How to Treat a Sore Tongue: Effective Home Remedies and Medical Treatments
Medically reviewed by Edmund Khoo, DDSMedically reviewed by Edmund Khoo, DDS
A sore tongue may be painful on the tip, back, or sides. Common causes include injuries, infections, and underlying medical conditions. Treatment depends on the cause but may include good oral hygiene, mouth rinses, or over-the-counter (OTC) medications. Often, a sore tongue will resolve on its own. Some cases of sore tongue will require seeking medical treatment.
This article will cover the causes of sore tongue, how to find relief at home, and when to consult a healthcare provider.
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What Causes a Sore Tongue?
When you have a sore tongue, it will be painful and may be difficult to chew, swallow, or talk. Exact symptoms and characteristics depend on the cause. A sore tongue can be swollen, inflamed, discolored, or marked with blisters or sores. Read on for specific causes.
Canker Sores
Canker sores can develop anywhere on the tongue or mouth. They are open white or yellow areas with a surrounding red area. Causes include viruses, stress, or mouth injury.
Related: How to Get Rid of Canker Sores
Trauma
Trauma is any injury to the tongue. Examples include accidentally biting the tongue while chewing food, experiencing seizures, cuts and scrapes, and injuries related to sports or motor vehicles. Some traumas will resolve on their own, while others require suturing with absorbable stitches, or even surgical treatment.
Related: What to Know About How Wounds Are Closed
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy can damage the cells lining the mouth, throat, and gastrointestinal tract, leading to painful ulcers or sores. Tongue pain from chemotherapy can lead to dehydration, undereating, and weight loss.
White or yellow film or patches and pus can occur in the mouth or the tongue. Healing won’t start until chemotherapy completely ends. Then, it may take anywhere from two to four weeks.
Related: An Overview of What Happens During Chemotherapy
Oral Thrush
Thrush (oral candidiasis) is an uncommon type of fungal infection caused by yeast. It's most prevalent in cases of diabetes, cancer, or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or AIDS, and in people with dry mouth, who wear dentures, or who smoke.
Thrush symptoms include:
Pain while eating and swallowing
Dry mouth
Redness or soreness
White patches on the tongue and inner cheeks, roof of mouth, and throat
Irritation and skin cracking at the corners of the mouth
Related: Thrush
Herpes Simplex (Fever Blister or Cold Sore)
Herpes simplex virus can cause painful blisters on the tongue, mouth roof, gums, and lips. Herpes blisters burst after a day or two, releasing virus-containing fluid. Then the sores form scabs or crusts. Herpes sores typically last a week to 10 days. Medications can help shorten outbreak frequency and severity.
Related: Herpes Facts and Statistics: What You Should Know
Burning Mouth Syndrome
Burning mouth syndrome is also known as glossodynia, oral dysesthesia, or burning tongue. It's an uncommon but painful, chronic condition affecting the tongue and has no obvious cause. It causes tongue numbness and tingling, and may also cause mental health effects like anxiety or depression. People can also experience secondary burning tongues from medical conditions like anemia or infection, including oral thrush.
Other Causes of Mouth Sores and Pain
According to the American Cancer Society, other causes of mouth sores and pain are:
Alcohol and tobacco use (smoking and chewing)
Certain immunotherapy drugs
Dehydration
Insufficient oral hygiene
Lack of vitamins or protein
Oxygen therapy
Radiation treatment to head and neck
Related: Types of Mouth Infections and How to Treat Them
Sore Tongue Self-Care and Home Remedies
Self-care and home remedies focus on maintaining good oral hygiene, easing symptoms, and preventing health complications like infection.
Home Remedy Precaution
Home remedies may not be appropriate in every situation. Consult with a healthcare provider to ensure they have an updated list of all medications, supplements, and other home remedies to review for safety and efficacy.
Related: Health Benefits of 10 Healing Herbs
Maintain Good Oral Hygiene
Maintaining good oral hygiene by brushing and flossing your teeth twice daily removes bacteria and prevents dry mouth and the risk of oral infections that may lead to sore tongue.
Related: Guide to Brushing Your Teeth the Right Way
Saltwater Rinse
Saltwater rinses help maintain good oral hygiene, prevent infection, and ease pain from sores.
Takeaway
To make a saltwater rinse for a sore tongue, mix 1 teaspoon of table salt with 8 ounces of lukewarm water. Gargle for around 30 seconds and spit out.
Rinse the Mouth With Cool Chamomile Tea
Rinsing your mouth with cool or room-temperature chamomile tea can help promote healing while easing symptoms. Chamomile has anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties. In one randomized control study published in 2023, the chamomile group experienced reduced pain and speedier recovery from dry sockets (post-extraction alveolar osteitis). A dry socket occurs when the blood clot that forms where the tooth was removed is lost, dissolves, or doesn't fully form before the wound is healed, exposing the bone and nerves to air.
Related: German Chamomile: Uses, Safety, & More
Use Sage as an Herbal Remedy
If inflammation is causing tongue pain, sage mouth rinses may help. Sage has demonstrated anti-inflammatory properties.
Apply Honey to the Sore
Applying honey to the sore can also help ease pain and promote healing. One meta-analysis found consuming honey after a tonsillectomy significantly reduced pain and promoted healing. Avoid using honey for children under a year old.
Be Mindful of Foods and Drinks
When your tongue is sore and your mouth is healing, be mindful of the foods and drinks you consume to prevent injury and support recovery. Consider avoiding or limiting foods and drinks that could be irritating.
Foods to Avoid
The following food and drink might be irritating if you have sore tongue:
Acidic foods
Carbonated beverages
Hot foods
Sharp/crunchy snacks
Sour foods
Spicy foods
Avoid Smoking
Smoking irritates the tongue, making it harder for your tongue to heal. Avoiding smoking helps support your immune system functioning, reduces irritation to the sore tongue area, and speeds up recovery time.
Related: How to Realistically Quit Smoking: 24+ Steps to Take Right Now
Medical Treatments for a Sore Tongue
Medical treatments for sore tongue target the underlying cause. Consulting with a healthcare professional for a proper diagnosis and treatment can ensure a speedy recovery and can prevent complications like infection.
Pain Medication
Over-the-counter pain reilief medications and prescription medications can help alleviate pain. Bear in mind that pain medication treats symptoms, not the underlying cause.
Topical Gels
Topical gels can be used to treat viral infections or relieve pain. OTC options can help treat canker sores.
Prescription Mouthwash
Prescription antiseptic mouthwash can be particularly useful for helping prevent infection and promote healing.
Vitamin Supplements
If sore tongue is caused by a vitamin deficiency, treatment may likely include taking a vitamin supplement. Vitamin B2 or riboflavin deficiency, for example, can cause sore tongue. In this case, taking vitamin B2 targets the underlying cause.
Medication to Stimulate Saliva
Medication to increase saliva production, such as the oral tablet Salagen (pilocarpine), can help with chronic dry mouth causing sore tongue.
Antibiotics
Antibiotics are used to treat an underlying bacterial infection causing sore tongue symptoms. Strep throat and whooping cough can cause sore mouth and tongue from coughing and dry mouth, and these infections can be treated with antibiotics.
Related: What Is a Bacterial Infection?
How Long Does a Sore Tongue Take to Heal?
Recovery time for sore tongue depends on cause and treatment follow-through. For example, minor tongue bites from chewing can heal within days but major injuries may take longer.
When to Contact a Healthcare Provider
There are warning signs that indicate the need for medical attention. If you have returning or worsening symptoms, it's time to contact a healthcare provider.
Seek immediate care in the following tongue trauma cases:
Flesh has been torn from the tongue (i.e., partial amputation).
The wound is larger than 2 centimeters.
The wound is complex (i.e., lacerations are bisecting or crossing over each other, gaping, U-shaped, or include large skin flaps).
There is persistent bleeding (i.e., your efforts to stop the bleeding are not working).
Read Next: Dental Health
Summary
There are many causes of sore tongue, many of which can be remedied at home. You can reduce pain with good oral hygiene, herbal remedies, and medications. Some cases of sore tongue signal underlying chronic health conditions requiring medical treatment. Severe injuries and cases involving high fever require immediate care.
Read the original article on Verywell Health.
