One of the worst places to have a canker sore in your mouth is on your tongue. Before going into treatments for your tongue canker sore, let’s identify some common causes.

Common Causes of Canker Sores on the Tongue

• Accidental biting or sports injury. Physical trauma to the tongue can lead to canker sore development;
• Eating hard, sharp foods such as tortilla chips. The sharp edges make small invisible cuts in your tongue, which can then trigger the development of an ulcer; and
• Food sensitivity or allergy.

For other less common causes of canker sores on the tongue, click here. A canker sore on the tongue is difficult to treat because of its location and mobility. For example, the tongue is consistently moving from eating, drinking, and talking. Also, because the tongue is continuously coated with saliva, any application of a numbing gel will have a difficult time adhering to the affected area.

As with canker sores in other parts of the mouth, the goal of treatment for a canker sore on your tongue is to reduce pain and speed healing. Follow the tips below, and you will be on your way to getting rid of canker sores on your tongue.

Natural Pain Relief Tips for Canker Sores on Your Tongue

Drink an herbal tea that has multiple benefits: calming, soothing, and healing. For example, a homemade mouth rinse such as a clove and ginger mouthwash has anti-inflammatory and healing properties that can help your canker sore. Below is a list of teas with proven benefits:

• sage
• thyme
• chamomile
• neem
• ginger
• sweet marjoram
• licorice

How to Get Rid of Canker Sores on Your Tongue Quickly

• Generously hydrate your body to lower the acidity on your tongue, which can help it heal faster. Decreasing acidity will also reduce erosion of the lesion and pain;
• Fortify your fluids with protein to speed healing. Amino acids are building blocks for tissue regeneration;
• Consume more alkaline foods. Foods that are alkaline reduces the acidity in your mouth and body;
• Rebalance the pH of your mouth. People who suffer from acidic mouths get more frequent canker sores;
• Supplement with important micronutrients, especially if you are not eating well due to the pain;
• Maintain your oral hygiene routine. Your mouth is at higher risk for a secondary infection, so keeping your mouth and tongue clean is crucial. Continue to brush your teeth and use a non-alcohol mouthwash. An alcohol-based mouthwash can dry your mouth and increases its acidity which interferes with healing;
• Avoid acidic foods and drinks;
• Avoid using toothpaste that contains sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS);
• Chew on a sugar-free gum to stimulate saliva flow since saliva is a natural buffer and contains antioxidant and antimicrobial substances. Chew carefully to avoid accidental biting the ulcer;
• Eat soft, bland foods to give your tongue a break from the physical trauma;
• Drink fluids through a straw; and
• Drinking apple juice can hurt less than drinking water. Rinse your mouth to wash away the sugar since sugar can make your ulcer more acidic.

Final Thoughts

Because it has millions of nerve endings, having a canker sore on your tongue produces excruciating pain. The pain discourages you from eating or drinking, making healing even more difficult. Follow the steps above, and you will be on your way to healing your tongue.

Sandie Tran, Pharm.D.