Tongue pain or soreness
A sore or painful tongue is usually caused by something obvious and visible, although there are a few less obvious causes you should be aware of that may need treating.
See your GP or dentist if you have persistent pain and you haven't accidentally bitten or burnt your tongue.
There may be an underlying problem that needs treating, and your GP or dentist may be able to advise you about pain relief.
This page outlines some of the most common causes of tongue pain, as well asa number of less common causes.
It covers:
Oral thrush
Aphthous mouth ulcers
Less common causes
You shouldn't use the information on this page to diagnose yourself with a condition always leave that to a healthcare professional.
Find out about the possible causes of a sore or painful tongue. Common causes include geographic tongue, oral thrush and aphthous mouth ulcers.
Geographic tongue is a condition where irregular smooth, red patches that have a white or light-coloured border occur on the tongue. It's called geographic tongue because the patches have a map-like a
Oral thrush (oral candiasis)is an infection caused by a type of fungus called Candida. It causes white patches (plaques) to develop in the mouth. You may experience a loss of taste or an unpleasant t
Aphthous mouth ulcers are painful round or oval sores that can occur anywhere in the mouth and are common on the underside of the tongue. Mouth ulcers are sometimes caused by damage to the mouth, s
Less commonly, tongue pain may be caused by: a viral infection such asan infection that causes hand, foot and mouth disease or cold sores vitamin deficiencies and anaemia a sore tongue can some