A swollen tongue can be resulting from several things, from allergic reactions to an injury in your mouth.
Glossitis refers to a swollen tongue due to inflammation.
Edema is another medical term for swelling, but its due to fluid building up in the tissue.
Verywell / Jessica Olah
Swelling of thetonguecan be an annoying, but harmless, problem.
However, it can also be a sign of a serious, even life-threatening, condition.
Sometongue diseases and conditionscan be treated with medications, such as antibiotics for bacterial infections.
Others may require simple at-home remedies, such as practicing good oral hygiene.
Your tongue may also itch or hurt.
The swelling and other symptoms can make it hard to talk and eat.
If yourtaste budsare affected by the swelling, you might have anunusual tastein your mouth.
However, if you have a swollen tongue and trouble breathing, aredrooling, or are unable toswallowdont wait.
Call 911 or go to the emergency room right away.
What Causes Your Tongue to Swell?
There are many reasons that your tongue can swell, including health conditions and reactions to medications.
Injuries and irritants can also lead to a swollen tongue.
Allergic Reactions
Food allergiesand allergic reactions to chemicals are the most common causes of a swollen tongue.
You might only have a mild allergic reaction that gets better on its own.
However, swelling thats triggered by anaphylaxis is seriousyou could even die from it.
Some people are born withallergiesor get them in childhood.
When they develop later in life they are calledadult-onset allergies.
Symptoms of an allergic reactionusually start within minutes or hours of coming into contact with an allergen.
Common food allergies include:
You may also have allergic reactions to nonfood products.
Medication
Angioedemais the medical term for swelling under the skin.
Usually, it refers to swelling because of an allergy.
After food allergies, medication reactions are the most common cause ofangioedemaof the face, lips, or tongue.
The reaction happens when the body releases too much of an immune-system chemical calledbradykininthat opens blood vessels.
For example,mouth soresandtooth erosioncan cause the tissue around the tongue to swell.
It should get better within about five days.
If it doesnt, see your healthcare provider.
Dentures and other types of dental implants can also cause injuries.This can happen if they dont fit well.
If the infection is not treated immediately, the swelling can cause your airway to become completely blocked.
If you havesymptoms of Ludwigs angina, you need treatment right away.
Call 911 or go to the emergency room immediately.
Infection
The mouth is susceptible to many types of infections, includingtongue infections.
Some likesexually transmitted infections (STIs)are passed throughoral sex.
Some people have reported COVID tongue, a discolored and swollen tongue brought on by COVID-19.
It can cause chronic irritation at the back of the throat.
In some people with GERD, the base of the tongue is also affected and may swell.
Some people with Sjogrens have a tongue that looks or feels swollen.
Melkersson-Rosenthal Syndrome
Melkersson-Rosenthal syndromeis a rare disorder of thecentral nervous system.
It mostly affectsthe facial nerveand the muscles of the face.
The most common symptom is facial paralysis.
The heart, brain, kidneys, spleen, and other organs can be affected.
Males are affected at a much higher rate than females.
Infections and other conditions that cause chronic inflammation can increase your risk of developing amyloidosis.
Cancer
Tongue cancer is a rare cause of a tongue.
Othersymptoms of tongue cancerinclude a sore mouth, tongue, or throat.
Tongue swelling thats related to cancer does not go away on its own and may get worse over time.
Theyll also confirm that your airway is not getting blocked.
If they think you might have an autoimmune disease, they may orderblood tests.
The next steps are to get the swelling down and ease any discomfort you have.
To help with symptoms, your provider might also recommend products that relievedry mouth.
For example, prescription medications like Salagen (pilocarpine) and Evoxac (cevimeline) increase saliva production.
There are also OTC rinses and sprays that work as artificial saliva to add moisture to your mouth.
While its less common, tongue cancer can also cause a swollen tongue.
If you have a swollen tongue that isnt very bad, make an appointment to see your provider.
The treatment for a swollen tongue depends on whats causing it.
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