The tongue is covered in taste buds and bumpy areas known as papillae. Saliva keeps it permanently moist and helps the tongue clean your teeth naturally. The tongue enables you to taste food and to talk, and changes in the color or appearance of the tongue can be an indicator of various health imbalances. Tiny bumps under the tongue may be caused by a myriad of reasons, but if in doubt, consult a dentist or doctor for diagnosis.
Leukoplakia
Irritation from rough dentures, crowns and fillings sometimes causes precancerous lesions called leukoplakia to develop on the tongue or the inside of the cheeks. Eating hot or spicy foods, as well as smoking, can exacerbate the problem. Leukoplakia lesions are usually gray or white bumps with a hard surface, and may grow over weeks or months.
Seek medical advice if you think you have leukoplakia, as the condition can become cancerous. For prevention, FamilyDoctor.org advises to have rough teeth and dental appliances fixed, limit alcohol intake and avoid smoking, but you may need surgery to remove lesions.
Mucoceles
Painless, pus-filled sacs underneath the tongue may be mucoceles. Sucking the mouth through the teeth can result in these painless cysts, which often go away on their own, though a doctor may use freezing or laser treatment to remove them. Mucoceles are most common in females aged 10 to 30, notes the Pediatric Dental Health website, and can also appear on the lower lip, inside cheeks or the palate.
Inflamed Papillae
When you bite your tongue, or consume hot food and drink, the area where your taste buds lie, the papillae, may become inflamed. Your papillae are found on the surface of the tongue, but if you damage the tip or the edges of your tongue, white or red agitated areas may form underneath the tongue. Avoid acidic, hot and spicy foods, which aggravate the problem, and the symptoms will eventually go away.
Canker Sores
Canker sores, or aphthous ulcers, can develop anywhere in the mouth, and are characterized by a white or yellow center with a red border. Most canker sores go away on their own, but a dentist or doctor can provide you with a topical paste or other medication to treat unusually painful ones. Canker sores are caused by a viral infection, and are more common in women than men, according to MayoClinic.com.
Prevention/Solution
To keep your tongue healthy, avoid overzealous brushing and consuming lots of acidic or spicy foods. Get enough zinc, folic acid, iron and vitamin B12 from foods such as oysters, liver, seeds, nuts and legumes. Keep the teeth and tongue clean to stave off infection, and see a dentist for regular check-ups.
