Canker sores on the tongue, these are the causes and treatment -Canker sores on the tongue are certainly very painful. The resulting pain often makes sufferers lose their appetite and feel uncomfortable when talking. However, you don’t need to worry because there are ways to treat canker sores on the tongue that you can do.
Canker sores on the tongue can be identified by their appearance which looks like white sores or blisters. Not only on the tongue, canker sores can also appear on the inside of the cheeks, gums, tonsils, and the back of the throat.
Causes of Thrush on the Tongue
Canker sores on the tongue can be caused by several things, including:
- Stress
- Chronic diseases, such as diabetes
- HIV infection
- Cancer
- Smoking habit
- Side effects of certain drugs and chemotherapy
Mouth lesions include bumps or bites on the tongue, cheeks or lips
Hormonal changes during pregnancy
Apart from being caused by the various conditions above, canker sores on the tongue can also occur due to infections in the mouth caused by fungi. This condition is known as oral thrush .
How to Treat Thrush on the Tongue
Canker sores on the tongue generally heal by themselves within 2 weeks. However, to speed up the healing process, there are several ways to treat tongue ulcers that can be applied, including:
1. Maintain oral hygiene
Maintaining oral hygiene can speed up healing and prevent the appearance of canker sores on the tongue. Therefore, it is recommended that you brush your teeth twice a day using a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste.
After brushing your teeth, clean between your teeth using dental floss so that stuck food residue can be removed. Finally, use a mouthwash that contains an antiseptic to maintain maximum oral and dental hygiene.
2. Gargle with salt water
Gargling with salt water can make canker sores on the tongue heal more quickly. This is thanks to the antiseptic content in salt water.
To get the benefits of salt water , you simply dissolve ½ teaspoon of salt in warm water. Then, use the solution to gargle for 1-2 minutes.
3. Drink more water
Don’t forget to increase your consumption of water to at least 8 glasses a day so that the canker sores on your tongue heal quickly and the discomfort caused subsides. Drinking water can clean your teeth and mouth from food residue and bacteria, so that your teeth and mouth are maintained.
4. Consume unsweetened yogurt
How to deal with canker sores on the tongue can be by consuming foods that contain probiotics , such as unsweetened yogurt. The reason is, yogurt contains Lactobacillus acidophilus bacteria which can restore the number of good bacteria in the mouth. Thus, canker sores heal more quickly.
5. Apply canker sore medicine
If natural treatments are not able to make canker sores on the tongue heal quickly, you can apply canker sore medicine to the tongue. Medicines for canker sores usually contain antifungals so they can stop the growth of the fungus that causes canker sores.
Antifungal thrush medicines usually contain fluconazole, clotrimazole , nystatin , and itraconazole. Apart from containing antifungals, some thrush medicines also contain corticosteroids, such as fluocinonide , beclomethasone, and hydrocortisone hemisuccinate .
Medicines containing corticosteroids can treat canker sores by reducing the pain they cause. When applying this medicine, follow the instructions on the packaging or according to your doctor’s recommendations.
Canker sores on the tongue don’t seem like a serious problem, but don’t underestimate them, especially if they are annoying and don’t get better after a few days. If you experience this, immediately consult a doctor to get appropriate treatment.
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