Glossitis refers to both acute and chronic changes in the entire body of the tongue. Tongue inflammation is not limited to a certain age or gender, but can affect anyone.
What is glossitis?
Glossitis or inflammation of the tongue can affect the surface, mucous membrane and also the muscle of the tongue. The entire tongue is inflamed, and coatings and discoloration are often visible on its surface. The tongue may burn and become greatly enlarged. The swelling and burning are of varying intensity, so that speaking and swallowing may become difficult. Depending on the trigger of the inflammation, itching may also occur. Suspension of the sense of taste is rather rare, but does occur. Such inflammation is of course quite unpleasant, but in most cases the overall health balance is not disturbed.
Causes
There are many causes of glossitis. Most often, however, an injury while eating is causative for this inflammation – you bite your tongue. Piercings also cause such problems. Those who wear dentures that do not fit properly and therefore chafe can also expect glossitis. Heavy smokers are also at risk. But it is not only external influences that can cause the tongue to become inflamed. Food allergies or hypersensitivity to other substances can be visible through the above symptoms. The reason for glossitis can also be a fungal infection. In case of serious weaknesses of the immune system, for example AIDS, the body can react with inflammation of the tongue. This is also true for serious diseases such as tongue cancer. In all diseases that alter the normal flow of saliva, inflammation of the tongue can occur. Last but not least, permanent burning of the tongue may indicate manifest nervous disorders.
Symptoms, complaints and signs
Glossitis may be manifested by a number of symptoms. Pain and swelling of the tongue are typical of the condition. The characteristic burning of the tongue is usually accompanied by [8disturbance of taste]], [8difficulty swallowing]] and itching. A foul-smelling coating often forms on the tongue. Many sufferers also experience increasing itching in the mouth. If glossitis is not treated, further complaints may develop in the further course. As a result of the lack of food intake, there may be a lack of nutrition, which can manifest itself in the form of fatigue and dizziness, among other things. Furthermore, bleeding in the oral cavity may occur. Externally, glossitis is primarily recognizable by the reddened tongue. In individual cases, vesicles and nodules form on the tongue, which are very painful to touch. In children, glossitis can cause other symptoms, such as nausea and vomiting or temporary personality changes. Due to the sometimes very severe pain, there are then, for example, outbursts of rage or apathy. Parents who notice such signs should take the child to the pediatrician immediately. Glossitis is not a serious disease, but early clarification and treatment can reliably prevent major complications.
Diagnosis and course
The diagnosis of glossitis does not usually pose major problems for the physician. If the patient describes the symptoms, it is not difficult to draw conclusions about the disorder at hand. The physician can look at the mouth and tongue to confirm his or her suspicions. However, it becomes significantly more difficult if the tongue inflammation is a symptom of another disease. Then the trigger must be found out with exact examinations. For example, the doctor can take a smear test to find out about possible fungal infections. If the inflamed tongue is the result of an allergy, this can be found out by suitable test procedures (epicutaneous test or prick test). In most cases, this involves checking foods and oral care products.
Complications
Glossitis usually affects both sexes equally. The disease can occur equally in children. It comes thereby strengthened to complaints and symptoms at the course. First and foremost, the patient suffers from a strong burning sensation on the tongue. The tongue may also be swollen.The burning sensation causes disturbances in the absorption of food and fluids, so that it is not uncommon for the patient to become underweight or dehydrated. Glossitis thus reduces the quality of life enormously. It also leads to taste disturbances and discomfort when swallowing. Especially in children, this can become dangerous and lead to swallowing. A coating forms on the tongue, which can lead to unpleasant odors. The daily life of the affected person is enormously restricted by glossitis. Psychological complaints may also occur due to the pain and restrictions. As a rule, glossitis can be treated relatively easily. This is done with the help of antibiotics or mouth rinses and quickly leads to a positive course of the disease. No further complications occur. In case of allergy or intolerance, the corresponding substance must be avoided.
When should you go to the doctor?
If swelling of the tongue or mucous membranes in the mouth occurs, a doctor should be consulted. An unusual taste in the mouth or changes in taste perception should be presented to a doctor. A furry or very slippery feeling on the tongue also requires a doctor’s visit. If the individual suffers from pain in the mouth, this is considered unusual and should be investigated. Medical treatment is also necessary as soon as there are impairments in the formation of sounds. Restricted or unclear speech formation should be medically clarified. If the child refuses to eat or drink because of the symptoms, a doctor should be consulted. If the symptoms cause weight loss or a feeling of dryness inside the body, urgent action is required. There is a risk of an acute health-threatening condition in which medical attention is needed as soon as possible. In case of difficulty in swallowing, problems with an existing denture, a feeling of tightness in the mouth or itching, a doctor should be consulted. Bad breath, a coating on the tongue or discoloration of the tongue should be examined and treated. If a burning sensation is felt inside the mouth, it is necessary to consult a physician.
Treatment and therapy
Treatment of simple glossitis does not turn out to be particularly difficult. Special therapy is not necessary in most cases. With rinses of the mouth and throat, the inflammation heals quickly. Suitable here are rinses with sage or salt water. In the chronic form of glossitis, the cause plays the decisive role. If an infestation with fungi was the cause of the inflammation of the tongue, the doctor can prescribe an antimycotic, i.e. a remedy against the fungal infection. If bacteria are responsible for the disease, an antibiotic may help. If there is an allergic reaction, the triggering substance must be avoided. The healing process can also be supported with herbal remedies. Marshmallow leaves or marshmallow roots, witch hazel or ribwort plantain in the form of a tea or gargle solution can alleviate the discomfort and contribute to healing. The chances of healing glossitis are generally very good. If the causes of the problems with the tongue can be found out, the inflammation can heal within a few days.
Outlook and prognosis
The chance of recovery when glossitis is diagnosed is extremely favorable. In some cases, improvement occurs even without treatment. The duration of the disease is usually a few days. It depends on whether the upper or lower layers are affected. Patients can make a contribution to stop the characteristic burning of the tongue. They should refrain from nicotine during treatment. Spicy foods should also be avoided. Allergy sufferers also refrain from consuming foods that trigger a reaction. If medical professionals only try to relieve the acute burning tongue, relief is not always satisfactory. The correct diagnosis leads to a final cure. What used to cause problems in the past is now regularly done correctly. It must be clarified where the inflammation of the tongue mucosa originates. Oral antibiotics and topical medications provide excellent results in many cases. If the wrong treatment is started, the discomfort is alleviated only for a short time. In the worst case, the inflammation spreads to the teeth and gums. Feverish conditions can then also occur. The taste buds are temporarily disturbed.Swallowing and speech difficulties are possible.
Prevention
Preventive measures could prevent glossitis. For example, wearers of dentures should make sure that the denture fits properly and is well fitted. If the immune system is weakened by an illness, special attention should be paid to oral hygiene. Wearers of tongue piercings must also pay the utmost attention to the hygiene of teeth and mouth. Heavy smokers should implement a reduction in their tobacco consumption. In general, rinses with disinfecting and anti-inflammatory agents are a good choice to give glossitis no chance.
Follow-up
With glossitis, the options for aftercare are very limited. As a rule, the affected person always depends on medical treatment first in this case to relieve the symptoms and limit the disease. As a rule, glossitis does not heal itself. In most cases, the patient is dependent on rinsing the oral cavity with various agents. These can be purchased either in the drugstore or prescribed directly by a doctor. Care must be taken to use them regularly in order to limit glossitis completely. Even after the symptoms have subsided, further treatment is usually necessary to limit glossitis completely. In some cases, however, the symptoms may reoccur, so that renewed treatment is necessary. Proper oral hygiene is also important and should always be observed. In severe cases, glossitis is treated with the help of antibiotics. In this case, care should be taken to ensure that they are taken regularly. Antibiotics should not be taken with alcohol. In children, parents must pay attention to regular and correct intake. As a rule, glossitis does not reduce the life expectancy of the patient.
This is what you can do yourself
Glossitis can usually be treated by the affected person. The inflammation heals quickly if the mouth and throat are treated with a suitable rinse. Rinses with salt water, sage or chamomile are suitable, for example. The chronic form of glossitis can also be self-treated, depending on the cause identified. However, the doctor should always prescribe an antifungal, the effects of which can then be supported by arnica and other preparations from naturopathy and homeopathy. Recovery can also be accelerated by herbal remedies. Among other things, marshmallow leaves or marshmallow roots, as well as ribwort and witch hazel, which can be taken as a gargle solution or tea, have proven effective and usually relieve the symptoms quickly. In case of an allergic reaction, the most important measure is to avoid the triggering substance. If the cause is not known, a complaint diary should be created. This will enable the doctor or the patient himself to identify the trigger and take specific countermeasures. If the complaints have not subsided after two weeks at the latest, another visit to the responsible physician is recommended.
