A sore tongue tip may be attributed to an underlying health problem that a person may be suffering from. Read on to know what causes a sore tongue.
It can be really frustrating if one experiences soreness and pain in the tongue tip. Due to this a person may have difficulty in tasting, swallowing and masticating food. A healthy tongue is pink in color and the papillae are very small. However, when the tongue becomes sore, there is tongue discoloration, i.e. it can become red or white and there might also be some bumps on its surface. Many doctors rely on the appearance of the tongue to diagnose a health problem that a person may be suffering from. It results from a variety of reasons and underlying conditions, some of which are mentioned below.
Causes
Lack of Nutrition
One of the most common causes is having a diet that lacks in essential nutrients required to keep the body healthy. If the body lacks certain vitamins or minerals, especially vitamin B6, iron or niacin, the condition may present itself in the form of a sore tongue.
Injury to the Tongue
It may be due to some kind of external injury to the tongue. This usually happens if a person has accidentally bitten his tongue while eating or talking, or has eaten something very hot or cold, resulting in the papillae becoming inflamed, thus causing a sore and painful tongue tip.
Rubbing Against Teeth
The tip of tongue may become red and sore if the tongue is constantly rubbing against the teeth. This usually happens when the teeth are irregular or there is accumulation of plaque behind the teeth. Sometimes, kissing someone passionately can result in the tongue getting rubbed against someone else’s teeth, resulting in a sore tongue tip!
Dental Problems
Ill-fitting dentures, dental plaque or lack of good oral hygiene can be the other reasons.
Atrophic Glossitis
This condition occurs in the elderly. When a person who suffers from this condition eats sharp-tasting foods, he experiences a burning sensation on the tip of his tongue. The appearance of the tongue tip changes too. It becomes red in color and somewhat beefy.
Acidic Food
If it is accompanied by small red-colored bumps, the reason could be intake of food which are spicy and acidic in nature.
Infection
It could be due to an infection such as oral thrush caused by bacteria, viruses or yeast. An infection in the mouth not only causes soreness but produces a burning sensation on the tongue as well. In most of the cases of mouth infection, it is seen that people who have a compromised immune system, are more prone to getting this infection than others.
Mouth Sores
Mouth sores, also known as canker sores, can develop due to a number of reasons such as lack of nutrition, eating acidic food, underlying inflammatory diseases, dental problems, etc. If a person has canker sores, the tip of his tongue can become swollen and sore. Sometimes, more than one canker sore can develop, producing symptoms such as fever, fatigue, inflammation of the lymph nodes and extreme pain in the entire mouth.
Remedies
The treatment for this condition depends upon the cause and the severity of the symptoms. Given below are some of the common remedies to get relief from the pain and soreness in your tongue tip.
- Eat a balanced diet comprising essential nutrients if a sore tongue is due to lack of proper nutrition.
- Refrain from eating acidic foods.
- Maintain proper oral hygiene.
- Increase daily intake of water.
A red sore tongue, in most cases, is not a serious condition and usually resolves on its own, within one or two weeks. However, if it doesn’t resolve and appears again, seek the advice of your doctor.
Disclaimer: This HealthHearty article is meant for informative purposes only. The information provided here is not intended to replace the advice of a medical practitioner.
