Pimples On The Tongue, How To Remove Them?

Having pimples on the tongue can be shocking and worrying for the person who suffers from it. However, it is a relatively common situation. These are small, red or white bumps on the surface of the tongue. Although they are not malignant, they can be painful and uncomfortable.

This condition is called transient lingual papillitis . Formerly, it was believed that pimples on the tongue appeared from telling lies. In fact, pimples come on quickly, but they also tend to resolve within a few days without treatment.

In this article we explain what pimples on the tongue consist of and how to remove them.

What are pimples on the tongue?

As we have already mentioned, they are small red or white bumps. They usually disappear within a few days, but most are painful. In fact, they can cause stinging and tingling. Pimples on the tongue can have many causes :

• By irritation of the tongue. This can happen when you eat highly acidic or sugary foods.

• Injuries to the tongue, such as small cuts or bites.
• Oral herpes The herpes virus affects a large part of the population. On some occasions, it develops orally, and can affect the language. The pimples on the tongue can remain more than a week in these cases.
• For ulcers or allergic reactions to certain foods.
• Deficiency of certain vitamins or the use of aggressive mouthwashes.
• Yeast infections, such as oral yeast infection.

These are all benign causes, which tend to self-resolve. However, there are other causes that can be more serious. For example, pimples on the tongue may be due to syphilis. In this case, a small painless sore appears.

Other causes are squamous papilloma, scarlet fever, bacterial pharyngitis, and so on. It is important to know that it can also be cancer, although it is a less frequent situation. Therefore, the ideal is to go to the doctor to make the correct diagnosis.

What can we do against pimples on the tongue?

Treatment will depend on what the cause is. However, most cases are due to aggressions or irritations of the tongue and  tend to disappear in ten days without the need for treatment.

Still, there are a number of simple measures that can help us avoid or reduce them. Among them are:

• Avoid spicy and acidic foods. They are aggressive for the tongue and, if you have pimples at that time, they will increase the itching and pain.
• Rinse with warm and salty water. Salt water is often used as a remedy to cure canker sores. They are small injuries that tend to appear in low defense situations.
• You can also use water with baking soda. Do it regularly and daily.
• On the contrary, it is recommended to avoid mouthwashes with alcohol. At the very least, you should try not to use them while you have pimples on your tongue.

• It is very important to take care of oral hygiene. Don’t forget to brush your teeth properly, at least twice a day, and floss. Also, use proper rinses and avoid foods rich in sugar.
• Stop smoking, since tobacco is very aggressive with the entire oral cavity. In fact, smoking is linked to cancer of the tongue.

When should you go to the doctor?

If you have pimples on your tongue and they do not disappear after a week, or if they are persistent and painful, the ideal is that you go to the doctor or the dentist. It could be a more resistant infection or a more complicated pathology.

The doctor can surely reach the diagnosis by visual examination. Still, you will probably get a blood test. Another test that can help diagnosis is a biopsy. It is only performed in cases in which the diagnosis is more complicated or in which a more serious pathology is suspected.

If you have pimples on your tongue, it is probably a temporary and benign situation. Try to avoid spicy foods and take care of the hygiene of your mouth. If they do not disappear after a few days, or they have a strange appearance, the ideal is that you go to your doctor.