Sore red bumps on back of tongue

A problem with the jaw called temporomandibular joint syndrome can cause severe pain in the jaw, face, ear, or neck. Clenching, tooth grinding, or injury can all cause TMJ syndrome, but the results are often the same: pain, headaches, dizziness, even trouble swallowing. Treatment may involve rest, moist heat, a mouth guard, medication, or surgery.

Bumps on the back of the tongue and natural. Still, some medical conditions can cause them to become enlarged or cause patches, ulcers, or lesions on the tongue. Contact your doctor if bumps on the tongue do not go away or if they lead to signs of infection or a serious allergic reaction. Treatment for bumps on the tongue will depend on what is causing the bumps.

Your tongue has bumps on the back called papillae that are part of its normal anatomy; do nothing if you have no other symptoms. New or different bumps or masses can be caused by infections or other conditions.

Bumps on the tongue (papillae) contain taste buds, temperature receptors, and a good blood supply. Different types of papillae are scattered over the top and sides of the tongue, with most being on the tip.

Bumps on the tongue are normal and you should not be able to feel them most of the time. Most bumps on the tongue are relatively flat, pink, and not very obvious.

What Are Symptoms of Bumps on the Back of Your Tongue?

Depending on the condition that causes the bumps, other symptoms that may accompany bumps on the back of the tongue include:

What are all of those little bumps all over your tongue? Some types of “tongue bumps” are normal, while others are not. In fact, there are all different sorts of bumps that are typical to see, depending on which part of your tongue you’re looking at.

Is It Normal To Have Tongue Bumps?

Yes! In fact, if you didn’t have tongue bumps, it would mean something was wrong. Like when someone has geographic tongue, and their tongue is completely smooth in those areas.

Your tongue is literally covered in thousands of tiny little bumpy things called papilla/papillae. There are also actual taste buds on your tongue. And on top of that, there are actual tonsils—yes, tonsils—on the back of your tongue if you can see that far back in your mouth.[1]

Occasionally, these different tongue bumps can get inflamed or infected, causing them to stand out from the rest. If it looks the same on one side of your tongue as it does on the other, it’s probably normal.

What Are Papillae?

Papillae/papilla are those tiny bumps that are all over your tongue. There are different types of papillae, even though they mostly look the same when you’re staring at your tongue in the mirror.

Your papilla house a lot of the taste buds in your mouth, and they can even help secrete some of the saliva (although nowhere near the amount your major saliva glands create.) If you think back to middle school when you learned about the different parts of your tongue sensing different types of taste, like sour, sweet, and salty, it’s thanks to all of those different types of tongue bumps.

Types Of Tongue Bumps

Normal tongue bumps are one of three types of papillae:

fungiform
filiform
circumvallate

And then there are the bumps on the very back of your tongue, which are the lingual tonsils.

Not to be gross or anything, but if you’ve ever stuck your finger down your throat because you’re on the verge of throwing up and just want to get it over with, you’ve probably felt the lingual tonsils back there (please don’t do this on purpose, by the way.)

The slightly smaller but still-large tongue bumps in front of your lingual tonsils are the circumvallate papillae. These are larger circle-shaped bumps on the back of your tongue, and you can probably see them if you’re sticking your tongue out really, really far. Most people have about a dozen or so of them lined up side-by-side along the back of the tongue. They house hundreds of taste buds.

Fungiform papillae are smaller and scattered at various points across your tongue. Surrounding them are the smallest tongue bumps, which are the filiform papillae.

Common Symptoms With Tongue Bumps

It’s completely normal to have different types and sizes of tongue bumps. But sometimes, these papillae can get irritated or inflamed. This can lead to soreness or even irritation when you’re trying to swallow or clean your tongue.

The good news is that most inflamed papillae are temporary problems that heal within a week or so. If you accidentally poke your tongue with a tortilla chip or bite down on it when you’re chewing, you’ll probably cause a swollen tongue and irritation. It happens.

When there are sore bumps on your tongue that last longer than 10-14 days—especially if they are only present on one side of your tongue and not both—it’s important to see your dentist for an exam.

11 Causes For Irregular Bumps On Tongue

Understanding which mouth bumps are normal and which ones are not can help you identify illness, infection, or disease more easily. Whenever you’re looking at sores or inflamed bumps on your tongue, think of your mouth as a mirror image on one side and the other. If it’s normal and supposed to be there, it will likely look almost identical on the opposite side of your mouth. But if you have sores or bumps on your tongue on only one side, it’s more likely to be something that isn’t supposed to be there.

When you’re narrowing down the different types of tongue bumps to self-diagnose what’s going on inside your own mouth, watch for the following types:

1. Oral Thrush

Oral thrush is a type of yeast infection almost always causes a white patches of residue or bumps on the tongue. It can be caused by a lack of home care, wearing dentures, taking certain medications, or being immunocompromised.

Treatment: Oral thrush is treated with antifungal medications and will need to be prescribed by your dentist. Also, be sure to change out your toothbrush or any other hygiene aids. And always clean removable prosthetics as directed.[2]

2. Canker Sores

Fever blisters, aphthous ulcers, and canker sores all tend to cause intense oral pain whenever they pop up. And although most people get them on their lips, cheeks, or even their gums, they can also form under or on your tongue. Canker sores generally go away on their own and are often caused by stress.

Treatment: People who are prone to canker sores or canker sore flare-ups can see their dentist for laser ulcer treatment or get a prescription for miracle mouthwash. Otherwise, try to avoid triggers like spicy foods.[3]

3. Mouth Injury

It’s totally normal to see mouth sores and tongue bumps from silly things like biting down on a tortilla chip the wrong way, jabbing yourself with your toothbrush, or even if you accidentally bite your tongue when you’re rushing through a meal. When you do, that traumatized area will usually swell up.

Treatment: Time, time, and more time. And warm salt water rinses. Tongue injuries normally these areas will heal totally on their own. If they start to look infected or the damage is serious enough that you feel like it needs stitches, go see a dentist ASAP.

4. Leukoplakia

Leukoplakia is a patchy white buildup inside of the mouth. It can form on the tongue, inside the cheeks, and in other areas. Sometimes it’s linked with oral cancer or someone being immunocompromised, but not always.[4]

Treatment: Your dentist will probably need to run a biopsy to determine the exact cause—and thus the best treatment—if you have leukoplakia anywhere inside your mouth. Be sure to provide them with a list of any medications that you’re taking.

5. Lie Bumps

Have you ever noticed just one or a few tiny little red or white bumps pop up on your tongue? Some people call them lie bumps, and there used to be an old wive’s tale that you got them when you told a lie. In reality, they’re just temporary little areas that flare up when you irritate your mouth or eat something acidic. They can also be triggered by smoking or stress.[5]

Treatment: Stop lying, of course! Ok, just kidding. These sores are temporary. But if they don’t get better with a modified diet or a warm salt water rinse, go ahead and see your dentist to get something called in for them. In the meantime, keep your mouth moisturized and drink plenty of water.

6. Syphilis

Syphilis is a type of bacterial infection that's is usually spread through sexual activities, and although it’s usually located on the genitals, you can, for obvious reasons, also develop it inside of your mouth. There’s a 3-90 day incubation period, so it might not cause bumps or syphilis sores in your mouth for weeks or months after exposure.[6]

Treatment: Antibiotic treatment is available. Syphilis doesn’t go away on its own, and there are no at-home treatments. The thing you want to do is see a healthcare provider ASAP, especially since it can affect your internal organs in the years ahead.

7. Allergies

Food allergies and seasonal allergies can both cause tongue bumps/papillae to swell, especially if you’ve already had your other tonsils removed. Since your tongue is highly vascular, it gets irritated easily as part of allergic reactions.

Treatment: Severe food allergies require the use of an epi-pen and an emergency room visit. In comparison, rhinitis or seasonal allergies are typically managed with over-the-counter medications. If you’re a mouth breather, this can cause further irritation to your tongue, so try to seek out treatment that will help clear your nasal passages so that you can breathe through your nose instead.

8. Tongue Cancer

Tongue cancer can happen to anyone, and it’s caused by everything from tobacco and alcohol use to viruses like HPV (yes, the same virus that can cause cervical cancer.) Most people with tongue cancer develop it on the sides or bottom (ventral surface) of the tongue rather than the top (dorsal surface) of it.[7]

Treatment: The best treatment for tongue cancer is early diagnosis. The quicker it’s diagnosed, the less invasive the treatment is. Your oral surgeon and oncologist may recommend surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy, depending on the type and extent of cancerous growth.

9. Tuberculosis

Even though most people associate TB with the lungs, it can also exhibit itself with oral symptoms, particularly on the tongue. It’s only seen in about 0.1-5% of TB infections, and it can cause ulcers as well as nodules to grow in your mouth or on your tongue. Even your uvula (that little hangy-down-thing at the back of your throat) can become inflamed.

Treatment: Treating oral tuberculosis is the exact same as treating regular TB. In most cases, it involves a cocktail of several different drugs. However, if your mouth hurts, your dentist may recommend warm salt water rinses or a miracle mouthwash for analgesic purposes.

10. Irritation

Are you wearing an orthodontic appliance, partial denture, or something else in your mouth that’s physically irritating your tongue? Is there a sharp filling or chipped tooth somewhere? If you haven’t noticed, you’re probably rubbing your tongue on it constantly, causing further insult to injury.

Treatment: Talk to your dentist, orthodontist, or prosthodontist about getting any appliances or dental work smoothed out so that it doesn’t keep irritating your tongue. Irritation can also come from the foods you eat, so watch your diet and food selection!

11. COVID-19

Over the past couple of years, we’ve gathered data from COVID patients showing a higher incidence of things like mouth sores, geographic tongue, and possibly even fissured tongue when they’re infected with the virus. COVID mouth sores or tongue sores don’t appear in everyone, but it was frequent enough that doctors started to notice.

Treatment: Considering COVID affects the tongue by altering taste and affecting the nerves of your face, it simply must run its course. Depending on the latest treatment options, your doctor may prescribe medicine or not. Rinsing with warm salt water as needed can help alleviate discomfort related to tongue bumps due to the viral infection.

Can Allergies Cause Bumps On The Back Of The Tongue?

You know how your “regular” tonsils in the back of your throat get all swollen and red whenever your allergies flare up? The lingual tonsils on the back of your tongue can get irritated too. People who have had their other tonsils removed sometimes see their tongue-surface tonsils swell up more frequently as an after-effect. When they do, you’ll be able to see and feel the bumps on your tongue more easily.

If you have known food allergies, be on the lookout. Your tongue is highly likely to swell if you eat something that you’re allergic to. It might also tingle or feel itchy.

Preventing Bumps on Back of Tongue

Some people get bumps on their tongue every time they eat something spicy or acidic, like tomatoes or tomato-based sauces. Salty foods like tortilla chips can do it too. Once you’re able to figure out what your triggers are, it’s best to either avoid acidic and spicy foods or cut back on them so that your tongue doesn’t stay irritated.

Rinsing with warm salt water and staying hydrated will help minimize swollen papillae and inflamed tongue bumps. And if you’re prone to frequently getting sores in your mouth, like recurring ulcers, ask your dentist about getting some “miracle mouthwash” to have on hand.

When I comes to oral health, it's always a good idea to practice good oral hygiene!

Talk With Doctor Or Dentist

Any time there is an irregular bump on your tongue—and it looks like swollen papillae or something like that—but it lasts longer than 14 days, you automatically need to go and see your dentist. Especially if it’s only on one side of your tongue and not the other. Dentists are best for examining mouth sores, as they’re experts when it comes to the oral cavity. They can easily tell you whether it’s completely normal. Or, if they have some suspicions about what it might be, they can order a biopsy or send you straight to an oral surgeon for further diagnosis. If it’s so far back on your tongue that you can’t see it, calling your physician or an oral surgeon may be the best approach.

Is It Normal For Bumps On The Back of Your Tongue

Most tongue bumps are normal. Our tongues are covered in hundreds of papillae, with four main types. And on occasion, they get irritated or swell up. But when there are asymmetrical bumps on our tongue or sore areas that stay irritated for more than 10-14 days, it’s important to see your dentist for an oral exam. While most serious types of oral disease aren’t on the surface of your tongue where these mouth bumps are, it’s still important to rule out anything too major. Otherwise, irritated taste buds typically improve within a few days. Be sure to avoid triggers like acidic foods, which might make some people more prone to flare-ups.

Whitney is a registered dental hygienist who is also known as the "Teeth Talk Girl" on social media. Whitney’s journey of spreading dental health awareness began on the YouTube platform — where she continues to create educational videos for the public. She is extremely passionate about sharing information regarding the importance of dental health. Published on November 28, 2022

Sources

teethtalkgirl content is medically reviewed and fact-checked by a licensed dentist or medical doctor to ensure the information is factual, current, and relevant.

Interv Med Appl Sci. Anatomical and morphological aspects of papillae, epithelium, muscles, and glands of rats’ tongue: Light, scanning, and transmission electron microscopic study. Interv Med Appl Sci. 2017 Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5700697/. November 28, 2022 Mayo Clinic. Oral thrush. Mayo Clinic. 2021 Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/oral-thrush/symptoms-causes/syc-20353533. November 28, 2022 MedlinePlus. Canker sore. MedlinePlus. NaN Available at: https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000998.htm. November 28, 2022 StatPearls. Oral Leukoplakia. StatPearls. 2022 Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK442013/. November 28, 2022 Colgate. What Are Lie Bumps?. Colgate. NaN Available at: https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/mouth-sores-and-infections/what-are-lie-bumps#. November 28, 2022 American Dental Association. Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Your Mouth. American Dental Association. NaN Available at: https://www.mouthhealthy.org/all-topics-a-z/sexually-transmitted-diseases. November 28, 2022 Cedars-Sinai. Tongue Cancer. Cedars-Sinai. NaN Available at: https://www.cedars-sinai.org/health-library/diseases-and-conditions/t/tongue-cancer.html. November 28, 2022

Why do I have red bumps on the back of my tongue that hurt?

Those small red bumps on the tongue are papillae that have become inflamed. This inflammation happens because of injury to the tongue, which can be due to accidentally biting down on it, for example. However, viral infection, malnutrition, and stress can also cause these bumps.

Why do I have inflamed bumps on my tongue?

Spicy foods or high acidic foods, like tomatoes, can cause tongue bumps as well. Not drinking enough water can also cause those nasties to flare up. Another common reason why people develop tongue bumps or mouth sores is because they smoke or chew tobacco. Like sugar, tobacco can cause inflammation.

What infection causes bumps on back of tongue?

Oral herpes For some, bumps on the tongue or gums are common, which can cause lots of soreness and can last for seven to ten days. Oral herpes is a contagious disease.