Sore Tongue

About the Symptom

Tongue pain could be a result of injury, inflammation, sores or hot foods/ liquids.

When to See a Doctor

Seek professional care if you experience any of the following symptoms

• Numbness / sensory disorder
• Fever
• Unexplained weight loss of 5% or more in 1 month
• Peripheral cyanosis
• Facial edema

Possible Causes

Generally, Sore tongue can be related to:

• Zinc or Biotin Deficiency

  This happens when the body doesn't have enough zinc or biotin, which is a vitamin. Either deficiency can cause skin irritation, hair loss, and fungal infections on skin lesions. Causes may include malnutrition, issues with nutrient absorption in the gut, a short gut, certain long-term conditions, and some medications.

• Candidiasis (Oral, Hands and Feet)

  Normal human skin contains bacteria and fungi. Candidiasis occurs when the fungus overgrows and invades the skin. Risk factors include warm moist environments and a weakened immune system.

• Burn/Scald of Roof of Mouth

  Palatal thermal injury or palatal burn happens when the roof of the mouth (palate) gets damaged from coming into contact with heat or hot substances.

• Pellagra
• Vitamin B12 Deficiency

• Herpes labialis

• Anemia
• Trigeminal Neuralgia
• Sarcoidosis (Including Erythema Nodosum-Like Eruption)

Related Serious Diseases

Sometimes, Sore tongue may be related to these serious diseases:

• Cerebral Infarction

  Cerebral infarction refers to damage to brain tissue resulting from a stroke. It occurs due to decreased blood supply and oxygen delivery to the brain, causing brain cell death and brain damage. It is typically caused by a blood clot or fatty/cholesterol plaques blocking a blood vessel to the brain, but can also occur if a blood vessel ruptures and bleeds into the brain.

Doctor's Diagnostic Questions

Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:

• Is your tongue hurting?
• Have you had similar tongue pain before?
• How has the pain in your tongue changed since it started?
• How long have you had tongue pain?
• On a scale of 1-10, how bad was the pain in your tongue?

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