Why does my tongue burn

A burning tongue is deeply unpleasant, and could be symptomatic of a number of different things from the not-so-serious to the much more serious.

One cause of a burning tongue could be a condition called Glottis, which does not affect the lips or any other part of the mouth other than the tongue. The condition results in an inflamed, painful and swollen tongue and can involve a burning sensation. With Glottis your tongue may also be smooth and tender, and you may experience problems with chewing and swallowing. The color of your tongue with this condition will generally be dark or bright red or pale.

The painful burning and swelling of Glottis can have many causes in itself, among them being such conditions as stress, anxiety and depression, leukemia, hormonal changes, as well as specific tongue cancer. The tongue may also burn and become swollen as a result of a reaction to taking certain medications such as diuretics, diabetes medications and medications for high blood pressure. Your tongue can also swell and burn due to certain types of anemia, such as seen with iron deficiency and vitamin B12 deficiency.

The condition may also be as a result of other factors, such as general lifestyle, diet, allergies and other environmental factors. It might also be as a result of ingesting hot foods or drinking overly hot drinks as this can physically burn the tongue and cause long-lasting irritation. Irritants such as strong alcoholic beverages and hot spices can also cause the tongue to burn uncomfortably.

You might also be suffering from a condition called burning mouth syndrome if you find yourself suffering from a burning tongue for no other particular reason, and this can affect your lips, inside of your cheeks, roof of your mouth, and gums as well as the tongue. It can often feel as though you have scalded your mouth and tongue. Unfortunately, the causes of burning mouth syndrome are hard to ascertain and may have a number of possible causes, including menopausal hormonal imbalance (for women during the menopause and during monthly periods), poor oral hygiene, acid reflux, nerve damage and endocrine disorders. For those that use them it can also be caused by dentures irritating the mouth.

It is a good idea to get an early evaluation from your health care professional in order to determine the exact problem and the correct form of treatment. Regular visits to a dental clinic can also help provide you with ongoing analysis and treatment of any problems that may be developing before they become a persistent incurable issue, so be sure to seek out a qualified professional as soon as possible if you think you may be likely to develop a more serious condition such as tongue cancer. Regularly oral hygiene will also greatly help reduce this likelihood, as will waiting a decent amount of time before consuming any hot food or beverage in order to prevent physical trauma. After all, your tongue plays a key role in virtually every person’s life, so do not neglect proper care and treatment if necessary.