Because you may not pay much attention to the health of your tongue until it begins to hurt, it's important to do a quick daily inspection of your whole tongue. Dr. Jeff Dalin, DDS advises that although purple bumps on the tongue may be just part of its normal anatomy, they should be referred to a general dentist, or oral surgeon, for a professional evaluation.
How to Identify Purple Bumps on the Tongue
When brushing your teeth, you may see or feel abnormalities on your tongue. This is a good time to do an oral inspection of your mouth to try to identify anything that may look unusual or abnormal, such as purple bumps on the tongue.
Some Theories of the Causes of Purple Bumps
Purple bumps may be just part of the normal structure of the skin. In some cases, the purple discoloration may not look like a bump, so you should see your health care professional. According to NetWellness.org, varicose veins can occur in the mouth and may be evident on the tongue, but these develop gradually. An injury to the tongue, such as accidentally biting it, can result in a purplish blood blister that would resemble a purple bump.
Some Warning Signs that Purple Bumps May Be Serious
According to the American Dental Association, if bumps appear suddenly for no apparent reason they need to be observed closely. If they do not go away on their own, are extremely sore or getting worse, then these may be signs of something serious that demands immediate medical attention.
Effects
According to Jeff Dalin, DDS, if the purple bumps are just part of the natural anatomy of the tongue, then they should have no adverse effects. If they are the result of an injury, then aside from watching for infection, you can just let them heal on their own. In other cases, however, where no positive diagnosis has been made, they need to be attended to in the event that they are a sign of something more serious, such as oral cancer.
Expert Insight
Dr. Michael Kisch, DDS, at the expert forum MedHelp, warns that any lesion or abnormality of the tongue, such as a bump that remains for over a week, could be a sign of infection or something more serious. He recommends that anyone suffering from this should visit their dentist or oral surgeon.
