Sore throat at the base of the tongue, especially on the sides

If you have pain under your tongue, you should not wait; it is better to immediately seek help from a specialist - a dentist or otolaryngologist. We can talk about damage to muscles, nerves, surrounding soft tissues and the accompanying inflammatory process. This may also be a signal of various diseases of the internal organs, the diagnosis of which needs to be seriously addressed.

To begin with, it is important to understand what the floor of the oral cavity is - it is a combination of the following anatomical structures:

• Extensive salivary gland;
• Vessels;
• Nerves;
• Muscles;
• Hyoid bone;
• The connecting fold is the frenulum.

All these components must function correctly together, and if one of the zones is not doing well, difficulties arise with the others.

Possible causes of pain

Pain under the tongue can appear for many reasons - from mild ailments to pathological conditions. Particular concern should be caused by a clear localization - on the right or on the left; in this case, purulent processes, inflammation of the lymph nodes, and salivary gland cannot be ruled out. Let's consider all possible sources of this symptom.

Often there are pathologies associated with the shortened length of this important fold. As a result, there is an increased risk of tissue injury, and inflammation often occurs - stomatitis. When an infection occurs in the oral cavity, ulcers and small wounds appear.

Such damage often results from the ingress of foreign objects, mistakes during personal hygiene, and allergic reactions. In particular, it is important to use safe, alcohol-free mouth rinses and avoid damaging your mouth during daily brushing.

Abscess

The inflammatory process, accompanied by the accumulation of pus, begins due to various damage to the mucous membrane, skin, sore throat, boils and much more. Symptoms are often accompanied by problems with sleep, loss of appetite, increased body temperature, and deterioration in the general condition of the body.

Dental diseases

A neglected situation with molars in the oral cavity, untreated lesions often become a factor in the occurrence of the inflammatory process. Ordinary caries can cause discomfort under the tongue and spread. An immediate visit to the dentist will solve this issue, protecting you from more serious consequences.

As a result of the active proliferation of harmful microorganisms on the mucous membrane, an inflammatory reaction occurs, gradually moving to the area under the tongue. With an acute form of sore throat, it becomes really difficult to chew and swallow food, and being asked to stick out your tongue can cause serious difficulties.

Neuralgia

Often, due to various kinds of psychological shocks, such a disease occurs. Its type of glossalgia is associated with dysfunction of the endocrine system and neurogenic ailments. In addition to the fact that the tongue may hurt, signs of the disease are as follows:

1. Numbness of varying degrees;
2. Burning;
3. Lip pain;
4. Tingling;
5. Difficulties during long conversations, fatigue.

The difficulty of diagnosis is that these symptoms can signal a large number of other ailments. Therefore, treatment of pain in the tongue begins with a detailed study of them; for this, you must contact a specialist immediately.

This gland is responsible for the full production of saliva; if an infection enters its area through the ducts, a painful reaction occurs. This can be caused by various factors - decreased immunity, surgery, mumps. Due to poor hygiene, the problem develops very actively; delay threatens the development of a purulent form.

Diseases of internal organs

It has long been known that certain zones on the surface of the tongue reflect the state of certain human organs. Accordingly, by paying attention to its appearance, you can monitor your health. If pain appears under the tongue, pay attention to specific areas. For example:

• The tip is conditionally responsible for the heart muscle;
• If on the left, there is a possibility of developing problems with the kidneys, liver, lungs;
• If you experience discomfort closer to the root, you should think about the state of the gastrointestinal tract;
• Even a disease such as anemia often affects a person’s appearance and subjective feelings.

Violation of the symmetry of the hyoid bone

It is primarily responsible for articulation, chewing and swallowing movements, and pain can occur with various congenital anomalies and injuries. The acute form is observed with a bone fracture, which is possible as a result of an accident, muscle compression or injury. The problem must be solved immediately by calling an ambulance, otherwise the painful shock can have an irreparable effect on the health of the victim.

Lack of vitamins

With a lack of certain nutrients and vitamins, mild and more severe tingling, tingling, and pain occur. With this question, you need to contact your local physician, undergo the appropriate tests and undergo a course of treatment or prevention.

Oncology

Symptoms do not appear until a certain time, for example, in the first stage no discomfort is felt. If they appear, they are not localized in a particular area, but are present in all languages. After excluding possible causes of the disease at the dentist, the first thing that is recommended is to take a blood test.

Preventive measures for tongue pain

As you know, any disease is easier to prevent than to treat. Following simple rules will help you avoid such an unpleasant symptom as pain on the side of the tongue.

Statistics show that 80% of pain is caused by chronic tongue injuries and infectious processes in the oral cavity. In order to avoid this, it is necessary to carefully monitor the condition of your teeth and regularly visit the dentist, and in the case of wearing removable dental appliances, a prosthetist. Don't neglect such an important procedure as brushing your teeth. This should be done in the morning and evening, paying special attention to the distant teeth, since this is where the most infection accumulates. During the day, you can use special rinses or chewing gum to clean your mouth.

In the presence of chronic diseases of the nasopharynx (pharyngitis, tonsillitis, laryngitis), there is always a source of infection in the body. To reduce its activity, doctors recommend regularly gargling with a solution of sea salt or furatsilin, and taking immunomodulatory drugs in the autumn-winter period.

Quite often, tongue pain occurs due to the presence of microcracks in the mucous membrane. This reaction is observed in the body when dehydrated. Therefore, you should control the amount of fluid entering the body. The norm for an adult is 1.5-2 liters of water per day, and even more when staying in a room with dry air.

If you experience pain of unknown ethnology, you can try to help yourself by rinsing your mouth with chamomile, sage, oak bark, or applying a piece of propolis or aloe to the inflamed area. However, if unpleasant symptoms do not go away within 2-3 days, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Localization of pain syndrome

Depending on the location of the source of pain, we can draw conclusions about possible causes. They must be clearly identified by a specialist, but there is a clear relationship between location and disease. Let's consider the negative manifestation not only under the tongue, but also in its other areas.

Under the tongue

The sources of pain in the sublingual area are described above, to summarize - these are allergies, problems in the gastrointestinal tract, abscess, glossalgia, vitamin deficiency, phlegmon. Assess which of the signs already exist and immediately contact a specialist - a therapist, dentist, otolaryngologist.

At the end

Please note several sources of problems in this location:

1. A common cause of pain in this area is mechanical damage (biting), damage from hot food and drinks;
2. With stomatitis, for example, small ulcers appear and sensitivity increases;
3. With infectious glossitis, an inflammatory process develops, the risk of infection increases and the situation further worsens, urgent therapy is required;
4. With glossalgia, the pain has a burning character, then it spreads to other organs - gums, cheeks, lips.

On the sides

Some of the common causes of pain in the lateral areas are neuralgia, systematic smoking, and injury from a poorly adjusted prosthesis.

If we talk about the most common cause of pain in the sublingual area, it is damage to the frenulum. It often occurs in children, which means treatment should be as gentle as possible. It is recommended to use drugs primarily with natural ingredients, such as:

• Iodinol. Inflamed areas are simply wiped with the prepared solution several times a day in accordance with the rules of use;

• Chlorophyllipt. The active ingredient is an alcohol-based eucalyptus extract. The rinse solution is prepared from the drug and water in a ratio of 1:25; it can be used equally successfully by both adults and children;
• Stomatophyte. 1 tablespoon of medicine is dissolved in 50 ml of water, the resulting liquid is ready for use;
• Hexoral. The active substance hexidine perfectly fights the most complex forms of stomatitis; dilution of the drug is not required;
• Romazulan. A safe infusion of chamomile has no age restrictions; a solution is prepared at the rate of 25 ml of medicine per liter of water.

Methods for relieving pain in the tongue area

Almost all inflammatory processes in the oral cavity are based on antiseptic drugs. They are sold in large quantities in pharmacies and everyone can choose the medicine that suits them for one reason or another. Moreover, it is not necessary to use them as a remedy for the disease.

Most drugs are also suitable for preventive treatment. These include: chlorophyllipt, iodinol, stomatidine, stomatophyte, etc.

Chlorophyllipt is sold as an alcoholic tincture of eucalyptus. Suitable for rinsing mixed with water even for small children. Iodinol is a mixture for rinsing and treating damaged areas of the tongue and the entire oral cavity. Stomatidine is a drug intended for the treatment of stomatitis. Chamomile tincture is an antibacterial and antiseptic agent. Sold as a concentrated liquid intended for rinsing the mouth. But before looking for ways to treat and eliminate painful symptoms, you need to determine exactly where the cause of the inflammatory process lies.

Stomatidin is used for rinsing

All of these products come with several rules of application that must be followed. All preparations are intended for rinsing only. You can't swallow them.

And after use, you must refuse food and water for at least 30 minutes. Use only according to the attached instructions. There are also folk recipes for treatment. A solution of water, soda and salt has antiseptic properties and, when used systematically, improves the patient’s well-being.

Parsley juice is used to treat inflammation of the tongue

Parsley and cabbage juice are also often used for rinsing. And to the inflamed area under the tongue, you can apply a tampon with sea buckthorn oil. Its enzymes have healing and antibacterial properties. Self-treatment will not replace prescriptions from specialists, so if you have pain under your tongue, consult a doctor.

Unlike soreness at the tip of the tongue, pain at the base is a rather serious problem. In this case, it is difficult for the patient to speak, eat, and discomfort appears. Dentures can cause pain.

The tongue is a very important organ for humans. It is necessary not only for the nutrition process, since it is equipped with taste buds. Language helps to speak, communicate, and show emotions. This is why it is important to keep it in a healthy state at all times. Tongue diseases are uncommon, but they do exist. And when this happens, a person is not able to receive the pleasures to which he is accustomed. What to do if your tongue hurts?

Emergency home help

Before you determine exactly why you have pain under your tongue, there are some first aid tips. Use the simplest and easiest to prepare recipe - add a little salt and baking soda to water at room temperature, stir the ingredients and rinse your mouth 3-4 times a day.

Cabbage juice is no less often used, diluted with plain water in a 1:1 ratio. Or juice of parsley, beets, carrots - according to the same principles.

If possible, buy special antiseptic solutions at the pharmacy. Or use sea buckthorn oil, lotions are made from it on the inflamed area, their significant positive effect is noted.

To maximize the therapeutic effect of rinsing and your own safety, you must follow some principles:

1. The solution should not be swallowed, especially if the composition contains alcohol or other aggressive components;
2. The optimal schedule of events is in the morning and evening, unless other conditions are specified;
3. After each meal, it is also necessary to clean the oral cavity and disinfect it to avoid the proliferation of harmful microorganisms and further inflammation;
4. After the procedure and until the next snack, at least half an hour should pass, the same goes for drinking.

Why is inflammation of the salivary gland dangerous?

There are three pairs of such glands in the human mouth; they produce a substance that directly affects the further digestive process. Due to untimely therapy, a number of negative health consequences often occur, these are the following complications:

• Meningitis is inflammation of the meninges;
• Pancreatitis is a disease of the pancreas;
• Nephritis is a kidney disease;
• Myocarditis - inflammation of the myocardium;
• Encephalitis is a disease of the brain, nature is pathogenic microorganisms;
• Neuritis is an inflammatory disease of the peripheral nerves.

The greatest risk of getting one of these consequences is for those who have recently suffered from a complex form of influenza, pneumonia and typhus.

What will happen if left untreated?

Inflammation of the salivary glands can be recognized almost immediately - first there is swelling, then pain. This area gradually turns red, becomes more elastic, and swelling develops. Cloudy saliva first begins to emerge from the duct, and in difficult situations, pus.

After this, you should expect an increase in temperature - up to 39 degrees, then all the above processes only become more complicated. If you do not contact specialists, phenomena such as salivary fistulas may also occur.

It is believed that the tongue reflects many diseases that affect our body. This is partly true. If the root of the tongue hurts when swallowing, the problem may be associated with both local lesions and diseases of other organs located nearby. It is worth noting that it is not possible to bite the root, so such a pathology should be taken much more seriously than.

Causes of pain

The tongue is directly involved in speech and digestion. Next to it are the pharynx, larynx, tonsils, and gums. For this reason, when conducting diagnostics, specialists can consider the problem in the context of changes in neighboring organs, especially if the pain is accompanied by characteristic symptoms.

Tonsillitis

When the root of the tongue hurts, the cause of the discomfort is inflammatory processes developing in the tonsils. A common sore throat, which every person has suffered at least once, appears as a result of an attack by streptococci or staphylococci and affects not only the tonsils, but also the root of the tongue and the back wall of the pharynx. Less commonly, its provoking factors are viruses and Candida fungi.

The disease is characterized by accompanying symptoms:

• feeling of dryness and burning in the throat;
• soreness;
• low-grade fever;
• hyperemia and enlargement of the tonsils;
• slight enlargement of lymph nodes.

Inflammation of the lingual tonsil

This disease rarely develops on its own and is usually a symptom of other diseases of the pharynx. Sometimes inflammation is caused by mechanical damage, for example during dental procedures.

The disease develops extremely rarely, but is quite severe and requires hospital treatment. If you suspect inflammation of the lingual tonsil, you should immediately visit a medical facility, since complications of the disease include such serious pathologies as swelling of the larynx and suffocation.

The following symptoms indicate the appearance of an inflammatory process:

• pain at the root of the tongue;
• temperature increase;
• increased pain when trying to stick your tongue out of your mouth;
• speech difficulties;
• enlargement of the tongue, causing the person to be unable to close their mouth.

Diagnosis of the disease

Diagnosis of diseases consists of a visual examination of the oral cavity. As a rule, the doctor is ready to make a diagnosis after such an examination. Sometimes laboratory tests are required. For example, to confirm the presence of an inflammatory process, a general blood test is prescribed (an increased number of leukocytes indicates inflammation). Additionally, a microscopic examination of scrapings and culture for candidiasis may be necessary to establish sensitivity to drugs. Based on the diagnostic results obtained, the doctor prescribes appropriate therapy.

Tongue diseases

Among the reasons why the tongue hurts on the side at the base may be various diseases of the main organ of the oral cavity. Below is a table with the most common diseases and their detailed descriptions.

Sore throat

One of the main reasons why the root of the tongue hurts is inflammation of the throat and larynx. It can appear at any age. To determine the specific affected area and the reason that provoked it, it is worth making an appointment with a doctor. Often a sore throat is accompanied by the following symptoms:

• loss of appetite;
• severe pain when chewing and swallowing foods;
• increased body temperature (up to 37.5-38°C);
• hoarseness of the voice combined with a dry cough.

The listed signs are characteristic of two inflammatory pathologies of the mucous membrane - pharyngitis and laryngitis. To treat such diseases, doctors prescribe inhalations with alkaline solutions and prescribe a course of antibacterial therapy.

Tonsillitis

Not only the throat and larynx can become inflamed, but also the tonsils. This phenomenon is called tonsillitis. Between the oral cavity and the larynx there is a small part of lymphoid tissue, thanks to which the respiratory and digestive systems are protected from pathogens. With inflammatory processes in the tonsils, the patient may experience the following symptoms:

• the appearance of a white coating on the root of the tongue;
• significant increase in temperature;
• pain at the root of the tongue;
• discomfort when swallowing food;
• severe swelling of the tonsils;
• general weakness of the body;
• enlarged lymph nodes.

Most often, the appearance of tonsillitis is provoked by staphylococci or streptococci. When treating such ailments, first of all, the doctor resorts to prescribing broad-spectrum antibacterial agents. Additionally, the patient needs to gargle with medicinal herbs and dissolve tablets that have an anti-inflammatory effect.

Other causes of tongue pain at the base

Pain at the root of the tongue on the right can be caused by mechanical or chemical damage. Among the factors that cause pain at the base of the tongue are:

• performing a low quality dental procedure;
• repeatedly drinking too hot drinks;
• injury from braces;
• abuse of spicy foods;
• deviations from the endocrine system (hormonal imbalance);
• long-term use of medications (in particular antibiotics);
• abuse of tobacco products.

The most dangerous reason why the root of the tongue hurts on one side is oncology. With it, a person experiences symptoms such as severe discomfort while eating food (foreign body sensation), aching pain. Only a specialist can diagnose oncology. For treatment, chemotherapy and radiation therapy are used. The duration and exact treatment regimen is determined according to the stage of the disease.

Dmitry Sidorov

Orthopedic dentist

Important! Very often the tongue hurts on the side at the base of people who work in chemical production. This is due to inhalation of vapors of harmful substances. To avoid this, personal protection systems should be used.

What should the patient do and which specialist should he contact?

What should a patient do and which specialist should he contact if the root of his tongue hurts when swallowing? What reasons can lead to pain under the tongue on the left, or, conversely, on the right? Let's look into this issue.

The causes of algic syndrome under the tongue can be the most unexpected. So, among therapists there is “pain of kisses”: the cause of pain under the tongue and in the tongue itself occurs among lovers of passionate love relationships. But we will leave aside such an exotic look, and will try to reduce the “debriefing” to the two most frequently occurring options: these are neurological situations and pain in the root of the tongue when swallowing, caused by a disease of the ENT organs.

Why does the root of the tongue hurt?

The reasons why the tongue hurts at the root can have different origins. Most often, unpleasant sensations are caused by an inflammatory process occurring in the tissues of the tongue, tonsils, and palatine arches. In turn, inflammation provokes the entry of viruses and bacteria into the body.

Painful sensations can also be observed with allergic reactions, chemical or thermal burns of the tongue mucosa, and mechanical damage. Let's take a closer look.

Soreness in the root of the tongue is most often associated with inflammation of the tonsils.

Neurological causes related to the glossopharyngeal nerve

It is known that every person has twelve pairs of cranial nerves, which play important roles in innervation of the head. These include the eighth pair, or glossopharyngeal nerve. Therefore, pain under the tongue when swallowing may also appear with glossopharyngeal neuralgia.

If damage to this nerve occurs, then the opposite symptoms occur, namely:

• taste is lost in the back two-thirds of the tongue;

• The pharyngeal and gag reflex is significantly reduced, the patient cannot induce vomiting;

• in the area of ​​the base of the tongue, the floor of the mouth, sensitivity is impaired from slight numbness to complete anesthesia;

This form most often occurs without pain, with predominantly numbness, and can occur as a long-term result of the following conditions and diseases:

• fracture of the base of the skull;

• thrombotic complications in the sigmoid sinus system;

• space-occupying formations and tumors in the posterior cranial fossa system;

• aneurysmal dilatations of the vertebral artery, as well as the basilar;

• consequences of meningitis and syringobulbia. Syringobulbia refers to syringomyelia of the medulla oblongata, that is, the bulbar region.

Of course, the entire clinical picture depends on the degree of nerve damage, since painful forms may also occur. But, in the case when the only and main symptom is pain under the tongue when swallowing, pain under the tongue and in the throat, in which neither the dentist nor the ENT doctor can find any pathological changes, then most likely we are talking about .

Glossopharyngeal (glossopharyngeal) neuralgia

This type of neuralgia is a specific disease and occurs infrequently. The nature of pain with this type of lesion is exactly the same painful and paroxysmal as with trigeminal neuralgia. the same sudden and strong appearance occurs. For example, pain under the tongue on the right appears at its base, or occurs in the tonsil area.

Given the area of ​​innervation of the glossopharyngeal nerve, it may be that the sensation begins as a sharp “electric shock” in the area of ​​the soft palate, that is, far from the tongue. Sometimes it immediately appears not on the left or right, but in the center, for example, pain appears under the frenulum of the tongue.

The only "bright spot" is the fact that, although the pain is intense and severe, its duration is short, and patients experience significant intervals when they are fine and there is no hint of a problem.

A characteristic feature of this neuralgia is its spread into the ear, and its paroxysms, as in the case of neuralgia, can be provoked. So, the base of the tongue may begin to hurt when swallowing, when chewing, during coughing attacks or when talking. All actions or movements that are accompanied by the activity of the muscles of the floor of the mouth can trigger the “trigger” mechanism for the development of neuralgia. Naturally, with neuralgia there is no general reaction, so there will be pain under the tongue when swallowing without fever and general malaise.

If there is a clicking sound in the ear when swallowing, and at the same time there is pain under the tongue, this may be a symptom of chronic otitis media, or eustachitis. This may indicate that the pressure in the middle ear cavity and in the oral cavity is not the same, since the outlet of the auditory tube has narrowed due to edema.

And if clicking in the ear and pain under the tongue occurs when chewing, then a reason such as arthritis of the temporomandibular joint may be to blame. He is the one who needs treatment.

Arthritis of the temporomandibular joint

Is such a clinic possible for osteochondrosis?

Many people believe that acute pain under the tongue can occur due to cervical osteochondrosis. It is worth disappointing those adherents of osteochondrosis who are ready to explain any problem by the pathology of the intervertebral discs. Yes, a certain pain impulse may occur with arthrosis and arthrosis-arthritis of the atlanto-occipital joint, or the connection between the head and neck.

Cervical osteochondrosis

If there is a significant defect of the intervertebral discs in the upper cervical spine, then it can be assumed that the pain will radiate to the floor of the oral cavity. But, at the same time, it will not be associated with swallowing, and its reach to the bottom of the oral cavity will, first of all, be associated with the movement of the neck - primarily with its flexion and extension. Sometimes cervical osteochondrosis causes pain under the tongue on the side,

Often it is of a secondary nature, in which the main role is played by chronic spasm of the cervical muscles. In this case, acute and paroxysmal pain, which radiates to the bottom of the oral cavity, passes against the background of aching and constant cervicalgia in the neck.

What to do and how to treat?

The most important thing a patient should think about is “quality of life” during light periods. So, for example, if the pain subsides, but not completely, and, in fact, is constant, then this may be a sign of a volumetric process that is located at the bottom of the oral cavity. Most often, this is a tumor of the pharynx, which is often of malignant origin. Therefore, before starting to treat pain under the tongue, carefully conduct a comprehensive examination, at least perform an MRI of the head with the capture of the lower constrictor muscles of the pharynx, that is, an MRI of the brain with the capture of the upper cervical segments. In this case, the magnetic field strength on the tomograph should not be less than 1.5 Tesla.

How to treat neurogenic pain that occurs under the tongue when swallowing? As for the treatment of glossopharyngeal neuralgia, the principles and approaches to it are the same as in the case of trigeminal neuralgia. The basis of therapy is anticonvulsants, as well as drugs for the treatment of neuropathic pain. But, in some cases, the cause of pain under the tongue on the left or right is compression of the root of this nerve (glossopharyngeal) by a blood vessel. In this case, surgical treatment, the purpose of which is to simply move and fix the blood vessel to a new location, which eliminates the compression, leads to a good effect.

In conclusion, it must be said that patients with such a problem as sublingual or paralingual (paralingual) pain often come to the attention of dentists, and if there is irradiation into the ear, then ENT doctors can deal with them for a long time and ineffectively. At the same time, prescribing anticonvulsants, even as a trial treatment, can lead to an increase in the pain-free period if the patient experiences pain in the tongue on the side when swallowing, on top, or in other places located in the area of ​​innervation of the glossopharyngeal nerve. Therefore, you should not neglect visiting a neurologist, as well as performing an MRI, in order to provide complete clarity to the etiology of the disease, as well as to exclude oncological processes.

The main treatment methods used for soreness on the side of the tongue

The doctor prescribes a treatment regimen for tongue soreness. Methods and methods of therapy entirely depend on what caused the disease.

For example, if pain in the tongue occurs due to constant trauma with a denture or a sharp edge of a tooth, elimination of this dental defect and light supportive therapy will be required, which will promote healing of the wound.

For stomatitis and glossitis, the patient is prescribed a course of drugs that reduce the activity of pathogenic microflora in the oral cavity. At the same time, local antiseptics are used in the form of sprays and mouth rinses. They not only reduce pain, but also help restore the mucous membrane.

In the event that tongue soreness is not an independent disease, but only a symptom of some other disease, it will be possible to get rid of the unpleasant sensations only if the root cause is treated. For diseases of the thyroid gland, the endocrinologist prescribes changes that normalize the level of hormones in the body, and also gives recommendations aimed at maintaining normal blood sugar levels. If pain in the tongue is caused by problems with the gastrointestinal tract, the patient will have to follow a diet for a long time, giving up all rough, stomach-irritating foods and taking medications that suppress the activity of the Helicobacter Pilori bacterium.

Quite often the cause of inflammation of the mucous membranes is an allergy. If an allergen is identified, it must be discarded. If this cannot be done fully, then the patient’s condition can be improved with the help of a course of antihistamines.

Whatever the cause of pain in the tongue, and whatever treatment the doctor prescribes, a prerequisite for successful therapy is diet. During treatment, you must avoid hot, spicy and traumatic foods, such as nuts, seeds and chips.