Tongue inflammation, also known as glossodynia or burning mouth syndrome, is a condition characterized by pain, burning sensation, and dryness of the tongue or other areas of the mouth. There are various reasons for this condition. Among them are the bad habit of biting the tongue, fungal infections, for example, thrush and many others. In some cases, the cause is very difficult to identify. Depending on the symptoms and the diagnosis, the doctor can choose a treatment that will help reduce pain and discomfort.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Treating Pain with Home Remedies
Step 1. Rinse your mouth with cold water
If you bite your tongue, rinse your mouth with cold water. This will help remove dirt, food debris, and blood that could lead to infection.
- If you bite your tongue badly, see your doctor as soon as possible.
- After rinsing your mouth with cold water, you can try holding an ice cube in your mouth to reduce swelling and pain.
Step 2. Suck on an ice cube or use ice-cold soda until you feel soreness and a burning sensation
Cold helps relieve pain and discomfort.
- Absorbing ice helps soothe your tongue if you bite or burn it.
- In addition, the melting liquid helps to keep the oral cavity hydrated and prevents the tongue from drying out.
Step 3. Rinse your mouth with salt water
This will help not only cleanse your mouth, but also reduce pain. You can rinse your mouth every two hours until the pain and discomfort subsides.
Add one tablespoon of salt to a glass of warm water and stir until dissolved. Put a salty solution into your mouth and rinse your mouth with it for 30 seconds, concentrating on the inflamed area of the tongue. Spit out the water after rinsing
Step 4. Avoid eating foods that can aggravate tongue inflammation
When you suffer from a sore tongue, cut out certain foods from your diet that are aggravating your condition. For example, spicy or acidic foods should not be eaten if your tongue is sore. While this will not speed up the healing process, it will make the sensations more comfortable.
- Eat soft, soothing, and cool foods that won't make the problem worse. For example, include smoothies, cereals, and soft fruits like bananas in your diet. Yogurt and ice cream are also good options as they cool the oral cavity, thereby reducing pain.
- Sour foods and drinks such as tomatoes, orange juice, soft drinks, and coffee can make your condition worse. Also, avoid cinnamon and mint, which can increase your discomfort.
- Use a toothpaste formulated for sensitive teeth without mint or cinnamon.
- Do not smoke or chew tobacco, which can increase discomfort.
Step 5. Drink plenty of fluids
Make sure you drink enough water throughout the day. This will help reduce the feeling of dryness and also promote a faster healing process.
- Drink plenty of water or cool juice to keep your mouth well hydrated.
- Try to avoid hot drinks such as coffee or tea, as they can cause burning and discomfort.
- Avoid caffeinated drinks and alcohol, which can irritate the tongue.
Method 2 of 2: Diagnosis and Drug Administration
Step 1. Consult your doctor
If you're in pain and home remedies aren't working, see your doctor. The doctor will determine the cause of your pain and select the appropriate treatment.
- There are many causes of tongue pain. Among them are fungal, viral or bacterial infections of the oral cavity, a deficiency of certain substances in the body, inappropriate dentures, teeth grinding, allergies, stress, anxiety disorder. Tongue pain can also be the result of burning mouth syndrome.
- You may not notice any physical changes in your tongue or mouth. Other times, you may notice typical symptoms of irritation or infection, such as a white coating on the tongue, bumps, ulcers, or burning.
Step 2. Pass the necessary tests and get a diagnosis
If you are experiencing pain or symptoms of burning tongue syndrome, your doctor will ask you for tests to determine the cause of your condition. Although the tests may not reveal pathologies, the doctor will be able to diagnose you and choose the appropriate treatment based on them.
- A doctor can use a variety of diagnostic tools to help determine the cause of tongue pain. He may recommend that you get blood tests, biopsies, swabs, allergy tests, and acidity tests. They can also give you a psychological questionnaire to rule out anxiety and depression, which can cause burning tongue syndrome.
- Your doctor may also advise you to stop taking certain medications because they may be painful.
Step 3. Take your medications
Depending on the results of the tests, the doctor will prescribe treatment for you to relieve your condition. If the tests do not reveal the cause, the doctor may prescribe medications or home treatments to relieve pain and discomfort.
- Typically, three drugs are prescribed for tongue pain: amitriptyline, amisulpride, and olanzapine. These medications work by blocking the action of gamma-aminobutyric acid, which is believed to cause pain or burning mouth syndrome.
- Your doctor may also prescribe a pain reliever to relieve discomfort and pain in your tongue, especially if it interferes with sleep. Popular over-the-counter pain relievers include paracetamol, ibuprofen, and aspirin.
- Follow your doctor's instructions or the instructions on the package for each medicine.
Step 4. Use lollipops or spray
Lozenges or spray containing mild pain relievers can help soothe tongue pain. You can buy lozenges and sprays at any pharmacy.
- Take lozenges or spray every two to three hours, or as directed by your healthcare practitioner.
- Suck on the lollipop until it is completely dissolved. Do not try to chew or swallow it whole, which can aggravate the problem and make it difficult to swallow.
Step 5. Use a capsaicin ointment to soothe your tongue
Capsaicin Ointment is a topical drug that helps relieve pain by blocking pain signals between different parts of the body. It can be applied three to four times a day.
- The ointment will initially increase the burning sensation in the mouth, and then reduce it.
- Be aware that prolonged use of capsaicin ointment can damage the fibers in the tongue tissue, which can lead to loss of sensation.
Step 6. Use an anesthetic mouthwash
Use an anesthetic mouthwash containing benzydamine to relieve pain and swelling on your tongue.
- Benzydamine relieves pain by blocking prostaglandins. Prostaglandins are chemicals produced by the body when pain occurs during an inflammatory process.
- Pour 15 ml of benzydamine solution into the cap, then rinse your mouth with it for 15 to 20 seconds, then spit it out.