Have you ever had sores on your tongue? Generally, sores on the tongue are shaped like canker sores that are white, gray, or yellow in color. Although potentially irritating, generally the disorder is not serious and can heal on its own after 1-2 weeks of treatment at home. Some of the causes of sores on the tongue to watch out for are genetic factors, tongue biting behavior, stress, certain food allergens, vitamin deficiency or deficiency, and in very rare cases, oral cancer. By managing the cause of the wound and knowing the right time to seek medical attention, the wound recovery process can be carried out smoothly and quickly![1] X National Health Service (UK) Trusted Source Visit source

Relieves Wounds and Discomfort at Home

Use a soft toothbrush. Replace a toothbrush with coarse or medium bristles with a very soft toothbrush. If necessary, look for a toothbrush labeled with that description. Remember, coarse or stiff bristles can scratch your tongue and irritate or hurt it.

Use a toothpaste that does not contain sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS). SLS is a foam-forming agent contained in various brands of toothpaste and has the risk of triggering the formation of sores on the tongue, either for the first time or the umpteenth time. Therefore, ask your dentist for help to recommend a quality toothpaste that is free from SLS.

Try consuming a mouthwash that contains antimicrobial ingredients to speed up wound healing and prevent infection. Consult the possibility of consuming antimicrobial mouthwash with your doctor and ask the doctor to prescribe it, if allowed. Generally, these products contain chlorhexidine , a very strong antimicrobial agent, which can help heal wounds even if there is a risk of temporarily staining the tooth surface.

Children under 2 years of age should not use mouthwashes that contain chlorhexidine .

Mouthwashes should be taken as directed by a doctor, and most products should not be taken for more than 7 days in a row.

Eat soft, mild-tasting foods while waiting for the wound to heal. For the time being, avoid foods that are too hard, such as candy or hard candy, as well as foods that have a strong taste, such as sour or spicy snacks. All of which can increase inflammation and slow the wound healing process. Also avoid drinks that are too hot and prone to burning the mouth, and drink very cold drinks using a straw. Also, don’t talk while chewing so you don’t bite your tongue and irritate the wound on its surface.

Reduce pain by applying a topical analgesic gel. Apply a pea-sized amount of analgesic gel to the injured area up to 4 times a day to relieve pain. Do not brush your teeth with toothpaste or drink acidic drinks for at least an hour after the gel has been applied.

Gels to numb the nerves in the mouth can be purchased without a prescription at pharmacies. Generally, the products sold contain benzocaine or lidocaine .

Gargle with salt water or baking soda to speed up wound healing. Dissolve 1 tsp. salt or baking soda in 120 ml of warm water. After that, gargle with the solution twice a day to reduce the sensitivity of the wound and speed up healing.

Place milk of magnesia on the wound area to reduce discomfort. The trick, simply dip the tip of a cotton bud into the milk of magnesia solution , then pat it on the injured tongue area. Repeat the process up to three times a day to relieve pain and discomfort.

Compress the tongue with ice cubes to relieve pain that appears. Apply an ice cube and let the ice melt on its own on the injured area to relieve any pain that appears. However, because some people have a sensitivity to cold temperatures and actually run the risk of feeling more pain after applying this method, first identify the characteristics of your body. If you feel comfortable, apply this method as often as possible to maximize the results.

Take supplements to prevent new sores from forming. Several types of vitamins can help inhibit the formation of sores in the mouth. Therefore, if the sores on the tongue keep reappearing, try taking B vitamins, vitamin B complex, vitamin C, or lysine.

Make sure you always check with your doctor before taking any new vitamins or dietary supplements, especially if you are taking other medications or supplements.

Consult the possibility of vitamin deficiency as the cause of the formation of sores on the tongue. In fact, sores on the tongue can also be caused by a lack of vitamin B-12, zinc, folic acid, or iron.

Overcoming the Causes of Wounds

Have a tobacco-free lifestyle. Consult the possibility of quitting smoking and consuming tobacco in any form. These products have the potential to irritate the tongue and trigger the formation of sores.

Avoid foods and drinks that commonly trigger the appearance of sores on the tongue. In particular, foods and drinks that are too spicy, salty, or acidic can trigger sores to form. Some types of food can even trigger the formation of sores if the person who eats them has an excessive sensitivity to these foods. Therefore, if your tongue often hurts, try reducing your intake of the following foods:

Chocolate

Strawberry

Egg

Coffee

Nuts

Cheese

Limit alcohol intake. If possible, don’t drink more than 3 drinks a day and 7 drinks a week. Be careful, excessive alcohol intake combined with smoking behavior can increase the risk of developing sores on the tongue caused by oral cancer.

Meditate to reduce your anxiety. Try meditating to reduce stress levels in your body, especially since most doctors believe that anxiety disorders can trigger sores on the tongue. To do this, you just need to sit in a comfortable position in a quiet place, then try to clear your mind and focus on your breathing rhythm for 5-15 minutes.

If possible, clear your schedule of non-essential activities for a period of time to reduce stress levels and relax your body and mind.

Ask your dentist for help to check the condition of the dental instruments you are using. If necessary, take your dental braces, dentures, or removable braces to the doctor to make sure they are all securely in place. Remember, improperly positioned dentures, imperfect fillings, or even orthodontic instruments that have sharp edges can also trigger sores on the tongue and irritation in the mouth.

The dentist can make any necessary adjustments and examine the condition of the sores on your tongue.

Pay attention to hormonal changes in your body. If you are currently still having regular periods, try monitoring your monthly menstrual cycle to find out if there is a relationship between the appearance of sores and hormonal changes. In fact, menstruation or even menopause can also trigger the formation of sores on the tongue, you know , especially because at that time the body is struggling to respond to the hormonal changes that occur.

If the presence of hormonal sores starts to bother you, try to consult the possibility of taking birth control pills or taking hormone replacement therapy to suppress these symptoms.

Cope with the potential side effects of the drug. Consult any long-term medical disorders you have that could potentially affect your oral health. Basically, some types of antibiotics, beta-blocking drugs, and corticosteroids that are inhaled through an inhaler can trigger the formation of sores on the tongue.

People with asthma, diabetes, and depression have a higher risk of experiencing negative side effects because they are triggered by the drugs that accompany these diseases.

Some negative side effects can be minimized by changing behavior or habits, such as gargling thoroughly after inhaling corticosteroids through an inhaler . In addition, doctors may also be able to prescribe medicines to minimize side effects on long-term health problems.

For those of you who have ulcers or damage to epithelial tissue, do not take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as Tylenol or Advil , especially because these drugs can trigger the formation of sores on the tongue. Express these concerns if you receive a prescription for NSAIDs from your doctor.

Doing Medical Treatment

Consult a doctor if the wound does not heal after 3 weeks. Make an appointment with a doctor immediately if the sore on the tongue persists for more than 3 weeks because most likely, the wound has become infected or requires additional treatment. Generally, sores on the tongue will heal within 1-2 weeks if only treated at home.

Consult a doctor if the wound is painful or red. See a GP or dentist if the wound starts to bleed or is very painful. Chances are, the cause is a viral infection or skin disease that requires medical treatment instead of just natural remedies.

Sores due to infection, which is generally caused by the herpes virus HSV-1, as well as the Singapore flu are some examples of viral infections that trigger sores on the tongue.

Check with your doctor if your tongue is constantly hurting. Be careful, tongue sores that repeat and take a long time to heal may indicate a more serious health problem, such as nerve irritation, Crohn ‘s disease , ulcerative colitis, Behcet ‘s disease, Reiter ‘s syndrome , and oral cancer. The doctor can help examine the condition of the wound and recommend the right treatment method to treat it.