If your mouth sore lasts more than a week, or becomes increasingly larger and more painful, don't hesitate to contact our office. Normally, sore, swollen bumps on your tongue are simply inflamed papillae from a physical injury to your tongue. Don't hesitate to seek it, however, if any mouth sore lasts more than 7 to 10 days, as this could be a sign of something more serious. Generally, medical treatment is not necessary for inflamed taste buds. In addition, high risk behaviors such as smoking, as well as high stress levels, can contribute to enlarged papillae. How Can I Prevent or Treat Swollen Taste Buds?You can reduce injuries to your tongue by eating slowly and wearing a mouth guard when playing sports. However, some medical conditions can contribute to swollen papillae, such as fungal or bacterial infections, allergic reactions, autoimmune disorders, and herpes simplex. An inflamed taste bud is usually just a temporary discomfort due to biting your tongue, a virus passing through your body, or simply the normal exfoliation of papillae cells. Don't be alarmed, however.Īn inflamed taste bud is usually just a temporary discomfort due to biting your tongue, a virus passing through your body, or simply the normal exfoliation of papillae cells. The nerve receptors in your taste buds are highly sensitive, so the pain can feel like it might be serious. The nerve receptors in your taste buds are highly sensitive, so the pain can feel like it might be serious. Why Do Papillae Swell Up?When you notice an enlarged papillae, it's generally due to your tongue scraping on your teeth, triggering soreness. Sometimes papillae become swollen or inflamed, and this can occur for several reasons. Your taste buds allow you to identify the tastes of sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and meaty or savory (known as umami).
In each of your taste buds are somewhere between 10 and 50 sensory cells connected to nerve fibers that send messages to your brain about the flavors of your food.
There are about 10,000 taste buds that line your tongue and are housed in tiny bumps called papillae.