times a day for visible results.
Mouthwash
Regular use of mouthwashes may minimise the discomfort of tongue blisters. However, these mouthwashes are not usually known to stop blister recurrence.
Avoid using tobacco products.
Tobacco use triggers oral changes in the soft tissues of the mouth and tongue. Staying away from tobacco products helps cure tongue blisters.
Avoid spicy, salty and acidic foods.
Citrus fruits or juices, spicy or salty foods and acidic foods, including tomatoes, worsen tongue blisters. It is best to avoid these foods.
Avoiding alcohol
Alcohol can boost the chemicals that harm DNA. This leads to sores, patches or lumps in the lining of the mouth and tongue.
Blisters heal more slowly and poorly on drinking alcohol than if someone doesn’t. Drinking can possibly worsen the blister or ulcer and make it more painful.
It is better to avoid drinking alcohol if a person has an ulcer to be safe and prevent uncomfortable symptoms.
Maintain a healthy diet
To maintain a healthy, balanced and nutritious diet, the patient should adhere to the following points.
- Soft, bland foods are easily chewable and manage tongue blisters.
- Avoiding foods and drinks that worsen tongue blisters can help.
- It is advisable to prepare foods that are easier to consume.
- Refrain from consuming hot foods.
- Choosing protein-rich foods will help prevent weight loss due to less calorie consumption.
- Drinking plenty of water is vital and must be a priority to manage tongue blisters.
Home remedies for tongue blisters
Toothpaste
A well-known treatment for mouth ulcers is using soft-bristled toothbrushes with small, rounded heads that are made to be gentle on delicate mouth tissue.
Choose mild toothpaste that is specially formulated for sensitive mouths. In addition, toothpaste that doesn’t include the foaming chemical SLS (sodium lauryl sulphate) helps prevent blisters.
Floss your tongue and gums
Brushing the teeth and flossing the mouth helps prevent infection that leads to tongue blisters.
Rinse your mouth after meals.
Rinsing the mouth after meals helps boost the body’s natural cleansing process. By doing so, one can get rid of most infection-causing germs in the mouth and thereby prevent tongue blisters.
Healthy diet
Eating healthy and gut-friendly foods helps prevent oral infections like tongue blisters.
Visiting the dentist regularly for check-ups
Most blisters heal on their own, but a dentist consultation is mandatory when healing is prolonged. Regularly visiting a dentist for a check-up can make the diagnosis easier. A doctor can differentiate a normal blister from something severe.
Remove dentures every night.
Dentures cause sores or blisters in a few individuals. Removing dentures every night can prevent blister occurrence to some extent.
Risk factors of tongue blisters
Coffee sensitivity
Allergy to coffee is rare and very uncommon, but people do experience that. The symptoms of coffee sensitivity can manifest in many ways, with tongue blisters being one of them.
When to see a doctor?
Visit a doctor if there exists any one of the below-mentioned points.
Tongue blisters due to anaphylaxis require immediate doctor consultation. People with extremely swollen tongues or respiratory issues, in addition to tongue blisters, should seek emergency medical attention.
It is typically safe to hold off on visiting a doctor for a few days unless a bump on the tongue is causing excruciating pain or the patient also has a fever.
Consulting a doctor is advisable if the symptoms last longer than a week. If a tongue bump grows and does not go away, it can signify a more severe problem.
Additionally, if a person has painful tongue blisters that keep reoccurring, they should visit a doctor.
A doctor will examine the bumps and inquire about the patient’s medical background and any food sensitivities to diagnose the condition.
A physician may occasionally prescribe a blood test to screen out illnesses like syphilis and tuberculosis. The doctor can advise a biopsy or lumpectomy for diagnosis if cancer is suspected or if the origin of the bumps is unclear.
Conclusion
Tongue blisters are bumps or patches on the tongue. While an open sore or blister on the tongue can be inconvenient and uncomfortable, it frequently goes away on its own and is only a short-term problem.
Painkillers sold over the counter are frequently helpful in the interim. Nevertheless, visiting a doctor may be helpful if there are any unsettling symptoms.
FAQs
Are tongue blisters severe?
What to do when you get blisters on your tongue?
How long does it take for blisters to heal on the tongue?
Consult a medical professional if a sore or blister persists for more than two weeks or if you get a skin rash, fever, trouble swallowing or drooling in addition to the blisters.
