A sore or white tongue is not usually serious and is often easily treated.
Things you can do if you have a sore or white tongue
Do
use a soft toothbrush to brush your teeth
brush your tongue or use a scraper to help improve a white tongue
use a straw to drink cool drinks
take paracetamol or ibuprofen
Don’t
do not use a toothpaste that contains sodium lauryl sulphate
do not eat hard, spicy, salty, acidic or hot food and drink that may irritate your tongue
do not smoke
do not drink alcohol
A pharmacist can help with sore or white tongue
You can ask a pharmacist about:
- what's causing your sore or white tongue
- if you can buy anything to help with any pain or irritation
- if you should see a dentist or GP
Find a pharmacy
Non-urgent advice: See a GP or dentist if:
- you have tongue pain or itchiness that does not go away or gets worse
- you have white patches on your tongue
Common causes of a sore or white
tongue
Biting or burning your tongue with hot food or drink can cause pain and swelling. This should only last a few days.
A white tongue can be a sign of a health condition, such as lichen planus, leukoplakia, geographic tongue, mouth ulcers or oral thrush.
But do not self-diagnose. See a GP if you're worried.
Lichen planus
Lichen planus can cause white patches on the tongue and
inside the cheek, with sore gums. Read about lichen planus.
Leukoplakia
Leukoplakia can cause white, raised patches on the tongue, inside of the cheeks, or on the gums, that do not come off when you rub them. Read about
leukoplakia.
Geographic tongue
Blotchy, red patches on the tongue that have a
white or light-coloured border may be geographic tongue. Find out more about geographic tongue on the Oral Health Foundation website
Mouth ulcer
Mouth ulcers are round, painful and swollen sores that look like blisters and can appear on the tongue, inside of the cheeks, or on the lips. Read about mouth ulcers.
Oral thrush
An itchy, red mouth with white patches on the tongue could be oral thrush. Read about oral thrush.
Page last reviewed: 02 June 2020
Next review due: 02 June 2023
What helps a sore tongue and throat?
Sore tongue home remedies.
Maintaining good oral hygiene. Keeping the mouth clean could help heal a sore tongue. ... .
Sucking on ice. ... .
Rinsing the mouth with saltwater. ... .
Rinsing the mouth with cool chamomile tea. ... .
Using sage as a herbal remedy. ... .
Applying honey to the sore..
Being mindful of foods and drinks. ... .
Avoiding smoking..
What is your tongue hurting a symptom of?
A common cause of tongue pain or discomfort is glossitis, a condition characterized by swollen tongue and color changes. Bacterial, yeast, and viral infections can cause glossitis. Other causes include a variety of irritants and exposure to very hot foods or drinks, spicy foods, tobacco, and alcohol.
Is sore throat and tongue a symptom of Covid?
Yes, one of the possible symptoms of COVID-19 is a sore throat. Other common symptoms include fever, dry cough, difficulty breathing, fatigue, headache and sudden loss of taste or smell.
Should I be worried if my tongue hurts?
Call your doctor or dentist if you notice any changes in your tongue that concern you. These changes may include anything from a change in color, lumps, and sores to pain that continues for two weeks or longer.