Roughly 36,000 Americans were projected to be diagnosed with oral cancer in 2010 -- the fifth consecutive year for an increase. The attention focused on oral cancers may have you peering inside your mouth and wondering whether those tongue bumps are normal or a cause for concern.
The Tongue
The tongue is a mighty, muscular organ. Mucosa is the name for the pink, moist tissue coating the tongue, which is also covered with little bumps known as papillae. The sandpapery quality of the tongue is due to the papillae. On top of the papillae rest thousands of taste bud cells that connect to the brain. Strong webs of tissue and more muscoa anchor the tongue to the mouth in the front and back.
Bite Your Tongue
Sometimes, benign tongue bumps appear when you bite your tongue, habitually grind your teeth, scald your mouth from tasting food that's too hot, eat spicy food or drink too-hot beverages and soups. These tongue traumas normally heal on their own, but the Merck Manuals says you can soothe sore areas by swishing your mouth with a few drops of clove oil mixed in water, rinsing your mouth with milk or swirling a dose of liquid antacid around your mouth followed by a water rinse.
Tongue Irritants
Tobacco smoking, chewing tobacco, alcohol and highly acidic foods have been known to irritate the papillae, causing bumps. Broken teeth, cracked fillings and loose dentures can aggravate the tongue's tender tissues, according to the Merck Manuals. Once you identify the offender, you can limit or discontinue its use or perhaps schedule a trip to the dentist to smooth out any dental issues. Switching brands of toothpaste and to alcohol-free mouthwash can also ease benign tongue discomforts, as can warm water-salt rinses.
Other Causes of Tongue Bumps
If your tongue bumps feel sore, this condition can be caused by allergic reactions or canker sores. However, it might indicate an infection, such as oral herpes simplex, the human papilloma virus or HPV, tuberculosis, syphilis or a bacterial infection. Another culprit may be diabetes or anemia in the early stages. Does your tongue seem like it's on fire? That could be a sign of burning tongue syndrome, which afflicts many post-menopausal women.
When Bumps Are Not Normal
Thick, whitish patches on the tongue -- especially isolated to one side of the tongue -- could be attributed to leukoplakia, or excess cell growth. This condition can progress to cancer. So can erythroplakia, which are less-common velvety red patches on the tongue and mouth. Erythroplakia has even greater risk for becoming cancerous. Bumps on the tongue that persist and fail to heal after two weeks should be checked out by a doctor. Oral cancers usually do not cause pain in the early stages, according to the Oral Cancer Foundation.
