Pain at the tip of the tongue

Definition

Pain at the tip of the tongue is defined as unpleasant sensations in the front third of the tongue. The character of the pain can vary from a pulsating to a burning sensation. The exact localization of the pain can also be limited to a specific area of the tip of the tongue or even go beyond the tip of the tongue in certain diseases, but have the strongest pain intensity in the anterior third. In principle, it should be noted that pain at the tip of the tongue is often only a symptom of an underlying disease. Thus, they indicate a greater health problem if they cannot be explained by special events exactly by the person affected.

Causes

There are many causes for pain at the tip of the tongue. Thus, physical influences such as too hot drinks or mechanical events such as a bite on your own tongue or a badly fitting prosthesis can cause pain at the tip of the tongue. But also diseases which cause a disturbance of the immune reaction can lead to discomfort at the tongue.

It is therefore not unusual for diabetes mellitus or Sjögren’s syndrome to cause pain in the area of the front tongue. If a vitamin B12 deficiency causes pain in the tongue, this is known in medical terminology as Hunter’s Glossitis. It is characterized by a red varnished tongue of the affected person, which is particularly noticeable at the tip of the tongue due to its intense red color and causes the tongue to burn. It is caused by a decrease in the size and volume of the tongue’s mucous membrane, which in turn is caused by a vitamin B12 deficiency. If the deficiency is recognized as the cause, an artificial supply of vitamin B12 in the form of, for example, depot injections is the treatment of choice and, if treated in time, leads to a complete disappearance of the symptoms.