In a recent blog, we looked at the symptom of tongue discoloration, exploring what different color changes to your tongue could mean. With some of these color changes, you may also notice lumps or bumps on the surface of your tongue, or you may simply experience lumps and bumps without any color change. Lumps and bumps can be worrying, but they’re not always serious. So, let’s look at some of the different causes of a bumpy tongue and what you can do about it.

Lie bumps

Our tongues are covered in little pink spots known as papillae, some of which are responsible for our sense of taste. Occasionally, these papillae can become enlarged due to a number of things, such as accidentally biting your tongue or catching an infection. These small bumps aren’t usually anything to worry about and should clear up on their own in a week or so. If they are causing you pain or irritation, then a medicated mouthwash could help to relieve the symptoms.

Oral thrush

A yeast infection can cause thrush in the mouth, which may present itself as white spots or bumps on the tongue and other surfaces inside your mouth. These spots may also be red and swollen underneath, and can cause pain and irritation. If you have symptoms of oral thrush, see your dentist for a diagnosis and recommendations of how to treat and prevent the condition. It is usually easily treatable with an over-the-counter antifungal medication.

Strawberry tongue

If your tongue is red all over, swollen, and with small red or white bumps, this is a symptom known as strawberry tongue, due to it resembling the fruit. Strawberry tongue is most often seen in children and can be a sign of various things, including scarlet fever, Kawasaki disease, toxic shock syndrome, and allergies. Because some of these conditions can be dangerous, it’s important to see your doctor or dentist to diagnose the cause of strawberry tongue and treat it appropriately.

Lumps on the tongue

Larger lumps on the tongue can be caused by various things, but there’s a chance that a lump could be a sign of oral cancer, so it’s a good idea to get unusual lumps checked out to either rule out this possibility or catch it early. Cancerous lumps are more likely to grow on the side of the tongue and are typically hard to touch, and are generally painless. Cancer of the tongue is rare, so there’s often a less serious explanation, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

If you need treatment or a dental check-up around Clemmons, Lewisville, Mocksville, Winston Salem, and Advance, then contact Advance Family Dentists for more information about our practice or to book a dentist appointment with us.