From time to time after we have cleaned our teeth or checked our tongue for the customary morning "fur", we may notice that our tongue has these funny bumps. We wonder what they are and because there is nothing that seems to shift them, they start to become irritating, and then worrisome.Do you have these little bumps on your tongue? You want to get rid of them but you are not sure how?

To get rid of bumps on the tongue it is best to see your oral care specialist. It will save a lot of messing about trying to find out the cause of the problem, because there could be many reasons why you have them. A specialist will be able to tell you what they are. There is going to be a perfectly simple explanation, and you just need to have your mind put at rest.

The human tongue is covered by many bumps called papillae, which contain taste buds. Each one of these taste buds contains microscopic hairs which send signals to your brain telling you how your food tastes.Sometimes the papillae change color or look swollen and feel extremely painful. There are many reasons for this and could indicate a poorness of health, a deficiency in iron, niacin, lysine, Pyridoxine (B6), Riboflavin, or B12, or oral infection which could be either viral or bacterial. If it is the latter, it will need to be treated by medication.

Some people suffer with white bumps on their tongue if they have had a reaction to food that is excessively acidy or sweet. If you think that you may be suffering from an allergy you should see your doctor for advice. Bumps on the tongue caused by an allergy can also cause your throat to close, so it would be wise to get it checked.

You may worry that the bump may be a sign of cancer, but rest assured, mouth cancer is relatively uncommon. The more usual explanation is a fibroma. This is small bump of fibrous connective tissue that you usually find if you have suffered some kind of trauma to the area, such as if you have bitten your tongue by accident. It is harmless and is nothing to worry about.

However, it does no harm to just keep an eye on it, and if the lump becomes irritating it can be removed quite easily. The tissue will be sent to an oral pathology laboratory for testing to make absolutely certain that it is benign.

If the lump in your mouth becomes bigger and becomes painful and ulcerated then you are advised to visit your dentist immediately. The dentist may decide to do a biopsy to find out what is causing the problem. Oral cancer although fairly rare, can grow quite quickly and needs to be sorted out speedily.

On the whole, bumps on the tongue are rarely a case for worrying about. They may simply be a result of bad oral hygiene and a good regular brushing and flossing will probably sort the problem out on its own.

Learn more about this author, Jane Allyson.
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