Blisters can appear practically anywhere on and in the body. Every now and then also form Blisters on the tongue. A distinction is made between different forms and thus different causes. Most of the time, the blistering on the tongue is painful.
What are vesicles on the tongue?
Because a vesicle is small by definition, it is a vesicle in medical terminology. We only speak of bubbles from a size of five millimeters. This size is very rare on the tongue. Blisters on the tongue appear at the tip, edges and base of the tongue. Blisters have a surface that is or appears to be translucent.
Often the cavity below the surface is filled with liquid. Usually this is water or pus. You have to separate the vesicle from the nodule. The biggest difference between the two is that the nodule is not filled, but consists entirely of tissue. Most vesicles come on suddenly and go quickly. In addition, almost all forms are harmless.
Exceptions are found where the vesicles appear as a side symptom of a serious illness, for example in the context of chemotherapy for cancer or tuberculosis. Blisters on the tongue often hinder speaking, chewing and swallowing.
causes
As already mentioned, herpes viruses can be the reason for a whitish-yellowish row-like vesicle formation on the tongue. Aphthae can appear anywhere in the mouth, including directly on the tongue. Here the blisters are usually particularly painful. Incompatibilities can also cause blisters to form on the tongue. A substance, usually a food, often kiwi or pineapple, triggers a local allergic reaction.
A blister forms where the tongue has come into contact with the substance. The same applies to hypersensitivity to histamine. If the taste buds are overexcited, blistering can also occur. A special type of inflammation of the taste buds is called “lying bubbles”. The vesicles are yellow or red and small.
They are a little painful and are located on the outside of the tongue and on the tip of the tongue. As an expression of an immune deficiency, whitish blisters can appear, which are caused by a Candida infection. Blisters on the tongue as an accompanying symptom can be found in oral cancer, syphilis, tuberculosis and chemotherapy.
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➔ Medicines against tartar and tooth discolorationDiseases with this symptom
- Oral cancer
- syphilis
- Herpes simplex
- Bacterial infection
- Canker sores
- Histamine intolerance
Diagnosis & course of disease
Blisters on the tongue do not always require a visit to the doctor. However, self-diagnosis is often very difficult because many parts of the tongue are difficult to see. As a rule, symmetrically occurring changes to the tongue are not to be assessed as serious. Also harmless are vesicles that you will undoubtedly get after contact with a certain substance.
For anything that seems inexplicable and worrying, it is best to see a doctor. This is particularly important with open and / or painless blisters and with all whitish and red changes. The doctor will review the changes and, if indicated, will take a smear. If the doctor has a suspicion about what the trigger is, he asks questions to confirm or resolve it.
The blisters on the tongue usually go away on their own. Sometimes you have to improve the underlying disease. Of course, help can be provided to accelerate the healing process and sometimes also to eliminate the cause.
Complications
Various complications can occur with sores on the tongue. Blisters on the tongue are usually harmless but painful and can cause problems chewing, speaking, and swallowing. Swelling can also occur.
Blisters often heal on their own, but they can reappear. It is usually very difficult to make your own diagnosis, as large parts of the tongue are difficult to see. A visit to the doctor is not always necessary if there are blisters on the tongue, but it is definitely recommended if the symptoms are worrying. If a vesicle is open or shows whitish or reddish changes, a smear should be taken and the vesicle treated for the cause.
If blisters on the tongue are treated too late or not properly, a bacterial infection can add to the existing disease. If herpes is the trigger for the blisters, the infectious disease can spread throughout the body. The viruses are carried away from the alveoli and can then endanger the eyes or nose, for example.
Complications in treating vesicles are extremely rare. If tinctures or creams are not enough, local anesthetics, antibiotics or gargle solutions can help. Operations are rarely performed. Usually it is not just the vesicles that make an operation necessary.
When should you go to the doctor?
Blisters on the tongue are located at the tip of the tongue, the edges of the tongue or the base of the tongue. They are usually quite painful. The vesicles on the tongue are filled with a liquid, which is almost always water or pus. A distinction must be made between the fluid-filled tongue vesicles and the tongue nodules made of tissue. The small blisters on the tongue are generally harmless.
They arise suddenly and disappear just as quickly. Occasionally, however, vesicles on the tongue are the symptom of an underlying disease. This is particularly true in tuberculosis and cancer and associated chemotherapy. Herpes viruses, canker sores, histamine hypersensitivity and immune deficiency can also lead to the formation of alveolar sacs. In addition, cigarette and drug use are known to be potential triggers for blisters on the tongue.
Since blisters on the tongue hurt and also interfere with chewing, swallowing and speaking, those affected should see their family doctor. His diagnosis determines the further course of treatment. The family doctor can call in other specialists such as an internist or oncologist. Knowledgeable and attentive oral hygiene is also helpful against blisters on the tongue.
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Treatment & Therapy
Treatment for blisters on the tongue is strictly causal. In case of canker sores, creams, or better tinctures, are usually sufficient. Tinctures are more pleasant on the tongue than creams and have proven themselves better in practice. The tinctures are simply dabbed on. The tinctures are often purely plant-based, for example arnica or rhubarb root extract. Cold compresses can provide relief for pain.
If this is not enough, applying a local anesthetic can help with severe pain. Gargle solutions also get to remote parts of the tongue. They are antiseptic, also due to the high alcohol content, and have a cleansing effect, especially on open wounds. In this way, an additional infection cannot add to the existing disease. These liquid tinctures are often useful additions. If herpes is the cause of the blisters, careful monitoring of the development is important.
Herpes can spread practically anywhere in the body and thus also endanger the eyes, for example. Antivirals are used locally on the tongue. In the case of bacterial infections, a local or oral antibiotic can be used. Tuberculosis sometimes makes the use of lasers necessary. Treatment complications are rare. Operations on the tongue are very rare, above all it is usually not the vesicles alone that make them necessary.
Outlook & forecast
Blisters on the tongue appear relatively often and are the precursors to a cold or flu. However, they also disappear quickly once the cold or flu is over. The vesicles themselves can be painful, especially when food and drink reach the affected area. In a few cases, inflammation can form on the tongue if the area with the vesicles is stressed.
Blisters on the tongue, on the other hand, can also be a sign of poor oral hygiene. In this case, a mouthwash can be used. Ordinary brushing of the teeth also prevents the formation of such blisters a little, as it counteracts the susceptibility to infection overall.
In the event of an acute inflammation, a doctor should be consulted, as the tongue is very sensitive and can be injured relatively easily. A doctor must be seen even if the sores do not go away after the cold. They can also indicate an intolerance or intolerance.
In most cases, the course of the disease is positive and leads to a healthy tongue without the need for a doctor to intervene. Treatment with drugs is carried out by taking tablets and does not lead to further complications.
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➔ Medicines against tartar and tooth discolorationprevention
We have the most important prevention factors in our own hands: comprehensive, continuous oral hygiene and a healthy diet. If you know the cause of the blisters, you can avoid the trigger. This is particularly easy with allergic reactions to certain foods that cause canker sores on the tongue. With herpes, for example, this is more difficult. Once in the body, it can break out again at any time. He often does this at times when the immune system is particularly weakened by stress or other illnesses.
You can do that yourself
Blisters on the tongue are extremely painful, which is why analgesic preparations are often used. Careful oral hygiene is also essential. This prevents infections and accelerates healing. Sufferers can treat blisters on the tongue themselves. Mouthwashes with arnica, mallow, sage and chamomile are worth mentioning. Tinctures made from rhubarb root extract or myrrh are also advisable. To counteract canker sores, chewing on blueberries is recommended. Due to their tannin content, these have an anti-inflammatory effect.
In addition, numerous gargle and mouthwash solutions from the pharmacy provide a remedy. Just like tea tree oil, they disinfect and help relieve pain. Anesthetic ointments and gels are also useful. They have significantly fewer side effects than pain relievers. If only tiny bubbles are visible on the tongue, sucking ice cubes helps. It is important to avoid heavily salted and sweetened foods, as these often increase the pain.
Those affected recommend countless home remedies, which, however, cannot be proven by studies. This includes the daily consumption of half a raw onion. The intake of zinc, calcium and folic acid tablets is also mentioned frequently. Many people affected report healing with lemon juice.
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