TreatmentTherapy
The treatment of a swollen tongue depends on its triggering factor. If an injury to the tongue is the cause of the swelling, a possible choice of medication depends on the size of the wound. For small wounds, observational waiting and local measures such as drinking pleasantly cool drinks or eating soft food are often sufficient.
However, if the wound is larger, antibiotics must often be prescribed. This is because there are a lot of bacteria in the mouth and they can infect the wound. Therefore, antibiotics are often preventive and optimize the healing process.
If the wound is also painful, painkillers such as ibuprofen can also be given. Brushing the tongue with a local anesthetic is only partially effective because it is quickly washed away by the saliva and only lasts for about one to two hours. However, this can be a good support before eating.
If an allergy is the reason for the swollen tongue, antihistamines or stronger drugs such as cortisone are suitable, depending on the severity of the allergy. In any case, a doctor should be consulted in the event of an allergic reaction in the oral cavity. Here the therapy depends on the severity of the swelling.
Slight swelling can thus be relieved by means of tablets, while severe cases require in-patient monitoring in hospital. In the worst case, short-term ventilation may even be necessary if the swollen mucous membranes threaten to obstruct the airways. Therefore, in the case of an allergy, it is always necessary to assess the general condition of the person affected and, if necessary, to quickly initiate a medical clarification.
In the case of drug intolerance, it is important to discontinue the triggering substance and switch to another preparation. The simplest household remedy against a swollen tongue is to drink pleasantly cool water. Care should be taken to ensure that it is not too cold to prevent cold damage to the tongue.
The water has two effects. On the one hand, it wets the mucous membrane of the tongue and washes off possible pathogens on the surface. Secondly, it cools the overheated swollen tongue.
This relieves the symptoms of the inflammation and the pain automatically subsides. If regular drinking of water is not enough as a supporting measure, you can also drink tea. Here, however, one should bear in mind that acidic teas such as fruit tea would only additionally irritate the mucous membrane of the tongue.
Camomile or sage tea are therefore a good alternative. Sucking ice cream is not recommended for swollen tongues. In this case, the person concerned should decide for himself whether the ice provides relief.
However, milk and fruit ice cream carry the risk of creating a perfect nutrient medium for the pathogens on the tongue. It is therefore advisable to rinse out with water after consumption. If you notice that the consumption of special foods generally leads to a swelling of the tongue, it is advisable to avoid it.
However, if this is only noticed afterwards, it is recommended to clean the tongue with a tongue cleaner. If necessary, you can also use a toothbrush and wash it out well afterwards. Food residues are thus removed from the tongue and can no longer irritate the mucous membrane.
