Tongue inflammation can cause symptoms such as pain, burning, or dryness. Tongue inflammation is caused by several things, including a biting or burning tongue, fungal infections, thrush, and burning mouth syndrome, also known as glossodynia or burning tongue syndrome. In some cases, the cause of inflammation of the tongue is still unknown. But taking your symptoms and medical diagnosis into account, there are several treatments to relieve tongue inflammation and the discomfort it causes.
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Part 1 of 2: Treating Tongue Inflammation with Home Remedies
Step 1. Clean the bitten tongue with cold water
If your tongue is bitten, wash it off with cold water. Cold water can remove dirt, food debris, blood, and other debris from the tongue and help prevent infection.
- If your tongue is badly bitten, contact your doctor immediately.
- After cleaning with cold water, you can suck on ice to help relieve swelling and pain.
Step 2. Sip on ice cubes or ice cream
Suck on ice cubes or ice cream if you feel pain and/or a burning sensation on your tongue. The cold temperature of the ice will help reduce pain, reduce swelling, and make the tongue feel more comfortable.
- Sucking on ice will be especially soothing if you have bitten or burned your tongue.
- Ice that melts in the mouth also helps hydrate the body and prevents dry tongue which can worsen the pain of a biting or burning tongue.
Step 3. Gargle with salt water
Warm salt water will clean the tongue and help relieve the pain from inflammation of the tongue. You can rinse your mouth every few hours until the pain and discomfort subsides.
Add a tablespoon of salt to a glass of warm water and stir until dissolved. Gargle for about 30 seconds concentrating on the sore area of the tongue. Spit out the water when you're done
Step 4. Avoid consuming anything that can aggravate inflammation of the tongue
When you have a sore tongue, it's best to avoid anything that will make the pain worse, such as sour and spicy foods, or cigarettes. While it won't speed up the healing process, it will make you more comfortable.
- Eat soft, soothing, cold foods that won't exacerbate inflammation while you eat, such as smoothies, porridge, and soft fruits like bananas. Yogurt and ice cream are also great options because they can cool and cool.
- Acidic foods and drinks, such as tomatoes, orange juice, fizzy drinks, and coffee can make inflammation worse. Also, avoid cinnamon and menthol which can make you more uncomfortable.
- Try a toothpaste formulated for sensitive teeth or one that doesn't contain menthol or cinnamon.
- Do not smoke or chew tobacco as this can make the discomfort on the tongue worse.
Step 5. Drink more water
Make sure you stay hydrated throughout the day. Drinking will not only relieve dryness in the mouth, but can also speed up the healing process.
- Drink plenty of cold water or juice to keep your mouth moist.
- Try to avoid hot drinks such as coffee or tea so that the painful burning sensation on the tongue does not get worse.
- Avoid caffeine or alcohol which can irritate the tongue.
Part 2 of 2: Getting a Diagnosis and Using Medical Treatment
Step 1. See a doctor
If you have a sore tongue and home remedies don't work, talk to your doctor. Your doctor will help identify the cause of your pain and determine the right type of treatment for you.
- Tongue inflammation has many causes, including fungal, viral or bacterial infection in the mouth, nutritional deficiencies, ill-fitting dentures, grinding of teeth, brushing too hard, allergies, stress, or anxiety. Tongue inflammation can also occur as a result of burning mouth syndrome.
- You may not notice any physical changes to your tongue or mouth when you have this medical condition. Or, you may experience general signs of irritation or infection, such as white spots that line your tongue during thrush, lumps, pus, or a burning sensation.
Step 2. Go for an examination and get a diagnosis from a doctor
If you have inflammation of the tongue or symptoms of burning tongue syndrome, your doctor may order tests to determine the cause. Often tests can't determine the cause of inflammation of the tongue, but your doctor will help you develop the best treatment plan for you.
- Your doctor may use a variety of diagnostic tools to determine the cause of inflammation of the tongue. These include blood tests, oral cultures, biopsies, allergy tests, and stomach acid tests. Your doctor may also ask you psychological questions to find out if your inflammation of the tongue is related to anxiety, depression, or stress.
- Your doctor may also ask you to stop certain medications to find out if they're causing your tongue inflammation.
Step 3. Take the medicine your doctor recommends
According to the test results, the doctor will prescribe medication to help relieve the condition that causes inflammation of the tongue. If the test results can't pinpoint the cause, your doctor may prescribe medication or home remedies to relieve your pain and discomfort.
- Three medications commonly prescribed for inflammation of the tongue are amitriptyline, amisulpride, and olanzapine. These drugs work by blocking the action of gamma-butyric acid, which causes pain and burning in the tongue.
- Your doctor may also suggest that you take an over-the-counter pain reliever to help relieve the discomfort of sore tongue, especially if you have trouble sleeping. Over-the-counter pain relievers that are widely used include paracetamol, ibuprofen, and aspirin.
- Follow your doctor's recommendations or the instructions on the package when you take painkillers.
Step 4. Use a spray or lozenge
Sprays or lozenges that contain mild analgesics can help relieve inflammation of the tongue. You can buy them at pharmacies or online.
- Use a spray or lozenge every two to three hours, or as directed on the package or as directed by your doctor.
- Be sure to suck on the lozenges until they are completely dissolved. Do not try to chew or swallow it whole as this can numb your throat and make it difficult to swallow.
Step 5. Use capsaicin cream to relieve the pain in the tongue
Capsaicin cream is a topical analgesic that helps relieve pain. Apply capsaicin cream on the tongue three or four times a day.
- This cream will initially increase the pain in the tongue, but will disappear quickly.
- Be aware that long-term use of capsaicin cream can damage the fibers in the tongue tissue, resulting in the loss of the tongue's function as a sense of taste.
Step 6. Use an antiseptic mouthwash
Use an antiseptic mouthwash such as benzydamine or chlorhexidine to treat infections of the tongue or mouth. This kind of mouthwash will also help relieve pain and swelling of the tongue.
- Benzydamine relieves pain by inhibiting the action of prostaglandins. Prostaglandins are chemicals that are produced when pain is caused by inflammation.
- Pour 15 ml of benzydamine into a glass and use it to gargle for 15 to 20 seconds before spitting it out.
