Most people don’t think much about tongue disorders unless they have a personal experience with them. However, it’s important to be familiar with common maladies of this all too important part of the body. Problems with the tongue generally fall into two categories: injury or illness. Traumatic injury is the most common cause of tongue discomfort. There are however other things that can cause severe discomfort of the tongue. If you live in Greenfield, MA, or the surrounding communities, you can contact the team at Bagley, Goodwin, & Hrinda today to diagnose and treat your persistent tongue disorder.
Types of Tongue Disorder
Disorders of the tongue can be detected by both abnormal appearance or pain and discomfort.
- Iron deficiency anemia may make the tongue appear pale and smooth. Pernicious Anemia, caused by a deficiency in vitamin B-12, may alter the appearance of the tongue in the same manner.
- Sores on the tongue can be caused by allergic reactions, oral herpes simplex virus infection, canker sores, TB, bacterial infections, or early-stage syphilis.
- Sores can also be caused by allergies or other disorders of the immune system. A bump on only one side of the tongue may be cancerous.
- Unexplained red or white areas, sores, or painless hard lumps on the tongue may be signs of cancer and should be examined by a doctor or dentist immediately.
- Some prescription drugs and antibiotics can cause tongue discomfort, as can injury and infection. A common infection causing tongue discomfort is “thrush” or candidiasis, in which an overgrowth of fungi forms a white film that covers the tongue.
- Intense pain of the entire mouth can be caused by “burning mouth syndrome”. It’s a continuous or intermittent painful burning sensation in parts of or throughout the entire mouth. Symptoms also include thirst, dry mouth and altered taste. Burning Mouth Syndrome can be caused by the use of some antibiotics, the over use of mouth rinses and sprays, ill fitting dentures and allergic reactions to dental products, certain food and drugs.
Tongue Disorder Treatment in Greenfield, MA
Dentists use the process of elimination to find out exactly what’s causing the discomfort. Tongue discomfort not caused by an infection is usually treated by eliminating the cause. For example, the person may try changing brands of toothpaste, stop eating irritating foods, or have a sharp or broken tooth repaired by a dentist. Warm salt-water rinses may help. Thrush can be treated with an antifungal drug. Sometimes anti depressants might abate the symptoms as well. You should contact the team at Bagley, Goodwin, & Hrinda today if you are experiencing any symptoms of a tongue disorder. The doctors at Bagley, Goodwin, & Hrinda proudly serve patients in Greenfield ,MA, Deerfield, Conway, Shelburne Falls, Turner Falls, Northfield, Amherst, Northampton, and surrounding areas.