Tongue Discomfort

ByBernard J. Hennessy, DDS, Texas A&M University, College of Dentistry
Reviewed/Revised Apr 2024
VIEW PROFESSIONAL VERSION

    Tongue discomfort, which includes pain and burning sensations, often can result from

    • Irritation from certain foods, especially acidic ones (for example, pineapple)

    • Irritation from certain ingredients in toothpaste (for example, sodium lauryl sulfate [SLS]), mouthwash, candy, or gum

    • Certain medications

    • Thrush (candidiasis), a common infection in which an overgrowth of fungi forms a white film on the tongue

    • Tongue injury or tongue sores

    • Celiac disease

    Intense pain of the tongue or the entire mouth can be caused by burning mouth syndrome.

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