What causes bumps on the back of the tongue? Can it be a sign of cancer in mouth or STDs? How do these bumps on the tongue look like? Are these bumps treatable? Apart from knowing whether these bumps can be treated, be keen on symptoms or worrisome signs when you have tongue bumps.
What causes bumps on the back of your tongue
Read on to get information, reasons why you have bumps on the back of your tongue.
Enlarged papillae on the tongue
Do you often or occasionally get small red or white bumps on the surface of the tongue, tip or on the back of the tongue? Don’t worry since they are not that dangerous. Keep in mind that there are fewer taste buds toward the back of the tongue.
Irritation of tongue papillae can bring about this problem. Here are the factors that cause makes the taste buds or papillae become irritated.
One of the common reasons that account for irritation is spicy food. People who take these types of foods experience tiny bumps on their tongues.
The second is an allergy. Allergic reactions trigger swelling of taste buds because the activity of white blood cells is stimulated. Foods and medicines can cause an allergic reaction to occur. Luckily, not all individuals are allergic to food allergen sources.
Certain infections that affect humans can also contribute to irritation of taste buds. They include sexually transmitted diseases STDs such as Herpes simplex type 1 (HSV-1), syphilis and Human Papilloma Virus (HPV).
The other causes of irritated taste buds on the back of the tongue are smoking, gastroesophageal reflux disease or acid reflux.
NOTE: Some individuals have naturally larger taste buds than others thus more noticeable. However, the bumps can get enlarged as well even with little irritation
Trauma
Oral surgery and brushing your tongue roughly and more aggressively can result to trauma. Even though the problem is expected to resolve on its own, failure to observe routine oral care can worsen the bumps due to trauma.
HPV tongue warts
Warts on your tongue result from HPV infection. The viruses can be transferred to your mouth after licking infected body parts or putting a finger with the virus in the mouth.
Unlike genital warts, oral warts tend to appear arts will appear slightly different: discolored, wrinkled or spiky. This will help you identify warts. However, go for testing in order to clearly distinguish these bumps on the back of the tongue from others if present.
Kawasaki disease – red bumps on the tongue in children
This disease can produce varied symptoms during the different phases of infection. The signs and symptoms not only observed in or around the mouth but also on the skin including the palms and on soles of feet.
The cause is not well-known. However, acute symptoms can last in weeks after infection and can help in identifying it. The following is experienced by children in Phase I of Kawasaki disease. They include
- High body temperature
- Red dry lips with cracks
- Enlarged or swollen lymph nodes on either location of neck
- Swollen tongue
- Red, small lumps on tongue familiarized with the strawberry fruit
- Red skin rash on the genital area then later on face, arms and legs
These are other symptoms that follow later on and are long-lasting. Kawasaki disease is common in children under the age of five.
Tongue sores
The occurrence of tongue sores on the tongue is less common but most people face this problem at one point in time of their lifetime. Tongue or mouth sores usually start out as small, painful red spots. When these spots develop they form an open ulcer.
The most common tongue sores are canker sores.
There is no exact known cause of tongue sores but doctors have theorized and linked the occurrence to a few factors namely: emotional stress, compromised immune system, hormonal shifts and Celiac disease.
Tongue ulcers worsen if they become infected. However, avoid spicy and salty foods when your mouth develops tongue ulcers.
Other problems related to tongue bumps or lumps
Tongue problems could be associated and be brought about by certain conditions including yeast and human infections e.g. HPV. For instance, white lesions in mouth or tongue.
- Burning tongue syndrome
- Irritation fibroma
- Tongue warts
- Oral thrush
- Leukoplakia
Are the tongue bumps symptom of cancer
Lumps (persistent tongue sores) in the mouth that won’t heal, numbness in the tongue, sore throat, hoarseness in voice, chewing and swallowing difficulties are some of the symptoms of cancer in the oral tract.
Other symptoms of oral cancers include
- Weak or loose teeth
- Palatal ulceration
- White or red ulcer-like lumps on oral linings e.g. gums
- Jaw pain
- Sometimes oral cancer can be accompanied with smelly lesions e.g. tobacco users
Cancer symptoms in the mouth should be diagnosed and evaluated by dentists. This is crucial to avoid drawing wrong judgment by simply looking at the symptoms such as painless bumps on the back of the tongue that take longer to heal.
Symptoms of bumps on the tongue
Besides a change in the physical appearance of the tongue surface, common symptoms people experience are a pain in the tongue or sore tongue, sore throat, bad taste in the mouth, bad breath and coating on the tongue.
Take a look at these pictures.
Red bumps on the back of the tongue
What do red bumps on the back of the tongue mean? Red bumps on tip, side or back of the tongue can have specific causes or factors that trigger redness. For instance, tongue sores, Kawasaki disease is responsible for the red lumps on the tongue surface.
Other reasons or reasons triggering redness include inflammatory infections such as cold and flu. Irritation of taste buds and repeated tongue injury are other possible triggers.
Have you been diagnosed with a history of allergies or herpes? If you persistently get painful red lumps or big bumps on the back of your tongue see your GP or dentist promptly.
Large, white bumps on the back of the tongue
Anyone ought to get concerned with the presence of large bumps or lumps in the mouth. Not only on the tongue but also under the tongue. More so, if they show up signs of serious bleeding accompanied with endless pain. Those large bumps in mouth whose symptoms persist or last longer than a week could be a dangerous sign to oral health.
Are large white bumps on the back of the tongue dangerous? White bumps on the back of the tongue may be ulcer spots if they cause discomfort or pain in the mouth. If they are painless flat lesions go for oral cancer tests because these are signs of cancer of the mouth. Early signs of cancer may be mistaken for oral problems – diagnosis is important to help rule out other possibilities.
Diagnosis of tongue bumps
If the bumps do not show any signs of improvements in symptoms or won’t heal healing, call your doctor to plan for an official appointment.
Large tongue bumps and persistence in symptoms do not only require one’s keen eye on them but also urgent medical attention. Sometimes those large painless bumps on back require clinical tests. During diagnosis your dentist will ask for information about symptoms and whether or not you have been received any oral problems before.
Bumps on back of tongue treatment
Most tongue problems involving tongue bums can resolve on their own. However, treatment is necessary in case of persisting symptoms like pain and bleeding.
Using oral antibiotics
Antibiotics are used to control infection causing, free-living micro-organisms that increase inflammation. Oral antibiotics target bacteria only thus advisable to get medicines prescribed by a doctor.
Saline solution
Diluted saline can help fight germs in the mouth hence promote quick healing of bumps.
Treatment with surgery
Oral cancer patients sometimes require oral surgery to remove the cancer cells and prevent further spread and growth in the process. This treatment is optional depending on the extent to which the oral mucosa is damaged.
Remedies for tongue problems including bumps on the back
Depending of the kind of symptoms you experience in your mouth and back of the throat remedies can serve a good symptom reliever. These are some of the common remedies for your specific tongue problems.
Cleaning your mouth regularly
Suffering from any kind of tongue problem should not be an excuse to stop cleaning your mouth. In fact, you need regular cleaning to fight germs and bacteria from accumulating in your oral tract. Proper cleaning will also help in doing away with the bad breath.
Tongue sores and ulcers remedy
Tongue sores will obviously cause pain in your mouth. Therefore avoid hot and spicy foods. Most of the meals for people with this problem should consist of beverages until the conditions of sores improve or heal completely. Some of the remedies quite useful include
- Applying clove oil or coconut oil for painful sores in the mouth
- Prepare some aloe water and add to natural honey and gently swirl in the mouth
- Swish with a sage solution once a day
To help reduce pain swishing with salty warm water can help but do not place salt directly on the ulcers. If that does not work go for prescription pain relievers.
Remedy for inflamed papillae or swollen taste buds
If you experience a burning sensation in the mouth it could be caused by inflammation of the papillae. Here is what you can do or avoid at home.
- Avoid hot foods, spicy beverages and alcohol if you have an inflamed tongue
- Eat some yogurt with probiotics to help balance out bacteria in your oral tract
- For the soothing effect of aloe rinse your mouth once or twice a day. Add some water to your aloe gel and swish