What are these bumps on side of tongue? Fungiform papillae are the small bumps that usually form on the top and sides of your tongue. They may have the same color as the rest of your tongue and, under normal circumstances, are unnoticeable. They give your tongue a rough texture, which helps you eat. They also contain taste buds and temperature sensors. The papillae can become enlarged for a variety of reasons. Most of the time, these reasons are usually not serious. You may visit your doctor if the bumps are persistent, are growing or spreading, or are making it hard to eat.
Papillae do not have many specific symptoms, other than the fact that the bumps are of either white or red color. The bumps on tongue could lead to some pain and irritation on the tongue, too.
Bumps that appear on the side of the tongue can feel like a lump, or look like a pimple. Don’t get confused if we use the terms interchangeably from here on. There are many ways bumps on the tongue will appear.
One individual may white a cluster of bumps on tongue, while another may just have red bumps on tongue. You could notice large bumps on tongue, a painful bump on tongue or a painless white bump on tongue or a hard spot on tongue.
Tongue bumps can also be red, yellow, and a cluster, single, on the side of the tongue, at the back of the tongue near the throat, under tongue or on the tip of the tongue.
Bumps on side of tongue can be painful and interfere with things we take for granted like eating, swallowing, even speaking. For some kinds, they may be harmful, but the bumps on the tongue are usually harmless. There are times though, when you may need to see a doctor as soon as possible as the tongue bump could indicate something more serious.
Causes of bumps on side of tongue
Lie bumps (transient lingual papillitis)
About half of us experience lie bumps at some point. These little white or red bumps form when papillae become irritated and slightly swollen. Usually, it is not always clear why this happens, but it may be related to stress, hormones, or particular foods. Although they can be uncomfortable, lie bumps aren’t serious and usually clear up without treatment and within a few days.
Eruptive lingual papillitis is most common among children and is likely contagious. It can be accompanied by fever and swollen glands. It is sometimes associated with a viral infection. It generally doesn’t require treatment and clears up within two weeks, but it can recur. Saltwater rinses or cold, smooth foods may provide some relief.
Canker sores (aphthous ulcers)
They can occur anywhere in the mouth, including under the tongue. The cause of these painful, red sores is unknown. Fortunately, they aren’t contagious. Over-the-counter pain relievers may ease symptoms. Canker sores usually get better within 10 days and without treatment. See your doctor if they’re persistent, are accompanied by fever, or are so bad that you can’t eat or drink. Prescription-strength topical treatments may help.
Squamous papilloma
Squamous papilloma is associated with the human papilloma virus (HPV). It is usually a lone, irregularly shaped bump that can be treated surgically or with laser ablation. There’s no treatment for HPV, but individual symptoms can be addressed.
Bumps from oral herpes are usually a cluster of small yellow or clear bumps on the tip of the tongue. The area around painful little bumps will also appear red. Herpes sufferers will also notice pimples on the inside of the cheeks too, similar to the small white bumps on tongue. Some people fear they have gotten a bump or bumps after kissing. This is not likely to be herpes as the oral kind is transmitted through unprotected oral sex.
Syphilis
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI). It usually begins with a small, painless sore that’s easy to dismiss. The initial sore is followed by a rash. More sores come and go as the disease progresses. In the early stages, syphilis is easily treated with antibiotics. During the secondary stages, sores may appear in the mouth and on the tongue. These sores can lead to serious complications, and even death, if left untreated.
Scarlet fever
It can result in “strawberry tongue.” This condition leaves you with red, swollen bumps on side of tongue. This bacterial infection can also cause skin rash and fever. Scarlet fever is usually mild and can be treated with antibiotics. Rare complications include pneumonia, rheumatic fever, and kidney disease. Scarlet fever is very contagious so it should be taken seriously.
This highly bacterial infection could explain some red bumps on the tongue of your child. Scarlet fever commonly affects children and besides fever, one gets a red rash on the body. This rash on the tongue will appear as small red bumps and is sometimes referred to as strawberry tongue.
Traumatic fibroma
This is a smooth, pink tongue growth caused by chronic irritation. It’s difficult to diagnose, so a biopsy is usually necessary. The growth can be surgically removed, if necessary.
Lympho-epithelial Cysts
These soft yellow cysts usually appear underneath the tongue. Their cause isn’t clear. The cysts are benign and can be surgically removed.
Mouth Cancer
Most bumps on the tongue aren’t serious, but some are cancerous. Cancerous bumps usually appear on the sides of the tongue rather than on the top. The most common type of cancer to develop on the tongue is squamous cell carcinoma.
Oral tongue cancer appears on the front part of the tongue. The lump may be gray, pink, or red. Touching it may cause bleeding. Cancer can also occur at the back, or base, of the tongue. It may be harder to detect, especially because there’s no pain at first. It may become painful as it progresses.
If cancer is suspected, your doctor will probably take a tissue sample for examination under a microscope (biopsy). Treatment options include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, depending on the type and stage of cancer.
Allergic reaction
Sometimes an allergy, especially but not limited to food and medication will cause hard bumps on side of tongue or several lumps on tongue. Bumps from allergy may be hard large lumps marked out by angry red spots if you look at your tongue. However, they do not have sores, or appear to have fluid in them. You are likely to notice them almost as soon as you have been exposed to the substance you are hyper sensitive too, or allergen if you like. Welts and bumps may also appear on other body parts.
Trauma/ injury
If you bite your tongue or have eaten some hard foods recently, you may get some tongue bumps. Trauma bumps are likely to be towards the front and side of the tongue.
Kawasaki Disease
Also mainly in children, this disease can cause large red bumps on side of tongue. These bumps are typically in the back towards the throat and will be accompanied by other symptoms joint pain, swollen lymph nodes and redness on the hands and soles of the feet.
Mucoceles
These are cysts that form under the tongue as a result of a blockage on one or several saliva ducts. It will feel like a small, fluid, filled painless bump under tongue. You could also notice a bluish lump under the tongue that tis painless. This is another way mucoceles appear.
Leukoplakia
Leukoplakia may give you bumps in the mouth, including the tongue. Lumps from leukoplakia are not painful, nor malignant, usually.
Reasons for Painful Bumps on Side of Tongue in the Back
When the bumps on the sides of your tongue get infected, they may be characterized with other symptoms like pain, inflammation, burning sensation or bleeding. This may cause a lot of discomforts when chewing and swallowing food.
There are many issues that may cause you a painful bump on the side of your tongue. Oral cancer is also characterized with sore white bumps on the side of the tongue and throat. Such bumps don’t go away even after tying some of the home remedies treatment. They may spread to the underside of tongue and floor of the mouth during the second stage.
Most people normally discover that they are suffering from oral cancer during the second stage when it has already caused a big damage. The chances of survival are higher when cancer is discovered early. It can be treated using various treatments like surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
Sometimes as a result of loss of saliva and or illnesses, you can develop an over growth of yeast in the oral cavity. Based upon your report of not remembering traumatic incidents and/or food irritants, you may have a contact allergy occurring, in such case you would normally have ulceration at the site instead of a papillary swelling, but without seeing it, I can only theorize what is occurring.
One of the problems with tongue irritation and trauma is that you generally don’t remember it occurring, and after it has happened you continue to traumatize the site because of the resultant swelling. You should always have a dentist examine your bumps on side of tongue. If it persists or gets worse have it evaluated by either an oral medicine specialist or an oral surgeon.
Can Lie Bumps form on the Side of the Tongue
Among the many not-that-serious health conditions that can easily be treated on your own, you also have lie bumps on tongue. The condition, which is medically called as transient lingual papillitis, leads to appearance of tiny bumps on your tongue, which causes a fair deal of discomfort to you. This should not be a cause of worry for you, as there are several home remedies for lie bumps on tongue that effectively resolve the issue.
A Myth about Lie Bumps
There is a very popular myth about lie bumps on side of tongue. For a very long time, people thought that a person goes on to develop these bumps, if he/she speaks lies. This is why the term “lie” is used while a mention is made of the condition. The fact obviously is that, this issue has nothing to do with lying and, there are other causative factors, which you are going to see in the next section.
Causes Lie Bumps
Before you begin to read about treating these little bumps on tongue, have a brief look at the causes and symptoms of the condition. Firstly, the following are few of the chief causative factors of the condition:
- Spicy food:Excess intake of spicy and hot food stuffs increase the vulnerability to lie bumps.
- Food allergies:You can develop the condition as an allergic reaction to certain foods.
- Indigestion and heartburn:When you are suffering from indigestion/heartburn, there is a chance of having the little bumps on tongue.
- Vitamin deficiency:Deficiency of vitamins, especially the vitamin B12, is another major cause of the issue.
- Infections:Infections of the oral cavity caused by bacteria/fungus could lead to lay bumps as well.
- Constipation:You become more prone to the condition, when you have severe constipation
Which STDs Cause Bumps on Side of your Tongue
White bumps on the side of your tongue can also result from sexually transmitted diseases or infections. The major STD that results to this tongue condition includes syphilis, HIV and herpes simplex virus. These infections are also accompanied with other symptoms that include sore throat, swollen lymph nodes, rashes on genitals and some other parts of the body among other symptoms.
Syphilis is caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. The symptoms of this infection vary depending with the stage. It results to a single painless bump during the primary stage. The secondary stage is normally accompanied with multiple sore and rash on the feet soles and palm. The sores also develop on the mouth and genitals. Syphilis is transmitted through sexual activities and also from the mother to the baby during delivery. This infection is treated using antibiotic injection or taking a course of anti-biotic tablets.
HIV infection is the other common cause of white bumps on side of tongue mouth including the mouth. It is also accompanied with other symptoms like sore throat, dry cough, sores on the skin, rapid weight loss, fatigue and pneumonia among other symptoms. There is no treatment for HIV and AIDS, it is therefore important to protect yourself by having protected sex, having one faithful sexual partner and getting tested after every three month.
How do you Treat Bumps on your Tongue Side
Home remedies are great. We know the temptation to try one for almost any condition is real. But there are some cases where you should really see a doctor. For instance if your tongue pimples match the characteristics listed in scarlet fever, herpes, Kawasaki disease, cancer or allergic reactions especially in children, please urgently see a doctor. Bleeding, having tongue bumps with sore throat and cough, are also other signs that you should not be trying a home remedy.
Inflamed taste buds, or lie bumps you can attempt to treat. However, even the home remedies will be of real use to you, only when you adhere to these tips. Therefore; please do make a very careful note of these salient aspects and become redeemed of the lie bumps.
- If you are really serious to treat the bumps on tongue, then make it a point to stay away from spicy and fried foods.
- Equally important is the aspect that your everyday diet contains foods that are rich in vitamin B.
- Your staple diet should be a balanced one where, your body gets a steady supply of all the required nutrients.
- Consume plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.
- You can easily alleviate the discomfort related to bumps on side of tongue, if you ensure that you drink lot of cold beverages daily.
- Maintaining proper oral hygiene is one of the most critical points, to both treat and also prevent transient lingual papallitis. Thus, make sure that you clean the tongue 2 times daily as well floss it at least 3-4 times every week.
- Stay away from all forms of tobacco smoking. This is highly relevant from the perspective of both treatment and prevention of these little bumps on side of tongue.
- Identify the foods that can cause allergic reactions for you and, immediately eliminate them from your daily diet. The significance of this particular aspect in treating lie bumps on tongue can never be overstated.
- As stress is among the major causes, take to yoga, meditation or any relaxation technique of your choice. Do not allow stress to overwhelm you!
- Keep drinking plenty of water in a day. This is a definite way to flush out the various toxins from within the body.
Home Remedies for Tongue Bumps
In majority of instances, these bumps disappear by themselves. The primary objective of the natural remedies is to alleviate the discomfort related to the condition.
Figs with Boiled Water
When you are worried as to how to alleviate the discomfort resulting from the bumps on tongue, this is a remedy for you. Figs contain several vital vitamins and antioxidants and, hence very effectively fight against the condition. Take 1 tbsp. of dried figs and 1 glass of boiled water and directly consume this mixture.
Salt Water Gargle
The salt water gargle is among the best remedies to get rid of lie bumps. Once you start to use it, you do not have to wait too long to feel relief. In fact, this wonderful remedy will ensure that the bumps do not lead to any infection.
Cold Compress
Do you think that going with the options available in the mainstream medicine is the only way to beat bumps on side of tongue? If yes, then you are fully mistaken! The cold compress will relieve your physical distress faster than you expect! When such a simple remedy is doing the job for you, there is no need even to think in lines of regular medication.
Baking Soda and Hydrogen Peroxide
This remedy, which is a blend of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide, is of immense value when you want to be redeemed of lie bumps. Baking soda, being an alkaline substance, very effectively fights against the acidity in your body, while hydrogen peroxide is a powerful antibacterial agent. Simply take the solution of the mixture and gurgle at least twice every day.
Hydrogen Peroxide and Water
Here, you have one more hydrogen peroxide-based remedy, which provides quick relief to you if you are wondering how long do bumps on side of tongue last. Just do same as the salt water, the gurgling thing.
Magnesia Milk
If your priority is to recover fast from transient lingual papillitis, this is a remedy that you cannot afford to ignore! The magnesia milk is a proven antacid and it also treats constipation. Thus, it works effectively to treat the mouth bumps.
Mint Leaves
These leaves come loaded with strong antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects and, they also include many key phytonutrients. The leaves are so effective that the moment you start using them, you can consider yourself to be cured! Is this not great! So, do not delay anymore. You can wash the leaves with warm water and chew them to allow the juice to enter the bumps on side of tongue.
Gargling with Juice of Aloe Vera Leaf
When your main concern is to relieve lie bumps tongue as early as possible, then this is the remedy for you. The juice of aloe vera leaf is an excellent antidote against conditions like heartburn, acidity and constipation, etc. This juice improves the alkalinity within your body, too.
So, those are the home remedies for bumps on side of tongue for you. All the remedies that have been discussed here are tried and tested ones and hence, you need not be doubtful about them. You can use any remedy of your preference.