Pimples on the tongue are in the form of small lesions or bumps. They are either white or red in color and often they are found in the surface of the tongue. The pimples on tongue are painful due to inflammation. Normally there are plenty of small lesions called fungiform papillae on the tongue and they get irritated and develop swelling which appear as pimple. The size of the pimple would be often very small and in rare cases they grow in size containing pus inside. And they remain mostly single and only in some people more number of pimples or lesions develop on the tongue.
Symptoms :
Pimples on tongue appear in the form of open sores and are painful. It can cause difficulty in eating and drinking and in severe cases it becomes difficult and painful to move your tongue. They are often pinkish red in color and are in the form of single lesion. In severe cases the color of the pimple can become yellowish and they grow in size indicating bacterial infection. Pus like fluid can get discharged from the lesion with foul smell.
Causes :
- Injury :
Accidental injury like biting the tongue or eating rough food items or using dental fixtures can irritate the soft muscles on the tongue causing pimple.
- Allergic Products and Foods :
Certain food stuff can cause allergy leading to painful sores on the tongue and mouth. Taking strong antibiotics and steroids can irritate the soft tissues of the tongue causing pimple. Oral rinses and certain lip sticks can also cause such allergy.
- Inflamed Taste Buds :
Small hair like structures is normally found on the tongue surface. Sometimes they develop inflammation and swelling changing to lesion or bumps that are red or white in color. These are called lie bumps.
- Growth of Bacteria :
Bacteria or other microbes can develop on the clogged food particles that are left on the tongue surface leading to formation of pimple.
- Oral Ulcers :
Aphthous ulcers can develop on the surface of the tongue and on the oral cavity. They are painful and are caused by several factors like stress, deficiency of vitamins and food allergies.
- Infection :
Fungal infection like Candida infection can cause red lesions or pimples on the tongue surface. Oral thrush can irritate the papillae causing painful pimple spots. Similarly viral infections like flu can cause painful pimples on the tongue. Herpes simplex virus can destroy the normal balance of the tongue leading to pimples. Oral sex is the main reason for developing such infection.
- Mouth Cancer :
In rare cases oral cancer can cause lesions or pimples on the tongue. They grow in size and often are not painful. Sometimes the color of such pimples changes over time. A person having such pimples on the tongue will have other symptoms of cancer like hoarseness in voice, numbness of tongue and feeling uncomfortable while eating, talking etc.
- Kawasaki Disease :
This is common in children and causes red bumps on the tongue along with other symptoms like fever, joint pain, swelling of lymph nodes and redness of palm and feet.