Causes of White Sores on Tongue
Little white bumps on tongue can be attributed to different factors. The discoloration of tongue or changes in tongue color, regardless of what color it is, is usually a symptom of a health condition or an illness. Tongue discoloration can also be due to lifestyle practices such as tobacco smoking and eating certain foods that contributes to changes in tongue color. Among other reasons, most of small white bumps in mouth and on tongue can be due to the following causes:
- Geographic tongue. Having geographic tongue could make your tongue area appear white or yellowish with a rough texture.Other areas can be red and smooth and can move around on your tongue for weeks or even years. This condition, however, is painless and not risky and no visit to the doctor is required.
- White sores on tongue can also be due to iron deficiency anemia or pernicious anemia. Both conditions make tongue turn pale and smooth and with whitish tinge. Pernicious anemia is usually caused by vitamin B12 deficiency.
- Serious medical conditions such as second stage of syphilis, oral thrush, leuplakia, and lichen can also cause tiny white sores on tongue.The usual symptoms of these conditions are white patches inside the cheeks and the linings of the mouth accompanied with dehydration and fever.
- Other white sores and bumps can also be due to oral herpes simplex, allergic reactions to food and certain materials, tuberculosis, early stage of syphilis, bacterial infections, and other immune-system-related disorders.
White sores on tongue especially on one side alone could be a sign of alarming health conditions such as oral cancer. If the small white sores on your tongue are painless and go with lumps and redness in other areas, you should consult your doctor immediately for proper diagnosis and treatment.