Habitation Blog Bloated Taste Buds: Causes, Symptoms and Treatments
doctor examining his patient's mouth

Swollen Taste Buds: Causes, Symptoms and Treatments

What causes swollen gustation buds?

We sabbatum down with Abbas Anwar, MD, to chat nigh why bloated sense of taste buds occur and when to speak to your doctor about them.

How common are bloated taste buds? What might they look or experience like, and are they usually quick to heal?

Swollen gustation buds are relatively common since there are a multifariousness of different conditions that tin can crusade them. They often present as swollen red or white bumps that usually appear in the center or back of the natural language and are often tender or cause a burning sensation when you eat. They are unremarkably quick to heal without any intervention and resolve within a few days to a couple weeks. If you notice them for more than ii-4 weeks or if they are growing, you should seek medical attention.

Although they're usually no big deal, when should you consider talking to your doctor about them?

If the bumps are persistent and do non resolve within 2-4 weeks or continue to enlarge then you should see you doctor. If in that location is haemorrhage associated with the lesions you should definitely consider discussing them with your md. Significant and persistent hurting, difficulty moving your tongue, loose teeth, or unintended weight loss are too reasons to get medical attention.

What might crusade bloated taste buds, and what'south the best class of action for each crusade?

At that place are a number of reasons and ways to take care of this issue:

Poor Oral Hygiene

Poor oral hygiene can lead to overgrowth and infection of taste buds with bacteria and viruses. Good oral hygiene must be expert on a daily ground and includes brushing twice daily, flossing daily, and using mouth rinses.

Dry Rima oris

Dry oral cavity tin can also atomic number 82 to overgrowth of bacteria. Staying hydrated is important.

Acrid Reflux

Acid reflux is when acid from your stomach goes backwards up into the esophagus. Sometimes this acid can make its fashion all the fashion up to your oral cavity, which can cause burns on the tongue and bloated sense of taste buds. Improving your diet by avoiding foods that tin can exacerbate reflux is the get-go stride to treat this. That means fugitive hot/spicy foods, coffee caffeine, chocolate, soda, fatty foods, etc. In improver, do not lie downward after eating for at least 2-three hours. Anti-reflux medications are too bachelor for patients that continue to accept reflux despite observing these precautions.

Really Hot / Cold Foods

These can cause burns of the tongue and taste buds and cause them to swell. Of class, avoiding these foods would exist the all-time step. If you lot already burned your natural language then using water ice to assistance soothe it can help symptomatically, but in near cases this will resolve over the form of a few days.

Spicy Foods / Acidic Foods

This tin can exacerbate reflux which is treated as stated above. Very spicy foods like hot peppers or acidic foods like citrus fruits can as well irritate the tongue themselves and cause them to swell.

Vitamin Deficiencies

Deficiency of essential vitamins similar vitamin B, lack of iron and other nutrients may cause inflamed taste buds.

Transient Lingual Papillitis

This describes a harmless condition that causes small bumps at the back upper surface of the tongue. An exact cause is unknown but possible causes include stress, GI upset, smoking, hot/spicy foods. They typically resolve within a few days without any treatment.

Oral Cancer

Although very rare, oral cancer tin sometimes present with swollen gustatory modality buds. Ofttimes this will nowadays with a large bump that bleeds easily and is usually on the side of the tongue. Often they will be painful and make it hard to swallow. This is more than common in smokers and heavy drinkers. If you discover a bump on the side of the natural language that does not resolve inside two weeks and is growing you should consult your doctor.

For more than information, contact Pacific Centre, Ear, & Skull Base Center or call at 310-829-7792.

Final updated: May 20th, 2022