Tongue blisters in children are more appropriately regarded as canker sores, which also affects adults. These are different from fever blisters, also known as cold sores. Get to know about this condition in greater detail from this article.
As said, tongue blisters in children or in adults are regarded as canker sores, and not fever blisters or cold sores, because the latter occur on the surface of the lips and are contagious. On the other hand, canker sores develop inside the mouth (mainly on the soft tissues and the base of the gums). These sores are nothing but lesions or shallow ulcers, that can cause great pain to the ailing person, and make eating and talking difficult. As you go through this article, you would come to know about the symptoms of this condition, the possible cause of the condition, and the treatment to deal with it.
Symptoms that May Accompany the Blisters
The symptoms are nothing but the appearance of the lesions that develop inside the mouth including the tongue. The characteristic sign of these tongue sores in children are their round or oval shape, surrounded by a red outline. And the center would be white or yellow. In some people, these sores may be preceded by a tingling or burning sensation in the mouth. Usually, the oval sores happen to be smaller than those which are irregularly shaped.
Also, the bigger the size, the lengthier is the healing time. The bigger cankers sores are, however, less common in occurrence. In a few cases, people may also experience fever, a feeling of lack of energy, and swollen lymph nodes as additional symptoms.
What Causes Such Blisters or Sores?
If we look for the root cause behind the occurrence of blisters on the tongue, then it may be regarded to be idiopathic. However, every condition, whether idiopathic or not, has one or the other triggering factors to it. In this case, doctors have found the contributing factors as:
- Sensitivity or allergies to certain food
- Children lacking vitamin B-12 in their diet have been found to be commonly suffering from such blisters
- Pathogen that is responsible for peptic ulcers
- Injury to the tongue, or other parts of the mouth
- Medical conditions such as Celiac disease, inflammatory bowel diseases, and infections such as HIV/AIDS (more common in adults)
- In some children and adults, the immune system itself happens to be the cause, as it attacks the healthy cells in the mouth
- An inflammatory disease known as Behcet’s syndrome triggers inflammation of the blood vessels throughout the body. This also affects the mouth, and doctors believe it might be a contributing factor in the development of canker sores.
How to Get Rid of Tongue Blisters?
Tongue blisters that are smaller in size are known to get resolved on their own within a week or two. However, if the blisters are large in size, extremely painful or recurring, then medical care might be a necessity, especially in children. The patient might be recommended to use prescribed mouth rinses that help in reducing pain and inflammation. One can also avail pastes over-the-counter or through prescription, which can be applied on the sores. Oral medication may also be included in the treatment, and certain topical solution.
Some patients may require nutritional supplements to make up for the lack of nutrients such as the B vitamins, as mentioned above. But parents must be extremely cautious about self-medication on their children. And so, consulting a pedestrian is always advised.
There are certain self-care measures which when followed in conjunction with what the doctor prescribes, do help in relieving the pain and discomfort of the condition. These may include applying paste of baking soda to the sores, avoiding acid-based and spicy foods, using ice chips to relieve the swelling and pain, and brushing gently. Many people recommend the use of milk of magnesia for the sores. It not only eases the pain, but also shortens the healing period.
And to conclude, as the factors behind the onset of blisters on the tongue or inside of the mouth is unknown, there is no specific way to prevent their occurrence. However, the chances can be reduced by avoiding foods that cause irritation in the mouth, chewing slowly, practicing healthy oral hygiene habits, and inculcating a healthy and nutritious diet.
