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Hi, I have a concern about my tongue. The end of it is in

Sent to Health Experts March 05 02:09 PM

Hi, I have a concern about my tongue. The end of it is in sharp pain and feels terribly raw. Little sores are opening on the end of it. At first, I just thought I was raking it across my teeth in my sleep. But it's been about 3 days, and it's getting progressively worse. I do grind my teeth in my sleep, but my tongue has never gotten it this bad before. And, again the pain is only in the tip, and the sores are only on the tip. What could this be? I'm a poor college student, so I figured I'd ask here first.Optional Information: Male , Age: 22Already Tried: Hydrogen peroxide mouthwash once today.

Edited by Customer (name blocked for privacy) on March 5 2006 at 2:18 PM

Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Answer
March 5 2:23 PM (14 minutes and 4 seconds later)
         
REPLIEDCheck Mark
I would avoid spicy and acidic foods as they could irritate the area further. (soda, orange juice, etc.) You can go to the pharmacy and buy some Ambesol or OraGel to place on the area to numb it. Ask the pharmacist at the drug store to assist you with the purchase.   Rinse your mouth with war, salt water two or three times a day especially after meals to keep the area free of food debris. You may want to begin to take a multi-vitamin daily if your diet is not balanced.

This may be a canker sores caused by the fact that you do grind your teeth. If you do not notice this resolving over the course of the next three days, I would see your physician to make an exact diagnosis.


Reply
March 5 2:28 PM (5 minutes and 20 seconds later)
         
Reply to Deborah's Post: Wouldn't the peroxide be just as good as warm water? I've been doing the quite stedily, since it started. If I numb it, won't it just kinda go limp and cause me to chew it more and just aggravate it, if it's something else? Also, last wednesday, I added cokes back to my diet after an 8 month lay off. Would that be a huge factor?

Edited by Customer (name blocked for privacy) on March 5 2006 at 2:38 PM
Answer
March 5 2:40 PM (11 minutes and 28 seconds later)
         
REPLIEDCheck Mark
You could also use the peroxide, but make sure to dilute it. I would not drink any soda as the acid can irritate it. The numbing gels will not have an impact on your whole tongue. They will help reduce the pain in the general area and these gels also help heal.




Reply
March 5 2:46 PM (6 minutes and 34 seconds later)
         
Reply to Deborah's Post: Ok, I'll try it, but is there anything else it could possibly be? Some kind of disease of bacteria? If it persists, I want to be a little knowledgable about possiblitlies.
Answer
March 5 3:00 PM (13 minutes and 55 seconds later)
         
REPLIEDCheck Mark
Honestly, oral cancer is a possibility, but of course that can only be determined by an oral surgeon via biopsy.

Do you have a white coating throughout your mouth? There is a condition called "Thrush"

The mouth normally contains many microorganisms. One of these normal microorganisms is the fungus Candida albicans, which is the same fungus associated with yeast infections or other Candida infections. The growth of Candida is normally kept under control by the presence of normal bacteria.

Uncontrolled overgrowth of Candida in the mouth may be caused by factors that reduce the natural resistance, such as illness, stress, long-term use of corticosteroids or medications that suppress the immune system, and immune disorders such as (AIDS).

It may also be caused by conditions that upset the balance of normal microorganisms in the mouth. This is most commonly associated with use of antibiotics, but it may also occur with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus and with the hormonal changes associated with pregnancy or the use of birth control pills.

Oral thrush is most common in infants and toddlers, in the elderly, and in people who are debilitated or whose immune system has been suppressed by disease or medical treatments.

Thrush in infants is common and is usually not associated with other diseases. Infant thrush that resists treatment or recurs frequently should raise suspicions for an underlying disorder.

In adolescents, young adults, and middle age adults, an oral Candida infection should always be viewed as a possible symptom of an underlying medical problem, such as diabetes or HIV infection, and should be evaluated.

Symptoms:

    * Ulcer/skin lesion in the mouth (usually on the tongue or inner cheeks)
          o Painful
          o Slightly raised area
          o Creamy white appearance
          o May appear curd-like ("cottage cheese" appearance)
    * Dry mouth


My best advice is to seek a consult with a dentist or physician should this not heal over the course of the next three to five days.




Reply
March 5 3:12 PM (11 minutes and 11 seconds later)
         
No white coating throughout my mouth. It's on the back to mid part of my togue, but Ive had that for years, and get a dentist checkup every six months, and they all say it's fine, as do the doctors when I get a regular checkup.
Reply
March 5 3:14 PM (2 minutes and 55 seconds later)
         
Reply to Deborah's Post: No white coating throughout my mouth. It's on the back to mid part of my togue, but Ive had that for years, and get a dentist checkup every six months, and they all say it's fine, as do the doctors when I get a regular checkup.
Answer
March 5 3:18 PM (3 minutes and 8 seconds later)
         
REPLIEDCheck Mark
Well, then it is not "Thrush"-- it was just something else to think about.

I still think you should rinse it, get some OTC gel to ease the pain. Watch what you eat and drink.

The mouth heals quickly. WIth a little "babying" of the area, healing should begin quickly.

It is hard to diagnosis something like this without seeing it, but I believe from what you have mentioned you may have just irritated it during slip.

If you like yogurt, eat some as this is helpful in getting your digestive system back in sync and is also good for the mucous lining of the mouth.

If it is not better in a week, have it checked for an accurate diagnosis.


Reply
March 5 3:41 PM (23 minutes and 14 seconds later)
         
I went to the drugstore here, and they gave me kanka, is that good enough?
Reply
March 5 3:41 PM (34 seconds later)
         
Reply to Deborah's Post: I went to the drugstore and they gave me kanka, is that just as good?
Answer
March 5 3:44 PM (2 minutes and 59 seconds later)
         
REPLIEDCheck Mark
Did you try it yet? That should help relieve the symptoms. It is the same as the others I mentioned.


Reply
March 5 4:03 PM (18 minutes and 45 seconds later)
         
Reply to Deborah's Post: yes, the tongue still hurts some, but it's not as sensitive
Answer
March 5 4:07 PM (4 minutes and 2 seconds later)
         
ACCEPTEDCheck Mark
Good-- also, the most imporant thing (and hardest to accomplish) is to try not to irritate this area on your tongue by touching it with your hands or by constantly rubbing your tongue against your teeth or on the roof of your mouth.

As far as bacteria that could be causing this-- the only true way to determine that would be by having the doctor take a swab of the area and having it cultured and also examuined microscopically.

Most likely this is a bad irritation that will heal on it's own accord if you "baby it".


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