You may have had pain in your mouth many times before, but a pain in your tongue is a little more unusual. While it is not normal for you to be in pain from your tongue, it can happen from time to time. Here are some causes for tongue pain and when you should give our office a call.
Canker Sores
Your tongue may hurt for several reasons. One of the most common is a canker sore. Canker sores usually occur on your gums or the inside of your cheek or lip, but they can also happen on your tongue. They are usually bright red with a white center. If you have a canker sore on your tongue, you can make it feel better by rinsing your mouth out with salt water after each meal or snack or applying a numbing gel or paste.
Geographic Tongue or Tongue Fissures
While it is not a common condition, if you have pain on the top of your tongue, it could be because of geographic tongue or tongue fissures. Geographic tongue refers to patches on the top of your tongue that look like islands. If you have fissures on your tongue, you have little cuts on your tongue that are usually narrow but can be deep. Fissured or geographic tongues can be painful depending on what you are eating or drinking, but the conditions themselves are harmless.
Medical Conditions or Medications
Some medications or conditions can cause a painful tongue. If you have allergies or asthma, your tongue may be more sensitive, especially if you use steroid inhalers. You may also have a painful tongue as part of diabetic neuropathy, which can cause nerves to tingle and become painful in many areas of your body. Be sure that you are getting plenty of vitamins A and C because if you have a vitamin deficiency in those essential vitamins, your tongue may be painful.
If your tongue is hurting, and you are unsure why it is hurting, why not make an appointment to see one of our dentists? That way, we can get to the bottom of your tongue pain.
Dentist Natick, MA | Elite Dental of Natick Above all else, we here at Elite Dental of Natick want our dental patients to maintain healthy, bright, and beautiful smiles! Call us today to schedule an appointment! Elite Dental of Natick, 232 Pond St., Natick, MA 01760, (508) 319-9339, elitedentalofnatick.com, 12/7/2024, Key Phrases: Dentist Natick MA,