Balls on the tongue: Causes and treatments

The tongue says a lot about the health of a person, if it is completely healthy it should be pink in color and only show the small nodules or taste buds. The presence of pimples or balls on the tongue can be due to various causes that are convenient to know to visit a specialist if necessary:

1. Food allergies: the first possible cause of small balls on the tongue is a possible food allergy process. Our body is so smart that if we eat a food we are allergic to, our immune system expels it and one of the ways it does this is by creating an adverse reaction in the skin or other tissues such as the tongue. The estimated prevalence of food allergies is 1% to 3% in adults and 4% to 6% in children, according to WHO ^[1] .
2. Consumption of acidic fruits: the intake of acidic fruits, such as pineapples or strawberries, can cause the appearance of grains or balls on the tongue after its erosion.
3. Trauma to the tongue: likewise, an injury, burn or bite on the tongue can condition the appearance of these lesions that can bulge.
4. Fatty foods: many times, the continuous intake of fatty foods brings with it the obstruction of the pores of the tongue causing the appearance of balls or pimples, in turn this generates an area in which bacteria can easily grow and reproduce.
5. Herpes: the presence of the herpes simplex virus in the body can also be a cause of pimples or small balls on the tongue.
6. Fungi: on the other hand, fungi tend to colonize this area due to its constant humidity. This happens frequently with candida albicans, bringing with it the presence of reddish balls or white bumps on the tongue. In the following article, we cover in detail why you get a fungus on the tongue, its symptoms and treatment .
7. Tobacco: the smoking habit can in some cases, depending on the person’s protective system, irritate the tongue generating the presence of these annoying little balls.
8. Poor hygiene: the bad habit of oral hygiene creates the ideal environment for bacterial growth and, in turn, for the presence of these lesions on the tongue.
9. Stomach problems: other times, pimples on the tongue can be due to stomach problems. Generally, these problems can cause heartburn or heartburn, bringing excessive heat into the oral cavity and creating an optimal environment for the growth of bacteria.
10. Vitamin deficiency: the lack of some vitamins such as “B” can cause the appearance of lumps on the tongue.
11. Oral cancer: there are cases in which the balls on the tongue do not disappear after at least two weeks, which could be related to the presence of oral cancer. In the following article, we explain the symptoms, causes, and treatment of oral cancer .

The most common causes of the appearance of these balls on the tongue do not represent a serious health problem, if they can become quite annoying. Some of the associated symptoms can be:

• Canker sores or sores on the tongue increasing pain and discomfort in this area.
• Irritation after contact of the teeth with the tongue.
• Loss of taste in some foods.
• Pain after eating spicy or hot food.
• Pain may appear after brushing the tongue.

No person is exempt from suffering from the presence of these balls on the tongue, however, children may be much more susceptible to having them. To treat the balls on the tongue properly, it is important to:

1. Do not touch them or try to exploit them, it is likely that they contain bacteria that, when they are broken, can spread to other areas of the tongue or oral cavity.
2. Avoid the consumption of carbonated and alcoholic beverages.
3. Eat a healthy and balanced diet avoiding excess fat and trying to include foods that strengthen the immune system.
4. Increase the consumption of foods rich in vitamin B.
5. Increase water consumption.

These tongue lesions usually go away on their own after a few days. If they do not disappear spontaneously, the doctor will evaluate the patient and will indicate the necessary treatment. Probably, the use of oral or topical antibiotics or antifungal medications in the case of oral candidiasis, everything will depend on the cause diagnosed by the specialist.

Other beneficial measures you can use to treat tongue balls are:

• Just before going to sleep, chew on fresh mint leaves.
• Where you have the pimples, apply a paste previously made with hydrogen peroxide and baking soda.
• In case the balls are painful, it is recommended to apply milk of magnesia to calm this discomfort at least 2 times a day.
• To calm the discomfort and avoid an infectious process, gargle with warm salt water at least 3 times a day.

A good oral health is necessary to prevent any condition on the tongue, this includes:

1. Brush your teeth at least 3 times a day.
2. Use dental floss once a day.
3. Visit the dentist every six months.
4. Avoid eating foods rich in sugars.
5. Treat any underlying health problems you have.

If you’ve noticed a lump under your tongue, it’s important to see your doctor to find out what it is. Among the most common causes, we find:

• Calculus of the salivary gland: although it is a little known condition, lumps form inside the salivary gland that cause pain and swelling.
• Salivary gland infections caused by chronic diseases, eating disorders, and dehydration
• Viral infections such as mumps , which is the inflammation of the parotid glands, the largest salivary glands.
• Sjögren’s syndrome : autoimmune disease that directly attacks the salivary glands and may be accompanied by other underlying diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus.

Apart from the diseases of the salivary glands, there are other causes that can be related to the presence of lumps under the tongue such as:

1. Sores under the tongue : ulcerated lesions produced by bites, stress, hormonal changes, etc. They are usually quite painful and uncomfortable when ingesting drinks or food.
2. Oral lichen planus: This is an autoimmune disease characterized by lumps under the tongue. Generally, it is associated with allergic reactions or reactions of the immune system.
3. Oral leukoplakia: it is associated with smoking, excess alcohol consumption and vitamin deficiency. It is characterized by presenting a kind of slightly bulging whitish spots on or under the tongue.

Obviously, there are many factors related to the presence of small balls on the tongue and lumps under it, most of them spontaneously curable or, failing that, easy to treat.

This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.

If you want to read more articles similar to Balls on the tongue: why they come out and treatments , we recommend that you enter our category of Teeth and mouth .