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17 Mouth and Tongue Problems Medical Conditions Symptoms Causes

There are several Mouth and Tongue Problems and medical conditions that are very common while some Mouth and Tongue Problems need dental or medical attention. The mouth is a cavity within the skull that is oval in shape. Eating and speaking are the two most important functions of the mouth. The lips, vestibule, mouth cavity, gums, teeth, hard and soft palates, tongue, and salivary glands are all parts of the mouth.

17 Mouth and Tongue Medical Conditions Symptoms Causes Treatment Preventions

The tongue is a vital part of our body that is found in the Oral Cavity and plays an important role in digestion. There are numerous muscles that make up our tongue, and it is attached to the floor of our mouth.

The tongue is utilized for a variety of functions, including tasting, swallowing, and chewing food. The tongue is also utilized to produce words for the purpose of communication. A healthy tongue is often pink and moist, with a thin, slightly white, glossy coating on the surface and a thin, slightly white, shining coating under the surface.

The tongue, in fact, is a highly accurate indicator of the overall health of the body. A medical expert may use the tongue depressor to examine the inside of your mouth and tongue during an examination.

These are the 17 most common mouth and tongue medical conditions:

  1. Canker Sores: (Mouth and Tongue Problems)

Canker sores, also known as Aphthous Ulcers, are tiny, shallow lesions that form on the soft tissues of the mouth or at the base of the gums. Canker sores, unlike cold sores, do not develop on the surface of your lips and are not contagious. They can, however, be painful and make eating and talking difficult.

The majority of canker sores heal on their own after a week or two. Consult your doctor or dentist if you have canker sores that are abnormally big or painful, or if they do not appear to heal.

2. Leukoplakia: Mouth and Tongue Problems

Leukoplakia is a disorder characterized by the formation of one or more white patches or spots (lesions) inside the mouth.

Leukoplakia differs from other causes of white spots, such as thrush or lichen planus, in that it can progress to oral cancer.

The size, shape, and appearance of aberrant cells determine the probability of getting cancer from leukoplakia.

3. Lichen Planus: Mouth and Tongue Problems

Lichen planus is an inflammatory skin disorder that can cause swelling and irritation of the skin, hair, nails, and mucous membranes. Lichen planus generally shows on the skin as purple, itchy, flat lumps that grow over many weeks. Lichen planus causes white patches in the mouth, vagina, and other mucous membrane-covered regions, sometimes accompanying painful blisters.

Most people may treat typical, moderate instances of lichen planus at home without seeking medical attention. If the disease produces severe itching or discomfort, you may require prescription medication. Lichen planus does not spread.

4. Chipped Teeth: Mouth and Tongue Problems

A chipped tooth may happen at any age, whether it's a child riding a bike, a teenager playing basketball, or an adult chewing hard food. It's one of the most common dental problems - and, luckily, one of the easiest to fix. A chipped tooth can be treated in a variety of ways, depending on the degree of the chip.

If possible, preserve any fragments of the tooth that have broken off and bring them with you to our clinic. If you are in discomfort, use over-the-counter pain medication such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen; washing your mouth with salt water can also help reduce the pain. Next, contact your office to schedule an appointment.

5. Amalgam Tattoo: Mouth and Tongue Problems

A blue, black, or slate grey-colored lesion seen in the mouth is referred to as an amalgam tattoo. Amalgam tattoos are most often found on the gum around an amalgam filling, however, they can appear at any place in the mouth.

Amalgam is a metal alloy or combination made up of mercury, silver, tin, and copper. For almost 150 years, it has been utilized as a filling material in dentistry. Because of their silvery look, amalgam fillings are frequently referred to as "silver fillings."

6. Gum Disease: Mouth and Tongue Problems

Bacteria in plaque build at the gum line as periodontal (gum) disease develops. Gingivitis is its initial stage. Gums that are red, swollen, and bleeding are its symptoms. Periodontal disease can be avoided by practicing good dental hygiene. It can be exacerbated by smoking, a bad diet, and stress.

7. Periodontitis: Mouth and Tongue Problems

Periodontitis damages the soft tissue and can harm the bone that supports your teeth. Periodontitis can result in tooth loosening or tooth loss.

Periodontitis is very widespread, although it is mostly avoidable. It is generally caused by inadequate dental hygiene. Brushing at least twice a day, flossing daily, and having regular dental exams will substantially enhance your odds of effective periodontitis treatment as well as lower your risk of acquiring it.

8. Cold Sores: Mouth and Tongue Problems

Cold sores, commonly known as fever blisters, are caused by a viral infection. They are little, fluid-filled blisters that appear on and around your lips. These blisters are frequently clustered together in areas. When the blisters rupture, a scab develops that might remain for many days. Cold sores generally recover in two to three weeks with no scarring.

Close interactions, such as kissing, spread cold sores from person to person. Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and, less often, herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) cause them. Both of these viruses may infect your mouth or genitals and are transmitted during oral intercourse. Even if you don't notice the sores, cold sores are infectious.

Cold sores have no cure, although therapy can help manage outbreaks. Prescription antiviral medicines or lotions can aid in the healing of sores. They may also lower the incidence, duration, and severity of subsequent epidemics.

9. Black Hairy Tongue: Mouth and Tongue Problems

A transitory, innocuous, and very frequent condition in which the top of the tongue appears hairy is known as a black hairy tongue. The material on the tongue, however, is not hair, and it is not necessarily black — it can be brown, green, white, or other colors.

Filiform papillae, which are little bumps on the top of the tongue, develop and collect food and germs, which produce the color. The papillae are generally around 1 millimeter (1/32 inch) long and are meant to fall off before they develop, much like a layer of skin does. Desquamation is the process of shedding. If the papillae are not shed, they can develop to be as long as 18 millimeters (3/4 inch).

A black hairy tongue affects around 13% of people at some time in their life. It occurs in all population categories but is more frequent in men and the elderly.

10. Thrush: Mouth and Tongue Problems

When you have Thrush, you have a yeast infection that can affect your mouth, throat, and other parts of your body. Thrush manifests itself in your mouth as white, raised ulcers on your tongue and cheeks that resemble cottage cheese in color and texture. Symptoms include pain and redness in the mouth, which can quickly worsen if the illness is not treated promptly.

Candida, a fungus that causes thrush, overgrows in the mouth and causes it to get infected. Oropharyngeal candidiasis (also known as mouth and throat thrush) is the medical name for mouth and throat thrush.

Thrush is a very irritating illness, but it is generally a mild problem in healthy people, and it will go away in a few weeks if they receive antifungal medications.

11. Oral Cancer: Mouth and Tongue Problems

Mouth cancer, also known as oral cancer, is a kind of cancer that originates in the mouth. It can appear on the tongue's surface, the inside of the cheeks, the roof of the mouth (palate), the lips, or the gums.

Tumors can also form in the salivary glands, the tonsils at the back of the mouth, and the portion of the throat that connects your mouth to your windpipe (pharynx). These, however, are less prevalent.

12. Geographic Tongue: Mouth and Tongue Problems

Geographic tongue is a condition in which the tongue develops a map-like layout. On their tongues, people with this disease have smooth, reddish spots bordered by white borders. The small bumps (papillae) that typically occur on the surface of the tongue are lacking in the red regions.

The geographic tongue is non-harmful and does not pose any long-term health risks. It is not spreadable. The majority of people experience no symptoms, however, others experience a burning or stinging feeling on their tongues. Treatment for the geographic tongue is rarely required.

13. TMJ Syndrome: Mouth and Tongue Problems

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) connects your jawbone to your skull like a sliding hinge. TMJ problems, which are a form of temporomandibular disorder (TMD), can cause discomfort in the jaw joint and the muscles that regulate jaw movement.

It is frequently difficult to pinpoint the specific origin of a person's TMJ problem. Your discomfort might be caused by a variety of factors, including heredity, arthritis, or a jaw injury. Some persons who suffer jaw discomfort also clench or grind their teeth (bruxism), however many others clench or grind their teeth on a regular basis and never develop TMJ problems.

In most situations, the pain and discomfort caused by TMJ problems are very transitory and may be alleviated with self-care or nonsurgical therapies. Surgery is usually reserved as the last choice after all other therapies have failed, however, some patients with TMJ problems may benefit from surgical therapy.

14. Bad Breath: Mouth and Tongue Problems

Bad breath, often known as halitosis, may be humiliating and, in some cases, anxiety-inducing, especially when it occurs in public. However, because they do not address the underlying cause of the problem, many of these things are only band-aid remedies to the problem.

There are a lot of things that might contribute to bad breath, including meals, health concerns, and certain activities. In many cases, maintaining consistent dental hygiene might assist to alleviate bad breath. if the simple self-care procedures do not address the problem, you should contact your dentist or physician to check that a more serious disease is not the source of your foul breath.

15. Lie Bumps: Mouth and Tongue Problems

Lie bumps are tiny red or white lumps on the tongue that induce pain.

Transient lingual papillitis is sometimes known as "lie pimples." People used to believe that these lumps on a person's tongue emerged when they lied. While this superstition is no longer practiced, the term has endured.

Lie bumps are caused by two factors:

Infection: If you have bumps coupled with a fever and swollen glands, they are most likely caused by a bacterial or viral infection. Because the illness is infectious in this instance, you should avoid kissing or sharing beverages.

A triggering factor, such as hot meals or stress: If you feel lumps on your tongue after eating particular meals or going through stressful situations, you may have "transient lie bumps". These are the primary causes of temporary lie bumps.

If the lying lumps are accompanied by indications of infection, Kalasho recommends seeing a doctor for thorough diagnosis and treatment. In more extreme situations, you may need to be administered medicines to treat the illness.

Regardless of the reason, Kalasho recommends relieving symptoms by:

  • Keeping excellent oral hygiene
  • Using salt water to rinse
  • Avoiding meals that are hot or acidic

16. Angular Cheilitis: Mouth and Tongue Problems

Angular cheilitis is a skin ailment that produces discomfort and inflammation in one or both corners of the mouth.

The labial commissures are the technical term for the afflicted regions. The commissures are the two corners of the mouth that join the top and lower lips. Inflammation at one or both commissures, involving redness, swelling, and discomfort, is referred to as angular cheilitis.

Angular cheilitis is also known as angular stomatitis, cheilosis, and perleche. Simply described, angular cheilitis causes pain in the mouth's corners.

Angular cheilitis does not extend beyond the mouth's corners. However, if it becomes infected and is not treated, the illness might spread.

Because of the risk of infection, a doctor should establish the source of the inflammation so that it may be properly treated.

17. Tooth Abscess: Mouth and Tongue Problems

A tooth abscess is a pus-filled pocket produced by a bacterial infection. Abscesses can form in various areas of the tooth for a variety of causes. A per-iapical abscess develops at the root's tip, whereas a periodontal abscess develops in the gums along the side of a tooth root. The information provided here is unique to peri-apical abscesses.

A peri-apical tooth abscess arises when bacteria infiltrate the dental pulp, which contains blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissue.

Bacteria enter the tooth through a dental cavity or a chip or fracture and spread all the way down to the root. The bacterial infection might result in edema and inflammation at the root's tip.

Without treatment, a tooth abscess will not heal. If the abscess ruptures, the discomfort may subside substantially, but you will still require dental care. If the abscess does not drain, the infection may spread to your jaw as well as other parts of your head and neck. You might even get sepsis, a potentially fatal infection that spreads throughout your body.

If you have a compromised immune system and leave a dental abscess untreated, your chances of infection spreading rise even higher.

Abdur Rashid
Medically Reviewed By Abdur Rashid
MSC Public Health, MCSP, MHCPC
BSC (Hon) Physiotherapy
Consultant Neuro-spinal & Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist

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