Our mouth is one of the most important parts of your body. Any problems affecting your mouth can make it harder to eat, drink, or even smile.
Some common mouth problems include painful sores on the lips and around the mouth caused by a virus, painful sores in the mouth caused by bacteria, fungi or yeast, bad breath, dry mouth, as well as dental problems.
Some of these conditions have been discussed in previous articles. We continue with the presentation of other oral health problems and conditions, this time – mainly – at the level of the tongue.
13. Dry lips and mouth (xerostomia)
Chapped lips can be caused by dry, windy, cold, or very hot weather. A common cause of dry mouth is dehydration. A lack of sufficient saliva can be caused by certain medications and certain illnesses. Over time, having a dry mouth increases the risk of mouth infections, gum disease, and dental cavities.
14. Burns from aspirin
Have you ever left an aspirin to sit in your mouth, against your cheek, next to a sore tooth? While hoping it would make the pain go away faster, the salicylic acid in the aspirin causes burns and a serious white lesion in your gums or cheek. Preventing aspirin burns is simple – swallow these painkillers! The fundamental treatment for aspirin burns is time. The burns should heal in about two weeks.
Did you know that the tongue is the strongest voluntary muscle in the human body? Even during sleep, the tongue works for us by pushing saliva towards the throat.
15. Lichen Planus
A rare skin eruption, appearing as white ribbons or bright red spots inside the cheeks or on the tongue, could be lichen planus. No one knows what causes it. Generally, lichen planus does not require any treatment. If it causes pain or ulcerations, the condition can be treated topically with corticosteroid creams and antihistamines. Oral lichen planus can become chronic and may increase the risk of oral cancer. Lichen planus can also affect the skin, scalp, nails, and genitals.
16. Black hairy tongue
This painful condition occurs when small bubbles on your tongue grow for a long time and are a trap for the bacteria that live in your mouth – making your tongue appear black and hairy. Causes can include using antibiotics, poor oral hygiene, smoking, drinking tea or coffee, and insufficient saliva production. Brushing your tongue and using a tongue scraper is usually all you need to treat it, although medication is sometimes also necessary.
17. Geographic tongue
When certain parts of the tongue exhibit signs of small swellings and depapillated red lesions with an irregular, map-like border, of varying sizes, giving your tongue a map-like appearance, you may be suffering from geographic tongue.
This language anomaly is also called benign migratory glossitis because the shape, size and arrangement of the denuded areas change over time. The patches can change location, pattern, and size from a few minutes to hours. Geographic tongue is harmless and can appear and disappear. No treatment is usually necessary. If there are signs of pain, anti-infective and anti-inflammatory medications can help.
18. „Liar's” Swellings”
According to an old tale, it is said that telling a lie causes a bump on the tongue. So-called „lie bumps”, or transient lingual papillitis, are common even if you are only telling the truth. These small, harmless bumps disappear on their own after a few days, but can be uncomfortable. Their cause is a mystery – it could be a reaction to food or minor trauma, such as biting your tongue. There is no need to treat them, although oral anaesthetics can relieve the discomfort.
You and your family are careful and take preventative action regarding any problems related to tooth integrity or gum health. However, if you are dealing with any of these less common oral health issues, consult your dentist as soon as possible.
There is no need to suffer when help is just a remote appointment away.