When should I be concerned about a sore tongue?

Though you may experience discomfort ranging from mild irritation to pain, a sore tongue is rarely a cause for concern, recovers fairly quickly. Many cases like canker sores, swollen taste buds, and mouth injuries can be managed at home. You can prevent many tongue problems by practising good oral hygiene.

If you notice any changes in your tongue include anything from a change in colour, lumps, white patches, sores to pain that continues for two weeks or longer, should be taken for medical advice. Partial or complete loss of taste or changes in your ability to taste sour, salty, bitter or sweet flavours, difficulty moving your tongue etc also to be considered serious tongue problems. In many cases, pain isn’t a reason to worry, but your doctor can help you rule out more rare causes of tongue discomfort, like pemphigus Vulgaris or oral cancer. Your doctor can also prescribe medications to get oral thrush, infections, or other issues under control so you’re feeling better soon.