Why do pimples appear on the tongue?

The appearance of pimples on the tongue is not taken seriously by people. Indeed, the rashes usually do not bother much; pain appears only when trying to eat something hot or when touched. However, it is contraindicated to leave such a manifestation unattended. At a minimum, you need to see a doctor to find out why it appeared.

Causes of pimples in the mouth

70% of red, white or pinkish rashes in the oral cavity, including on the tongue, indicate the presence of a serious dental disease. The asymptomatic course of the disease does not mean that the “trouble” will go away on its own. However, prescribing treatment on your own, guided by the advice of friends or recommendations from the Internet, is dangerous.

Important!

In principle, there cannot be acne on the tongue. Purulent skin rashes develop due to inflammation of the sebaceous glands, which are not present in the mouth. Accordingly, we call those pimples that appear in the oral cavity “pimples” by analogy. Just by external similarity.

There are several reasons for the appearance of irritations that visually resemble pimples:

1. mechanical damage. A prick with a fish bone, a scratch, a burn from hot coffee can provoke a similar pathology;
2. allergy. Not necessarily to foods; a seasonal allergic reaction is possible, manifesting itself in such an unusual way;
3. viral and infectious diseases. Herpes, rubella, scarlet fever and ARVI sometimes manifest themselves as rashes in the mouth;
4. fungal infection (candidiasis);
5. stomatitis. Usually, with stomatitis, pimples first appear on the gums, but sometimes red spots with a whitish halo, which react sharply to touch or spicy/hot food, form over the entire lingual surface.

There is no point in waiting until diseases become chronic. In 98% of cases, such pathologies are treated quickly and inexpensively, if you do not neglect the condition and do not self-medicate.

The appearance of a pimple on the tongue: diseases and treatment

The most harmless reason for the appearance of a pimple on the tip of the tongue is mechanical damage. Regular antiseptic treatment is enough to get rid of the problem. To relieve inflammation, you can use decoctions of sage and chamomile. A prerequisite is not to touch the wound with your hands, as you risk causing a more serious infection.

Allergy

It usually manifests itself as a scattering of small pimples throughout the tongue plate; if treatment is not addressed immediately, the pathology penetrates the root of the tongue, the frenulum and affects the larynx.

Important!

The causative agent of allergies is sometimes hygiene products (toothpaste), so contact your dentist to determine what exactly causes this reaction in the body. It is problematic to calculate the consequences of an allergy; without timely detection of an aggressive allergen, serious complications may arise, including Quincke's edema.

Stomatitis

As a rule, symptoms of developing stomatitis are ulcers and erosions with a whitish coating. Visually, they are similar to acne, but are treated completely differently. In the early stages, the disease is asymptomatic, and the temperature may rise slightly. Qualified treatment is prescribed only by a dentist, depending on the nature of the damage and the prerequisites for the progression of the pathology.

Viral diseases

Usually herpes “pops up” on the lips, but its appearance on the tongue is also not uncommon. Naturally, treating a herpes rash in the mouth with antiviral ointments is impossible, and leaving it unattended is strictly contraindicated. If not treated in a timely manner, this “harmless” virus can infect any mucous membrane of the human body, including the brain. Don't take risks if you find watery scarlet or pinkish pimples in your mouth; consult a doctor immediately.

Candidiasis

A fungal infection is usually noticed when the entire oral mucosa is “strewn” with pimples with a white coating. In addition, with thrush, the temperature rises slightly, lethargy appears and appetite disappears. Self-rinsing with antifungal agents will help relieve symptoms, but the full range of treatment must be completed to eliminate the risk of relapse.

Unfortunately, there is no panacea for oral diseases yet. You can endlessly listen to advice and hope that it will help. But it is much wiser and safer for your health to visit a dentist to know exactly what to treat and how.

If you have a problem similar to that described in this article, be sure to contact our specialists. Don't diagnose yourself!

Pimples on the tongue are a common problem that can affect people of any age, both adults and children. Although this condition is not life-threatening (unless caused by a life-threatening disease), it can be uncomfortable, especially if the pimples become swollen and painful.

Depending on the cause, pimples vary in size (from small to quite large) and colors (black, white, red, yellow). They are localized on any part of the tongue (at the tip, at the base, on the side or under it).

Causes

There are many reasons for the appearance of this unpleasant condition. The most common ones include the following:

Injuries

Biting, eating hard foods, piercings, and certain dental procedures can irritate or injure the lining of the tongue and cause painful lumps, especially on the side and tip. During healing, these formations may turn white.

Allergy

Allergic reactions to various allergens, including food, medications, and oral and lip care products, can cause a rash.

Inflamed and swollen papillae (papillitis)

“Lingual papillae are small structures on the upper surface of the tongue that give it its characteristic lumpy texture” [wilipedia.org]. Sometimes they become inflamed and swollen, making them look like white or red pimples. This problem is called papillitis. The causes of this condition can be different, ranging from injuries and burns to infection (in this case, the disease is called glossitis).

Contaminated mucous membrane

Sometimes the surface of the tongue can become clogged with dead cells, food or dirt, giving bacteria a chance to grow in the pores, which in turn causes a rash.

Ulcers (aphthous stomatitis)

Ulcers “are small lesions that develop on the soft tissue in the mouth or at the base of the gums” [mayoclinic.org]. They are not contagious, but are most often painful and cause discomfort during conversation or eating. These formations are more like wounds, but the edges may be swollen, which in some way can be called a pimple.

These types of conditions are caused by stress, food allergies, mineral and vitamin deficiencies, immune problems, injuries, hormonal changes or viral infections.

Oral thrush

Oral thrush, or oral thrush, is a fungal infection that can cause white bumps on the tongue (on the tip, side, or back of the tongue). Sometimes this type of thrush is a condition for the appearance of red pimples if the taste buds become inflamed.

Viral infections and STDs

Viral infections such as the flu and colds or herpes on the lips can cause blisters and white bumps on the tongue and other parts of the mouth and lips. Herpes pimples usually ooze a clear liquid called pus, and they are often accompanied by other flu-like symptoms.

Light pimples on the tongue caused by herpes

Oral cancer

Swollen sores in the mouth (including on the tongue) that do not go away can be cancerous. Oral cancer is accompanied by other signs, such as thickening of the soft tissue, soreness or a feeling that something is stuck in the throat, difficulty chewing or swallowing, ear pain, hoarseness, and swelling of the jaw.

Kawasaki disease

This condition, common among children, is characterized by “red, fairly large bumps that appear on the back of the tongue.” Kawasaki disease also causes fever, swollen lymph nodes, red skin, red feet, bloodshot eyes, joint pain, and chapped lips.

Scarlet fever

Scarlet fever is an infectious disease that mainly affects children and causes symptoms including a sore throat, a red rash on the body (including the tongue) and fever. At the same time, they talk about such a symptom as raspberry or strawberry tongue, since due to the change in color and the appearance of pimples (enlarged papillae) on it, it resembles these berries. Treatment is often with antibiotics as it is a bacterial infection.

Other reasons

There are many other reasons that cause tongue rash, which include poor hygiene, smoking, stress, leukoplakia, digestive system problems, hormonal changes especially during pregnancy, etc.

Causes, depending on the location and color of acne

Under the tongue

Sometimes pimples may appear under the tongue. They can be painful or painless, of different sizes, shapes and colors, depending on the conditions of occurrence. The most common causes of such acne include the following:

1. Oral cancer – causes cancerous tumors;
2. Fever or cold sores - characterized by small red bumps that ooze clear fluid (they turn white when healed).
3. Ulcers are painful growths that can be caused by a number of reasons.
4. Lymphoepithelial cysts are soft, yellowish cysts whose cause is unknown and treatment involves surgical removal.
5. A mucocele is a harmless condition that occurs when a salivary gland or duct becomes blocked and damaged.

Other diseases such as syphilis, scarlet fever, vitamin deficiency (especially B vitamins), fibroids and oral squamous cell papilloma can be associated with pimples under the tongue. Treatment in these cases will depend on the exact cause.

On the side

Pimples on the side of the tongue are caused by oral cancer, ulcers, allergic reactions, trauma, herpes, fibroids, oral candidiasis, vitamin deficiencies and a number of other reasons.

These pimples can be large, small, painful, white, black, red or yellow depending on what is causing it.

Pimples on the tip

Like any other part, pimples on the tip can be painful or painless, white, red, small or large depending on what causes them. Possible causes include most of the above - papillitis (inflammation of the papillae), herpes, ulcers, etc.

Large pimple on the tip of the tongue (in this case caused by injury)

Pimples on the root (at the base)

Pimples on the back are caused by enlargement of the circumvallate papillae (look like tubercles), allergies, injuries, ulcers, Kawasaki disease, stomatitis, leukoplakia, scarlet fever, etc. They can be large, small, white or red.

White pimples on the tongue (in this case it is papillitis)

This kind of pimples is often caused by thrush (in both children and adults), leukoplakia, ulcers, injuries, and piercings.

Red pimples

One of the common causes of red pimples is herpes. The mucous membrane around the blisters is often red, swollen, and inflamed, with clear fluid seeping through. Other causes include inflamed taste buds, scarlet fever, Kawasaki syndrome, ulcers, etc.

Black pimples

Black pimples on tongue are caused by hyperpigmentation, oral fibroids, tongue piercings, oral cancer, hairy black tongue, trauma, allergic reactions, etc.

How to quickly get rid of acne on the tongue - remedies and treatment

Specific treatments for tongue pimples will depend on what is causing them. If it is an antibacterial infection, the doctor will prescribe antibiotics to correct the problem. Likewise, rashes caused by viral infections may require antiviral medications. Finally, those caused by a fungal infection, such as oral candidiasis, will require antifungal medications.

Most tongue pimples go away on their own. But if they are accompanied by pain, burning and other unpleasant or suspicious symptoms, and if they do not disappear after two weeks, then you should definitely consult a dentist.

To relieve symptoms as well as prevent rashes, there are a number of recommended home remedies and general oral and tongue care tips. These measures include the following tips:

1. Avoid foods that cause allergies or irritate the taste buds, including spicy, hot and salty foods
2. Practice good oral hygiene, including gently brushing your tongue twice daily using a good antibacterial toothpaste.
3. To get rid of acne quickly, rinse your mouth with salt water for 2-3 minutes twice a day. This will help reduce inflammation, pain and swelling. Salt water also helps treat minor mouth infections and prevent new ones. To prepare a saline solution, dilute one teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water.
4. Applying milk of magnesia twice a day helps reduce soreness.
5. A cold compress and sucking on ice cubes helps reduce swelling and inflammation.
6. Rice and milk mixture, that is, two figs boiled in warm milk, will be beneficial if acne is caused by indigestion or gastrointestinal problems such as acid reflux.
7. Chewing mint leaves before bed can help reduce the size of the pimple the next morning, as well as reduce discomfort or soreness.
8. A mixture made from water and hydrogen peroxide will be useful in treating bacterial infections. Apply equal mixtures to the affected part with cotton swabs 3-4 times a day.

[warning]It is forbidden to open pimples as this will spread bacteria. [/warning]

Healthy and balanced diet

Some foods trigger a rash. Fatty foods, dairy products, sugar, coffee, bread, coconut oil and others should be avoided. Instead, you should eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. In addition, you need to drink a lot of water.

Pimples on the tongue are familiar to many. They are painful, cause discomfort and cause suffering. In fact, they are easy to treat and do not cause complications. A pimple on the tongue can appear for many reasons, most often due to microtrauma of the tongue, stomatitis or herpes. We will tell you why white, red and pink pimples appear on the tongue, as well as how to cure them.

Content:

What it is

If a pimple appears on the tongue, the main thing to understand is that, in principle, there cannot be pimples on the tongue, since there are no sebaceous glands on it. Those formations that are mistaken for pimples are not actually pimples - they are not filled with purulent exudate. Essentially, these are small swellings and ulcers on the surface of the tongue. They are called "pimples" because they are very similar. They are white, pink, red, yellow, depending on the complexity of the disease and the cause of formation.

Small pimples are very painful, they interfere with eating, talking and even bother the patient at rest. Let's try to figure out what to do, how to cure it, as well as what they are and why they appear.

White pimple

White pimples most often appear as a result of stomatitis or candidiasis. Since these two diseases are treated completely differently, you should consult a doctor at the first symptoms in order to correctly diagnose and prescribe treatment.

Candidiasis is characterized by white pimples and a coating on the tongue, which in appearance resembles cottage cheese and covers the entire surface of the oral cavity. There are also white pimples on the base, tip and under the tongue. Sometimes the entire surface may be covered with small pimples and a cheesy coating.

Diagnosing candidiasis is not difficult - if you wake up in the morning and find plaque and pimples on your tongue, you have every reason to suspect the presence of candidiasis or thrush. You should consult a doctor to confirm the diagnosis and prescribe treatment.

With stomatitis, small pimples appear on the tongue. There are usually many of them, they can merge with each other. These small white pimples at the tip or root, at the base or underneath are very painful and itchy. The pain intensifies after eating.

Without proper treatment, stomatitis will not go away on its own; you need to see a doctor to confirm the diagnosis and prescribe treatment. As a rule, it consists of antiseptic treatment of the surface of the oral cavity and lifestyle correction, since the main cause of stomatitis is insufficient oral hygiene.

Red

Red pimples on the tongue are the main sign of glossitis, an inflammatory disease. Outwardly, they look like inflamed red dots that hurt and irritate.

Glossitis can appear for many reasons:

1. allergic reaction;
2. eating too hot and spicy food;
3. alcohol abuse;
4. presence of the herpes virus.

A red pimple on the tip of the tongue can also be the result of a burn from too hot food. The papillae on the surface of the burn become greatly enlarged and swollen, outwardly it looks like a pimple. After a few days everything returns to normal.

With an allergy, many red pimples form on the surface of the tongue, which itch and cause anxiety.

With the herpes virus, a red pimple may not be the only manifestation of the disease; usually the entire surface of the oral cavity is affected.

Yellow

The appearance of yellow pimples on the tongue is usually not an independent disease. Often with stomatitis or candidiasis, the coating on the surface of the tongue takes on a yellowish rather than white tint. It all depends on the individual characteristics of the body. In addition, determining the shade is an individual matter. Therefore, yellow pimples most often also mean either candidiasis or stomatitis. To eliminate any doubts, consult a doctor; he will be able to determine for sure what disease you have encountered.

Pink

Pink pimples on the tongue, like yellow ones, are not an independent disease. Usually they are an early stage of glossitis, when the inflammatory process has not yet reached its peak. At the initial stage of the disease, they have a light pink tint, which after a few hours will turn intense red. Considering the fact that the disease is easier to treat at an early stage, if pink acne appears, you should immediately consult a doctor for advice.

Why do they appear?

As already mentioned, there are no sebaceous glands on the tongue, so “pimples” cannot appear on it in principle. After all, a pimple is an inflammation of the sebaceous gland. But the bumps and nodules that sometimes appear on the surface are very similar in appearance to pimples, which is why they got that name. Pimples under the tongue or on the tip cause a lot of trouble and are extremely painful. Let's consider the reasons for their appearance.

Mechanical damage

Often, in the process of chewing or biting food, we bite our tongue, resulting in a slight mechanical injury. The risk of surface damage increases when consuming hard foods with sharp edges (crackers, chips, seeds). A small painful swelling or bump forms at the site of the injury, which after some time turns into a white pimple. The pain intensifies while eating. With severe mechanical damage, slight swelling may occur.

You should exclude spicy and hot foods from your diet, carefully monitor oral hygiene, and after a few days the pimple will disappear on its own.

Allergic reaction

The appearance of pimples on the tongue may indicate an allergic reaction to food, medicine or toothpaste. In this case, small white pimples and sores form, which hurt and irritate when eating or drinking liquid.

If your doctor suspects an allergy, it is very important to identify the allergen and eliminate it from your diet. First of all, you should stop chewing gum, change toothpaste and tooth elixir - you may be allergic to oral hygiene products. If these measures do not bring the desired result, you need to analyze whether you have recently taken medications. Pimples on the tongue after antibiotics and other medications are a common occurrence. In this case, you should consult your doctor and stop taking the drug or try replacing it with another one.

If the cause of acne is a food allergy, you need to track what foods they appear after and eliminate these foods from your diet.

Stomatitis

Stomatitis is a common cause of white or red pimples on the surface of the tongue. The main cause of stomatitis is insufficient oral hygiene, exposure to pathogenic bacteria on the mucous membranes due to dirty hands, unwashed fruits and vegetables. Most often, children suffer from stomatitis, because they tend to put everything in their mouth.

With stomatitis, small white, pink or red pimples appear on the surface of the tongue and other mucous membranes of the mouth, which burn, irritate and hurt not only during eating, but also at rest. It is sometimes difficult not only to eat, but also to talk or simply swallow saliva. Small pimples under the tongue or at the root cause severe discomfort.

At the first suspicion of stomatitis, you should consult a doctor, he will prescribe medications that relieve itching and soreness of the tongue, as well as promote the speedy healing of ulcers and pimples.

Herpes

The herpes virus most often affects the area around the lips. However, this is not the only place where it is localized; herpes can affect all mucous surfaces of the human body, including the oral cavity. In this case, one or more watery pimples may appear on the tongue and inner surface of the cheeks. Many people do not pay enough attention to the herpes virus, believing that it will go away on its own. In fact, this is not such a harmless disease.

Without proper treatment, herpes can eventually affect the entire body, including the brain. Therefore, if you have a herpes virus, you should consult a doctor and undergo a course of antiherpetic therapy.

Poor nutrition

If you eat too much spicy and hot food, inflammation of the tongue, or glossitis, may occur. The papillae on the surface of the tongue are constantly irritated by hot or spicy foods, which leads to their inflammation. If your diet constantly contains spicy foods, inflammation can become chronic.

Drinking alcohol in large quantities, as well as smoking, can cause inflammation of the tongue. Therefore, when the first problems appear, you should immediately try to get rid of bad habits.

Pathologies of the patient's internal organs

Pimples on the surface of the tongue can be a manifestation of various diseases, including candidiasis or tuberculosis. Therefore, you should not take the appearance of small pimples lightly. Be sure to monitor their behavior. If a pimple does not go away for a long time, be sure to consult a doctor.

Weakened immunity

If the immune system is weakened as a result of a previous illness or due to a lack of vitamins and microelements, small painful pimples may appear on the surface of the tongue. If there are no other reasons for their appearance, you should contact an immunologist to check the state of the immune system. If malfunctions are detected in its functioning, it is necessary to take immunomodulators, as well as drugs with lactobacilli to normalize intestinal function and correct the activity of the immune system.

What to do

The human oral cavity is home to many bacteria, both beneficial and pathogenic. They have both negative and positive effects on the human body. Pathogenic bacteria cause inflammatory processes, including glossitis, or inflammation of the tongue. Often patients notice a white pimple that reacts with pain to every touch. In fact, this is not a pimple, but an inflamed nodule. In medicine, such inflamed nodules are called glossitis.

A transparent pimple under the tongue can occur as a result of mechanical damage or as an allergic reaction to chemical and food irritants.

You can get rid of glossitis only through comprehensive measures. The first step is to consult a doctor to determine the true cause of its occurrence. The oral cavity should be kept clean, preferably rinsed with a soda solution or a decoction of St. John's wort. It is also necessary to strengthen the immune system and limit the consumption of spicy and too hot foods so as not to irritate the inflamed nodule.

Location: on the base

Pimples at the base of the tongue interfere with swallowing and even speaking, they hurt and cause a lot of trouble. The reasons for their appearance can be very diverse. It could be stomatitis, a fungal infection, a sore throat or pharyngitis. Only an experienced doctor can make a correct diagnosis. We can only suggest what you should pay attention to.

If a pimple appears on the base of the tongue, you should carefully analyze other symptoms - fever, enlarged lymph nodes, the presence of allergic reactions. For example, with a sore throat, pimples form near the throat quite often. They are painful, make swallowing difficult and cause pain when speaking. In this case, the patient also has enlarged tonsils and submandibular lymph nodes, and an elevated temperature. As a matter of fact, acne and fever almost always occur either with a sore throat, or with tonsillitis or pharyngitis.

It is undesirable to ignore pimples on the tongue near the throat, since in particularly advanced cases they can interfere with breathing, which can lead to suffocation. Therefore, having discovered them in yourself, you need to contact an ENT specialist to make a diagnosis.

Location: at the tip

A white pimple on the tip of the tongue can appear at the site of a microtrauma as a result of an infection entering the wound. Fans of chips, seeds, pistachios and other nuts are especially susceptible to developing pimples on the tip of the tongue. Solid foods scratch the delicate tip of the tongue, causing pathogenic bacteria to enter the wound, causing it to become inflamed and painful.

Often a pimple occurs due to an exacerbation of the herpes simplex virus against the background of decreased immunity. In this case, strengthen your immune system and take vitamin complexes. But in any case, consult a doctor and get tested to make an accurate diagnosis.

Also, a pimple can pop out due to chronic stomatitis. If the patient has a weakened immune system and has carious teeth, persistent infection in the oral cavity sooner or later leads to stomatitis. Without timely treatment, it can become chronic, periodically exacerbating.

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