Vincent's ulcerative necrotizing stomatitis
One of the reasons that the tongue hurts on the side is Vincent's ulcerative necrotizing stomatitis. With this disease, ulcers appear in the oral cavity, which can be located not only directly on the tongue, but also on the mucous membrane of the cheeks, and even spread further:
- on the gums;
- sky;
- tonsils.
The disease is caused by bacteria: spirochetes and fusobacteria. What is especially characteristic of this pathology is that the ulcers are covered with a dirty gray coating. Vincent's ulcerative-necrotizing stomatitis is treated locally with antimicrobial drugs. Broad-spectrum antibiotics are also prescribed.
Other reasons
- Avitaminosis.
A deficiency of microelements can cause sensitivity of the mucous membranes and the appearance of cracks in the tongue. - Allergy.
New dental care products and foods can cause increased sensitivity of the gums and tongue. - Worms.
The presence of parasites leads to the fact that the body does not absorb nutrients and beneficial microelements, which causes the condition of the mucous membrane to worsen. - Hormonal disbalance.
- Stress.
How to determine health status by language. Source: Yulianna Pliskina YouTube channel
Tongue injuries
Another reason why the tongue hurts on the side lies in mechanical injuries to the organ. They occur when eating food with sharp parts (seeds, nuts, undercooked cereals), hitting, or biting. Damage can occur due to a seizure, sports, falls, or various accidents.
If you are absolutely sure that the soreness is the result of an injury, then you just need to give the tongue time to recover. Nevertheless, examination by a specialist to clarify the diagnosis and treatment will not be superfluous.
Pain and burning of the tongue: how to treat?
Probably every gastroenterologist in his practice has encountered a patient with complaints of pain or burning of the tongue. Turning to this specialist in the first place is probably due to the following logical chain: the tongue is in the oral cavity, where the digestion process begins, which means that if a problem arises, you should visit a gastroenterologist. Old publications also come to the aid of patients and doctors of other specialties, in which chronic diseases of the digestive organs were considered as the causes of burning tongue.
But is it really that simple? Is pain and burning of the tongue a separate disease and who should treat it?
A little history and terminology.
Pain/burning in the tongue has many synonyms: glossalgia, glossodynia, stomatodynia, glossopyrosis, oral paresthesia, neurogenic glossitis, tongue neurosis, glossalgic syndrome. This condition is traditionally part of the so-called burning mouth syndrome or “burnt mouth syndrome,” in which pain/burning sensations are localized in various areas: tongue, upper palate, gums, lower lip, pharynx.
Burnt mouth syndrome (SMS) was first described back in 1880; in the 20th century, the term glossodynia, i.e., appeared. pain in the tongue, since unpleasant symptoms from the tongue were most common. This syndrome was first identified as a separate disease in 2004.
Almost all existing review articles and recommendations consider glossodynia within the framework of the SOP. General recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of ROP may be applicable to the special case of glossodynia.
Definition
The International Association for the Study of Pain has designated glossodynia and oral burning as chronic pain, specifically “burning pain of the tongue or other mucous membranes of the mouth.”
Later, a detailed definition was given for ORS: “a burning sensation or sensation of altered sensitivity in the oral cavity, repeated daily for more than 2 hours a day for more than 3 months, without obvious causative lesions on clinical examination and examination.”
Epidemiology
Data on the prevalence of ROP and tongue pain/burning separately still vary from study to study. The average incidence of all cases of oral burning (including but not limited to tongue burning) is 0.1-3.7% of the population. Women suffer from this syndrome 2.5-7 times more often than men, especially often over the age of 60 and after menopause.
Common causes of pain and burning in the mouth.
There are two groups of reasons why patients notice a burning sensation in the mouth:
1) Primary (idiopathic), when there are no diseases of the oral cavity and other organs and systems, this will be the true SOR.
2) Secondary, caused by local (localized in the oral cavity) and systemic causes (autoimmune diseases, deficiency conditions, etc.)
Causes of secondary burning sensation in the mouth/burning tongue.
Possible causes of secondary burning sensation in the oral cavity are diverse and, oddly enough, are rarely associated with pathology of the digestive organs. A review published in 2022 on this problem identified the following conditions and diseases responsible for the occurrence of burning sensation in the mouth:
Local factors:
A. Diseases, conditions and damage to the oral cavity:
- fungal infection (eg candidiasis)
- lichen planus
- pemphigoid
- pemphigus
B. Trauma
1) Mechanical
2) Chemical
A. From the patient's side:
- toothpastes with abrasives
- use of mouth rinses with ethyl alcohol
- medications such as aspirin (applied to the sore tooth); over-the-counter medications containing phenols, peroxide, sulfuric acid
- vitamin C (citrus fruits)
- sour drinks
- lozenges and cough suppressants with high menthol content
b. From the dentist:
- Irrigation of the oral cavity with solutions containing methyl methacrylate, formaldehyde, formocresol, sodium hypochloride
- acrylic resin
- eugenol
3) Thermal: spicy or hot food or drink
C. Parafunctional habits
- Tongue sticking out, cheek biting, excessive tongue brushing
- mouth breathing
D. Xerostomia or impaired quality/quantity of saliva
- consequences of radiation or chemotherapy, Sjogren's syndrome, pathology of the salivary glands
- side effects of medications (antihistamines, antidepressants, diuretics, steroid hormones, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, amphetamines)
- smoking
E. Allergic reaction/contact hypersensitivity
- products, additives, flavors
- colorings and flavors from oral care products
- dental materials (nickel sulfate, cobalt, zinc)
System factors
A. Deficiency conditions: decreased levels of iron, zinc, folic acid, vitamins B1, B2, B6, B12
B. Endocrine pathology
- diabetes
- hypothyroidism
- hormonal disorders (changes in cortisol/sex hormone levels)
C. Autoimmune diseases
- Sjögren's syndrome
- lichenoid reactions
- systemic lupus erythematosus
D. Other diseases
- gastroesophageal reflux disease
- celiac disease
- multiple sclerosis
- Parkinson's disease
- Fabry disease
E. Medicines
- angiotensin-converting factor inhibitors
- antiretroviral therapy
F. Peripheral and central neuropathies
- diabetic polyneuropathy, neuropathy due to renal failure, neuropathy due to systemic connective tissue diseases, neuropathy due to HIV infection, postherpetic neuropathy, neuropathy due to chemotherapy
As can be seen from this huge list, most cases of burning of the tongue and in the oral cavity in general are caused by a dental problem/pathology, neurological, endocrine and autoimmune diseases. Gastroenterological causes (for example, gastroesophageal reflux disease) are rather the exception to the rule.
Primary burning sensation in the oral cavity (BOR) and its causes.
If there are no indications of secondary causes of burning in the oral cavity, most likely there is a true SOR. This is an independent disease, the cause of which is still unclear. In its development, the role of psychological factors and mental disorders, changes in the nerve endings and conductive nerve fibers of the oral cavity, as well as the central nervous system is assumed.
Clinical manifestations of ROP.
Symptoms that may bother patients with ROP are:
1) Pain and/or burning in the mouth of varying intensity. Some patients describe these sensations as tingling or irritation, as well as impaired sensitivity. The pain often occurs spontaneously, is often symmetrical and does not necessarily affect only one area. In the case of glossodynia, pain/burning is most often localized in the anterior 2/3 of the tongue, on its back, and lateral surfaces. The pain is minimal in the morning immediately after waking up, increasing in intensity throughout the day. Eating spicy, hot foods and drinks, as well as stress and fatigue increase the pain/burning sensation.
2) More than 70% of patients, in addition to pain/burning, note changes in taste, a decrease in its intensity, as well as the appearance of a foreign taste (bitter, metallic, or a combination of both). Most often, the sensation of sweet and salty tastes is reduced, and sour tastes are perceived more intensely.
3) Dry mouth (xerostomia) is noted by 46-67% of patients with SOP, while according to research data, an objective decrease in the amount of saliva is not observed in them.
4) Association with burning/pain from other mucous membranes has also been described in patients suffering from ROP. Most often this is a burning sensation in the rectum and genital tract. An alternative may be a feeling of dry mucous membranes (eyes, genital tract in women)
5) Night sleep disturbances are common (in 80% of cases) in people with SRS
6) Anxiety and depression are frequent companions of SOR and glossodynia separately. A meta-analysis of clinical studies showed that anxiety conditions increase the risk of developing RAS by 2.6 times, and depression by 3.2 times. Cancerophobia, social phobia, neuroticism, etc. are also often noted.
7) ODS is characterized by an association with other diseases that manifest as chronic pain: fibromyalgia, chronic back pain, chronic pelvic pain, irritable bowel syndrome, etc.
Treatment of SOR.
1) Patient information and support
Many patients with chronic oral burning and pain do not understand why their symptoms persist for so long. An important task of the doctor is to explain to patients with SRS the possible mechanisms of the formation of unpleasant sensations. Patients should be reassured that their symptoms are not imaginary or related to any form of cancer. This support will reduce anxiety, depression, fear and frustration, especially in individuals who have had previous unsuccessful treatment experiences.
2) Local therapy
Local use of clonazepam in the form of mouth rinses showed good results in reducing the severity of pain/burning in the mouth. There is encouraging evidence for the topical use of capsaicin (a chili pepper alkaloid) in low concentrations.
3) Systemic therapy
Tricyclic antidepressants, antidepressants from the group of serotonin and serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, clonazepam, and antiepileptic drugs (pregabalin and gabapentin) are actively used as drugs for the treatment of ORA. The use of alpha-lipoic acid has shown little effectiveness.
4) Non-drug psychotherapy
Given the frequent association of ODS with anxiety disorders, phobias and depression, non-pharmacological psychotherapy is an integral part of the treatment of this problem. Cognitive behavioral therapy, individual and group psychotherapy should be considered as methods of choice.
5) Physiotherapy and alternative treatments
Low-level laser therapy and acupuncture have been studied as methods for reducing pain. These methods were effective in some people with cerebral obstruction, but are not widely used.
Conclusion.
Identifying the causes of pain/burning in the oral cavity is a challenge for doctors of different specialties, but their friendly work allows us to solve the problem and improve the quality of life of patients.
Glossitis
Glossitis
is an inflammation of the tissues of the tongue, manifested in its soreness, changes in color and structure, and the appearance of a dense coating. There is a burning sensation, hyperemia (overflow of blood vessels), food loses its taste, and salivation increases.
If the doctor has diagnosed the patient with glossitis, then the next step is to find out whether this indicates a pathology of other organs. This could be a herpes virus, poisoning with heavy metal salts, etc. Treatment is prescribed depending on the initiating cause, trying to exclude it. It usually includes local antiseptic therapy.
Diagnostics
The cause of the symptom is determined by the dentist. If there are indications, patients are referred for consultation to a gastroenterologist, therapist, neurologist, and other specialists. The doctor determines when the pain first appeared, what symptoms were accompanied, and how the disease developed. To clarify the diagnosis, the following procedures are performed:
- Inspection
. During the physical examination, general changes are sometimes detected (for example, pale and dry skin with anemia). When examining the tongue, swelling, hyperemia, discoloration, the presence of erosions, ulcers, and infiltrates may be detected. With neuralgia, areas of pain indicate damage to one or another nerve. During a dental examination, carious teeth, defects in dentures and orthodontic structures may be detected. - Instrumental techniques
. To exclude xerostomia and assess the condition of the salivary glands, sialography and ultrasonography are recommended. If gastrointestinal pathologies that provoke glossalgia are suspected, esophagogastroduodenoscopy and a contrast study of the stomach are performed. For neuralgia, electromyography is indicative. - Lab tests
. Confirm the presence of pernicious or iron deficiency anemia. As part of the differential diagnosis, saliva is examined. In case of candidiasis and bacterial lesions, the discharge is inoculated onto nutrient media. For viral infections, PCR is performed.
Catarrhal glossitis
If the tongue hurts on the side and a white coating covers its surface, then this is most likely catarrhal glossitis - a special case of this disease. It can be considered as a symptom of other pathologies. In particular, it is called:
- caries;
- stomatitis;
- gastrointestinal diseases;
- various infections (measles, diphtheria, etc.).
In addition to pain and plaque, symptoms of catarrhal glossitis include swelling of the tongue and a burning sensation, which is especially worse after eating or talking. The disease is treated by eliminating its causes and rinsing the mouth with antiseptic solutions.
Dangerous symptoms
Typically, cracks in the tongue do not cause any discomfort; their appearance is often discovered at a doctor’s appointment. But this is not always the case. Sometimes unpleasant symptoms may appear that indicate health problems:
- pain;
- burning, change in taste;
- itching or swelling;
- pain when chewing, problems with speech;
- temperature increase.
If cracks appear on the tongue, there are several of the listed symptoms, then perhaps the cause is an inflammatory process in the oral cavity - glossitis. If the tongue becomes covered with cracks and ulcers, the cause is ENT diseases (tonsillitis, pharyngitis). In any case, professional treatment is necessary.
Inflammation of the salivary glands
This disease is called sialadenitis. Any salivary glands can be affected by it, but painful sensations in the tongue, closer to the base, occur if the sublingual gland is affected. Pathology is caused by viruses or bacteria. Symptoms of sialadenitis include:
- pain at the base of the tongue;
- the formation of a compacted swelling underneath;
- decreased salivation.
How to treat the disease if the tongue hurts on the side precisely for this reason? Antibacterial and antiviral drugs.
Prevention
Glossitis is easier to prevent than to treat. In order to avoid this unpleasant disease you need to follow simple rules.
The first is oral hygiene. This principle applies to both children and adults. If you wash your hands before eating, brush your teeth regularly, do not use someone else’s toothbrushes, and regularly sanitize your mouth, then the risk of developing tongue inflammation is minimal.
Try to avoid damaging the mucous membrane. Avoid eating hard foods that can damage your tongue, such as chips. Hot foods also cause epithelial defects. Spicy foods have an irritating effect. Abuse of them significantly worsens the condition of the tongue mucosa and increases the risk of infection.
Nicotine not only irritates the mucous membrane, but also impairs microcirculation, which reduces the resistance of the epithelium to the effects of infectious agents. Inflammatory diseases of the oral cavity are more common in smokers than in patients who are not adherents of this addiction. Strong alcoholic drinks also have a negative effect on the mucous membranes.
If you have symptoms of glossitis, do not self-medicate, contact a dental clinic. A competent specialist will determine the cause of the disease and prescribe treatment that will help quickly get rid of unpleasant symptoms. Remember, if glossitis is not treated, the disease can lead to serious complications and irreversible consequences.
What to do
If a patient has a swollen tongue, treatment primarily depends on what causes the swelling. First of all, the cause should be determined; only an experienced doctor can do this. If the cause is known and it is not life-threatening (for example, biting the tongue or being burned by too hot food), then you can try to relieve the unpleasant symptoms yourself. But if the cause of tongue swelling is an allergic reaction, self-medication is life-threatening.
There are many ways to relieve swelling using traditional methods. However, all of them are suitable only for cases where the cause of swelling is microtrauma of the tongue.
You can rinse your mouth with decoctions of medicinal herbs - chamomile, sage, calendula, eucalyptus. You can use baths and rinses made from chlorhexidine, various herbal balms and rinses. If the patient's tongue is swollen after tooth extraction, rinsing with herbal infusions will help. It should be remembered that in this case you should absolutely not rinse your mouth with hot infusion, it will only increase inflammation.
Symptomatic features of pain under the tongue
Pain in the sublingual area can have various symptomatic manifestations. First of all, they are accompanied by different types of pain (sharp, aching, throbbing), as well as constancy or frequency.
If you consult a doctor, it is very important to correctly characterize the pain - this will allow the specialist to narrow down the range of symptoms for differential diagnosis. For example, you may have pain in the frenulum under your tongue or pain under your tongue on the right/left.
One of the characteristic manifestations of stomatitis or candidiasis is a white pimple under the tongue. Its presence may indicate the development of a fungal or bacterial process. If such a symptom is detected, treatment will include antifungal and antibacterial therapy with the prescription of antibiotics or special antiseptic rinses. The presence of pimples of a different color may indicate the presence of a wide range of problems, the identification of which requires a thorough diagnosis of the oral cavity or the entire body.
Stomatitis: how to overcome the “language barrier”?
Stomatitis on the tongue is just one of the manifestations of this “popular” disease. There are a huge number of reasons for its appearance, as well as ways to treat it.
There are several types of stomatitis, when it manifests itself specifically on the tongue: glossitis, viral stomatitis, vesicular stomatitis, enteroviral vesicular stomatitis, catarrhal stomatitis, fungal stomatitis, etc.
In general, stomatitis on the tongue is most common. Its notable feature is small ulcers, from which the patient suffers greatly. If inflammation is observed only on the tongue, and, for example, there are no signs of stomatitis on the palate, cheek or gum, then this disease is called glossitis.
Swollen throat
If the tongue and throat are swollen at the same time, this condition is life-threatening for the patient. In the vast majority of cases, this condition occurs during anaphylactic shock (the most severe manifestation of allergies). Only an experienced doctor can remove a patient from a state of anaphylactic shock, therefore, at the first signs of swelling of the tongue and throat, you should immediately call an ambulance, especially if the patient has other dangerous symptoms - such as difficulty swallowing, bluish coloration of the lips and nails, swelling of the eyes and lips, small rashes, low blood pressure, nausea, shortness of breath or choking.
What is in the sublingual area
The tissues located on the lower jaw under the tongue are called the floor of the mouth. Due to the complexity of the structure, as well as the natural functionality of this area, a person often experiences problems accompanied by pain.
Structure of the sublingual region:
- Hyoid muscles - have an elastic structure and are responsible for the motor function of the area;
- Hyoid bone - has an anatomical shape in the form of a horseshoe, located in the muscle layer. It is the only bone in the human body that has no connections with other bones of the body;
- Nerve endings are elements of the peripheral nervous system, responsible for the sensitivity of the sublingual area to various physical, mechanical and thermal stimuli;
- Salivary glands - responsible for the production of saliva, which is involved in the process of wetting the mucous membranes of the oral cavity and the digestion process;
- Blood vessels - provide nutrition to the tissues of the sublingual area;
- Frenules are connecting folds in the sublingual area, responsible for connecting the sublingual tissues with the tongue.
Each of the above elements ensures the natural functionality of the dentofacial apparatus and participates in all physiological processes of the oral cavity.
Swollen lips
As mentioned above, the tongue and lips most often swell at the same time due to allergies. In this case, swelling occurs rapidly, literally in a matter of minutes. Along with a swollen tongue, the patient may experience other unpleasant symptoms, such as a runny nose, sneezing, mild cough, vomiting and abdominal pain. If no measures are taken, then other symptoms may appear a little later - such as increased body temperature, changes in body color and sensitivity, and soreness and swelling of the tongue.
Many in this situation are lost and do not know what to do if the tongue is swollen and the patient apparently has an allergic reaction. You should not panic, you need to act quickly and clearly. You need to urgently call an ambulance, and before it arrives, give the patient an antihistamine, open the windows wide and provide access to fresh air, and avoid contact with the allergen (if known).
Why does malocclusion form?
Statistics show that 90% of people have some signs of occlusion; The root cause of anomalies is considered to be genetics. However, heredity is far from the only factor.
According to orthodontic experts, the following factors influence the formation of the dentofacial apparatus in children:
- artificial feeding: when breastfeeding a newborn, the jaw apparatus is formed more correctly, while the habit of sucking a pacifier inherent in “artificial babies” affects the process negatively;
- difficulty changing teeth: loss of baby teeth too early or, conversely, with a delay can affect the health of the jaw apparatus;
- injuries, untreated caries, inflammatory gum diseases (all this is fraught with jaw displacement).
A child’s habit of sucking their thumb in their sleep can also lead to malocclusion in the future. But for adults, the greatest danger is the loss of teeth: the absence of even one unit in the dentition can lead to a violation of the load distribution, as a result - to deformation of the occlusion (this is another argument in favor of dental implantation, and the dentition must be restored as quickly as possible - before a problem such as malocclusion appears).
