Many people may not have experienced it. However, a disorder that usually affects us frequently is a pain in the tongue. This refers to any discomfort in one part of the entire language. This pain is a sensation caused by the nervous system, although it can also be due to inflammation or damage of any kind to the tissue in the area.
There are different types of pain in the tongue since it can be stabbing, dull, burning, or feel like needles or pins stuck in this part of the body. It can also happen that discomfort appears when a specific action is performed, for example, chewing or swallowing. If you want to know more about this, in the following FastlyHealarticle, you will find information about pain in the tongue when eating.
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Laceration or contusion on the tongue
This disorder is pervasive since almost everyone has suffered from it at some time. This cause of pain in the tongue when swallowing is due to a laceration or contusion that occurs as a result of a bite.
In these cases, the discomfort in the tongue is mild, and, generally, you do not need any special treatment because they disappear by themselves. However, it is essential to consult a doctor to rule out other possibilities, especially if the alteration persists for too long. Time or symptoms of a probable wound infection are observed.
Pain when swallowing from tongue infection
Infections are a pervasive disorder in any part of the body, so the tongue often suffers from them. When you have an infection on the tongue, it is called glossitis, no matter what it is. It can cause various alterations such as not being able to speak normally, discomfort when moving the jaw, or pain when swallowing even saliva.
Glossitis, like all infections, is caused by bacteria, viruses, and fungi that affect the tongue. Depending on the cause of the disorder, various symptoms may be observed in the affected area; for example, they may appear:
- White blisters.
- Blisters with liquid.
- Fever.
The treatment for this pathology will be according to the type of infectious agent using drugs such as antibiotics or antifungals; it is also possible that topical anesthetics or antimicrobial mouthwashes are prescribed to alleviate the symptoms.
Oral cancer causes discomfort when swallowing.
Suffering from oral cancer can be one of the causes of the most severe pain in the tongue when swallowing. Although it can be found anywhere in the mouth, most cases begin by affecting the flat cells that line the surface of the lips, mouth, and tongue. Although this disorder can develop in anyone, men are more likely to suffer from it, and certain factors increase the risk of it being present, including some habits such as smoking, pathologies such as the Human Papilloma Virus, and also if they have had another type cancer or have a family history of this disease.
- Among the most frequent symptoms of this pathology are:
- The presence of red or white spots inside the mouth.
- A sore in the affected area cannot be healed.
- Bleeding in the oral cavity.
- Ear discomfort
- Lumps on the neck.
- Problems or severe pain when trying to swallow.
Tongue pain from stones in the salivary glands
The medical condition that is characterized by the presence of stones in the salivary glands is known as sialolithiasis, whose abnormal formation can be another cause of pain in the tongue when swallowing. It can cause obstructions or inflammation in this part of the mouth, causing severe discomfort when trying to eat or even wanting to swallow saliva.
The most characteristic symptom of this pathology is the swelling of the glands when eating, which causes a lot of pain, and at the end of the food, it returns to its normal state until the moment of eating food again. Although the stones may disappear without following a specific treatment, it is essential to go to a medical consultation to determine how to eliminate the rocks in the salivary glands more quickly and reduce symptoms such as pain in the tongue when swallowing, in addition to avoiding that any infection occurs in the area.
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 Pain in the tongue when swallowing , we recommend that you enter our category of Teeth and mouth .

I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.