What is Good for Tongue Wounds? What Causes Tongue Sores?

Damage to the moist inner surface of the mouth may cause deterioration in oral health. The tongue is one of the most important structures located in the mouth and one of the organs where these damages frequently occur. Although tongue sores are mostly small, they can be up to a few centimeters wide. These wounds can usually be observed in gray, yellow and white colors. Tongue sores can negatively affect a person’s eating, drinking, speaking and oral hygiene. Therefore, its occurrence must be prevented or treated. It is extremely important to determine the cause of these wounds, which can be a sign of many diseases.

What are the symptoms of tongue sores?

The tongue is a very strong muscle that helps chewing and swallowing food. Language-related health problems can make these functions difficult, but most language problems are not serious. Tongue sores are a common health problem that almost every person faces at some point in their life. In addition to oral mucosal lesions expressed; It can affect the entire mouth, including the lips, cheeks and gums. Tongue sores; It is also known as thrush, aphtha or tongue ulcer. Symptoms of tongue sores can be listed as follows:

• One or more painful sores on a certain part of the oral mucosa,
• Red mucous membrane swelling around the wounds,
• Problems during chewing and brushing teeth due to developing sensitivity,
• Irritation of injured areas from hot, cold, salty, spicy and sour foods and drinks.

These symptoms usually indicate harmless lesions that disappear within a few weeks. If the following symptoms are observed, it is recommended to seek expert opinion:

• In some cases, these lesions may not be painful, but their persistence for a long time may be a sign of oral cancer.
• Mouth sores that last three weeks or longer may be caused by an abnormal health condition.
• If new lesions appear before old lesions heal, health institutions should be consulted.
• If it is located near the back of your throat, bleeds, or becomes more painful, it may indicate serious infections.
• If the pain cannot be relieved with medication, in case of unusually large lesions and fever accompanying the lesions, it is recommended to seek professional support.

What Causes Tongue Sores?

Tongue wounds, which occur in case of loss or erosion of the oral mucosa membrane, can develop for many reasons. Reasons such as poor oral hygiene, allergies, infectious diseases and stress can cause tongue ulcers. The cause of tongue sores often cannot be determined. Common causes of tongue sores can be listed as follows:

• Viral diseases such as herpes virus, chickenpox, hand, foot and mouth disease,
• Vitamin B12, folic acid, zinc and iron deficiency,
• Celiac disease, in which the patient has adverse reactions to gluten,
• Crohn’s disease, which causes inflammation of the digestive tract lining,
• Reactive arthritis, a condition that causes inflammation in various parts of the body in response to infections
• Weakening of the immune system due to diseases such as HIV or lupus,
• Behçet’s disease, which causes swelling of blood vessels,
• Stress and anxiety,
• Irritation caused by hot foods and drinks,
• autoimmune diseases,
• Hormonal changes, menstruation and pregnancy,
• Excessive consumption of acidic foods such as oranges,
• Use of braces or retainers,
• Use of harsh or abrasive toothpaste and toothbrush,
• Food sensitivities and allergic reactions,
• Exposure to the fungus Candida albicans,
• Use of some drug groups,
• Poorly fitting dentures,
• Sleeping disorders,
• Accidental biting of tongue and cheek.

What is Good for Tongue Wounds?

Tongue sores are mostly harmless and can heal spontaneously within 10-14 days. Tongue wounds that develop due to bacterial, viral and fungal infections, skin rashes or other diseases; may need topical treatments such as mouthwash, ointment, or gel. These medications should be prescribed by a medical professional and used in appropriate doses and durations.

Medicines work by relieving excessive redness, pus discharges, fever, pain and infection. Topical anesthetics, mouthwashes containing hydrogen peroxide or chlorhexidine, corticosteroid ointments and antibiotics are among the medications that can be used for treatment.

Controlling symptoms that may negatively affect the treatment process of tongue sores can also be considered a part of the treatment process. Consumption of spicy, salty, sour, extremely hot or cold foods and drinks should be avoided until the lesion heals. The use of antiseptic gels and mouthwashes may be recommended to ensure oral hygiene. Consuming plenty of fluids and adopting balanced eating habits may also be beneficial.

Specialist advice is needed for the treatment of tongue sores caused by nutritional deficiencies. External supplementation of deficient vitamins and minerals, in line with the doctor’s advice, may be beneficial in eliminating tongue sores.

How to Prevent Tongue Sores?

Providing treatment for tongue sores and preventing their recurrence positively affects the person’s quality of life. There are many measures that can be taken to prevent tongue sores. The measures that can be taken to prevent tongue sores and other oral diseases can be briefly mentioned as follows:

• Ensuring hygiene and brushing teeth twice a day for optimum oral health,
• Using a soft bristle brush to prevent irritation of the tongue, gums and cheek tissues,
• Creating nutritional programs that include fresh fruits and vegetables, including all nutrients such as vitamins, minerals and proteins, in the amounts needed by the body,
• Regular dental check-ups,
• Avoiding consumption of excessively acidic, salty and spicy foods,
• Consult with a healthcare professional about nutritional deficiencies,
• Using stress reduction techniques such as meditation and exercise,
• Restricting the consumption of some foods that may cause tongue ulcers,
• Using supplements to eliminate zinc, B12 and vitamin C, folic acid and iron deficiencies,
• Developing the habit of using mouthwash, i.e. antimicrobial mouthwash,
• It may be recommended to identify and treat the underlying medical condition that causes tongue sores.

What are the Natural Methods for Tongue Sores?

People with tongue sores often seek natural treatment methods to solve this disease. Natural methods that are beneficial for tongue sores can be mentioned as follows:

• You can benefit from its antiseptic properties by gargling with salt water at regular intervals. [13]
• Black mulberry is a plant used for the treatment of oral lesions and has an antifungal effect. [8]
• St. John’s wort, which has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects, can be used as a gargle to heal wounds. [8]
• Lauric acid found in coconut oil provides anti-inflammatory, antifungal and antibacterial effects, you can get help by using it as a mouthwash. [11]
• You can benefit from aromatherapeutic essential oils used as mouthwash for oral wounds, for example; tea tree essential oil, peppermint oil and clove oil. These oils provide a protective effect against the negative effects of bacteria in oral injuries and inflammation. [12]

Tongue sores can sometimes occur as a symptom of other diseases. Therefore, if there are recurring or persistent lesions, the underlying cause must be determined. It is recommended that you consult a physician to identify and eliminate the disease agent and determine the most appropriate treatment method for you.