Sore tongue

Tongue pain and tongue pain in the mouth can be both painful and distressing. Pain in the tongue can be caused by neuralgia, TMD syndrome, ulcers, infection, viruses, malnutrition and injury.

Some of the most common causes are injury, TMD syndrome, trauma, poor dental hygiene and infection. If the condition persists or worsens, you should contact a qualified healthcare professional. It is otherwise important to note that one of the jaw muscles, musculus medial pterygoideus og digastricus, can give rise to pain against the tongue and inside the mouth.¹,²

Our clinic departments at Vondtklinikkene (click here for a complete overview of our clinics), including in Oslo (Lambert seats) and Viken (Eidsvoll Sound og Raw wood), has a distinctively high level of professional competence in the investigation, treatment and rehabilitation of jaw complaints and referred muscle pain. Contact us if you want the help of therapists with expertise in these areas.

Where and what is the tongue?

You can find the tongue inside the mouth. It is actually the strongest muscle in the body (in relation to size et cetera) and is mainly responsible for taste when we eat.

Anatomy of the tongue: Muscles and taste buds

Picture - A: Here we see the muscles that move on the tongue and allow you to perform complex movements with it.

Picture - B: Here we include the sensory taste buds that allow you to differentiate between sweet, sour and sour.

Causes of Sore Tongue

Some common causes / diagnoses of tongue pain are:

• Mild infection (Infection in the taste buds is not uncommon and can occur after a bite or irritation from hot food)
• Ulcers (ulcers on the tongue can be painful many days after the injury itself)
• Virus (virus can cause white spots on the tongue, which normally goes away by itself without treatment)
• TMD syndrome and jaw problems

Less common causes of tongue pain:

• Anemia (malnutrition may cause anemia)
• Burning mouth syndrome
• Herpes
• Significant infection (often with high CRP and fever)
• Irritation from tooth regulation
• Cancer
• Nerve pain / neuralgia (nerve pain is very painful pain that accompanies an injured or irritated nerve - nerve pain can also be due to diabetes, MS (multiple sclerosis), cancer and old age)

When the Jaw Causes Pain in the Tongue

[Figure 1: Referred pain from musculus mediale pterygoideus]

In the figure above (fig. 1) you see how muscle tension in one of the jaw muscles (medial pterygoid) can refer pain into the mouth and towards the tongue region. It is known that jaw tension and malfunction in the jaw can refer pain to the teeth, mouth, tongue, face and/or ear.

– Jaw pain can be complex (TMD syndrome)

Jaw problems often consist of several components, including tight and pain-sensitive jaw muscles and jaw joint problems. The diagnosis TMD syndrome stands for temporomandibular dysfunction and often consists of malfunctions in muscles, joints, jaw discus and/or jaw meniscus. Here, it is very well documented that stress and neck pain can play a central role. Treatment of TMD syndrome will therefore often consist of several treatment modalities – including relaxation techniques, jaw exercises, muscle knot treatment, laser therapy, jaw joint mobilization and neck traction.

Relief and relaxation for jaw tension and jaw complaints

The jaw and the neck are, functionally speaking, closely linked - and it is well documented that reduced mobility and function in the neck can affect the jaw. The consequence of this can be increased jaw tension and pain, which can also refer to the mouth and tongue. Precisely for this reason, it is recommended to introduce relaxation measures in your own everyday life. A good way to reduce tension, at the same time as stretching the neck muscles, can be to use this the neck hammock we refer to in the link below. The shape of the neck stretcher provides a basis for gentle stretching of the neck joints and neck muscles. Other good relaxation measures include acupressure mat or reusable heat pack (to regularly dissolve tense muscles).

Tips: Neck hammock (The link opens in a new window)

Click on the image or link to read more about the neck hammock and how it can help your neck.

Investigation of Pain in the Tongue

As you may understand from the article here, it is recommended to have such pains investigated. If there are no signs that the symptoms are due to illness or other diagnoses, the chances increase that the pain stems from a malfunction in the jaw and/or neck. Our departments know Pain clinics Interdisciplinary Health (see overview of our clinics here) works regularly with both jaw problems and TMD syndrome. Please take contact us via one of the individual clinic websites if you wish to set up a consultation. We also have the right to refer for further investigations - including diagnostic imaging.

Symptoms and Pain Presentations in Pain in the Tongue

- Loss of movement in the tongue (the tongue feels heavy and is difficult to move)

- Color change in the tongue (change in the color of the tongue to either white, light pink, black, brown or mottled coloring)

Numbness in the tongue

- Tingling in the tongue

Rough on the tongue (hairy or hairy feeling on the tongue)

- Loss of taste in the tongue (some flavors, eg sweet tastes, may be impossible to taste)

- Pain in the tongue (a pain or burning sensation in parts or the whole tongue)

- Sores on the tongue (white or red spots that are painful)

Clinical signs of Sore Tongue and Tongue Pain

– Swollen tongue (may be a symptom of an underlying medical condition, such as streptococcal infection, cancer, Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (which leads to enlarged organs), overactive thyroid gland, leukemia or anemia)

White tongue (most commonly caused by smoking and drinking alcohol. It may also be due to inflammation, hepatitis C or allergies.)

- Hairy tongue (tongue can be irritated by irritating substances such as antibiotics, coffee, smoking or mouthwash.)

- Sudden swelling of the tongue (may be a sign of an allergic reaction - which can lead to problems with breathing. This is considered a very serious situation and it is recommended to seek emergency care immediately.)

Pink tongue (may be a sign of iron deficiency, folic acid and / or vitamin B12. It may also be an allergic reaction to gluten.)

"In the case of a swollen tongue (e.g. in case of allergic reactions), it is important (perhaps vital?) to remember that ice cubes can slow down the swelling and give the person more time to get to the emergency room or doctor before it possibly clogs up again and causes respiratory problems."

Sources and References:

1. Painotopia

2. Researchgate – Jaeger et al, 2012 – “Myofascial Trigger Point”

3. Images: Creative Commons 2.0, Wikimedia, WikiFoundry

- Pain clinics: Our clinics and therapists are ready to help you

Click on the link below to see an overview of our clinic departments. At Vondtklinikkene Tverrfaglig Helse, we offer assessment, treatment and rehabilitation training, for, among other things, muscle diagnoses, joint conditions, nerve pain and tendon disorders.

Frequently asked questions regarding tongue pain:

Feel free to ask us questions in the comments section below.

Has pain in the tongue, throat and throat. What could be the cause?

Pain in the tongue, throat and throat can often occur with tender, swollen lymph nodes - also called 'swollen tonsils'. This can be due to illness or inflammation, and often occurs at a time when you have a reduced immune system (eg due to little sleep and a lot of stress).

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