Tongue Troubles: When to See a Doctor



Tongue troubles can be an indication of a serious health issue, so it’s important to be aware of the signs that you should see a doctor. While some tongue issues are minor and can be treated at home, others may require medical attention.

If you experience any of the following symptoms, you should make an appointment with your doctor:

1. Persistent pain or discomfort in your tongue. This could indicate an underlying infection or injury that requires medical attention.

2. Changes in color or texture on your tongue that don’t go away after a few days. This could be an indication of oral thrush or another infection and should be checked out by a doctor as soon as possible.

3. Sores on your tongue that don’t heal after two weeks or become more painful over time. These sores could be caused by various infections and need to be examined by a professional for proper diagnosis and treatment options.

4. Swelling in the back of your throat accompanied by difficulty breathing or swallowing, fever, chills, fatigue, sore throat, headache and/or earache . This is likely due to tonsillitis and requires immediate medical attention as it can quickly become very serious if not treated properly .

5 . White patches on the surface of your tongue that don’t go away after brushing them off with your toothbrush . These patches may indicate oral thrush , which is caused by yeast overgrowth in the mouth , and needs to be treated with antifungal medication prescribed by a doctor .

6 . A lump inside your mouth near the base of your tongue that doesn't go away after several days . This lump should also be examined by a doctor as it could indicate cancerous growths such as squamous cell carcinoma or lymphoma , both requiring immediate treatment options from professionals .

If you experience any of these symptoms related to tongue troubles , it is important to seek medical attention right away so that any underlying issues can get addressed before they become more serious health concerns down the road .

Tags:

persistent pain, discomfort, changes in color/texture, sores, swelling in throat, difficulty breathing/swallowing, fever/chills/fatigue/sore throat/headache/earache, white patches on tongue, lump near base of tongue,

Topics