Common causes of sores on the tongue
Injury is the commonest cause: a bite while eating or sleeping, a sharp or broken tooth, a rough filling, braces or a denture edge. These sores sit exactly where the rubbing happens, which is how you recognise them. Our guide on tongue biting covers cuts in more detail.
Aphthous ulcers are the everyday round ulcers with a grey-yellow centre and a red rim, and they often come back. The aphthous ulcers guide explains them. Viral infections give blisters that break into sores, and repeated sores can be linked to low iron, vitamin B12 or folate.
| Cause | Where and how | Usually |
|---|---|---|
| Bite or sharp tooth | Exactly where it rubs; often the side | Heals in days once the cause is removed |
| Aphthous ulcer | Round, grey-yellow centre, painful, may recur | Heals in 7 to 14 days |
| Viral | Blisters that break into small sores, sometimes with fever | Settles in one to two weeks |
| Deficiency | Repeated sores, smooth red tongue, tiredness | Improves when the shortage is treated |
| Persistent sore (needs checking) | Does not heal, often on the side, may be painless | Needs examination after three weeks |
Common reasons for a sore tongue and how they tend to behave. General information, not a diagnosis.
Easing a sore tongue
Rinse with warm salt water, eat soft, cool or lukewarm food, and avoid spicy, salty, sour and hot food. Chew on the other side if you can. Stop tobacco and paan, which slow healing. If a tooth or brace is cutting the tongue, a dentist can smooth it, and orthodontic wax may protect the area in the meantime.
Widely available paracetamol, taken as directed on the label, helps most adults with pain. Ask a pharmacist or doctor first if you have liver disease, drink alcohol regularly or take other medicines. A dentist or pharmacist can suggest a protective gel for ulcers. Our mouth ulcer remedies guide covers what helps and what does not.
The three-week rule on the tongue
The side and underside of the tongue are the commonest places for mouth cancer, and early cancer can look like an ordinary ulcer and be painless. This is why a sore that has not healed within three weeks needs examining, whether or not it hurts. Our mouth ulcers page explains the rule.
Other signs to act on: hard or raised edges, bleeding, a lump, a red or white patch next to it, numbness, ear pain on one side or trouble moving the tongue. Tobacco, gutkha and paan raise the risk. The guide on the difference between a mouth ulcer and cancer describes what a dentist looks for.
Sores with fever, spreading swelling or trouble swallowing or breathing need same-day care, and a hospital emergency department if breathing or swallowing is affected.
Common questions
Why do I keep getting sores on my tongue?
Repeated sores often come from a rubbing tooth or brace, aphthous ulcers or low iron, B12 or folate. If they keep coming back, see a dentist about the teeth and a doctor about a blood test.
Is a painless sore on the tongue a worry?
A painless sore that has not healed in three weeks should be examined, especially on the side of the tongue. Early cancer is often painless, so lack of pain is not reassurance.
How long should a tongue sore take to heal?
Most heal in one to two weeks. Longer than three weeks means a dentist or doctor should look at it.
Can stress cause sores on the tongue?
Stress can trigger aphthous ulcers in some people, and so can tiredness and minor injury. It is a trigger rather than a cause, so persistent sores still need a check.
About this page
This page is general information, not a diagnosis or a quotation. Prices are prevailing Lucknow market ranges. Your own treatment and cost are determined after an examination. For questions about your own case, call +91 83036 12717.