Tongue Lump
Facts about a Tongue Lump
When a tongue lump develops, it is discomforting in many ways, mainly because our tongue is used in many different ways throughout the day. Eating, swallowing and speaking require the tongue’s interaction, and when a lump or bump emerges, it can affect how we carry out these normally automatic actions.
Although the tongue is generally referred to as a muscle, it is actually numerous groups of muscles bundled together in one organ. The tongue has many important tasks, helping to swallow saliva, pushing food around in the mouth to be chewed, providing the ability to speak and form sounds and more. While it is firmly anchored to the lower floor of the mouth, the remainder of the muscle is extremely flexible. It is smooth on the underside, yet rough and bumpy on the top side. The top of the tongue is where we experience flavors; taste buds built into some of these bumps are able to distinguish between sweet, sour, bitter and salty flavors. These are not only there for our enjoyment, but for our protection as well. When we put something into our mouth, signals are immediately sent from the taste buds to the brain; alerting the brain if something is wrong with the item. This is how know immediately if milk is sour or fish is bad.
These bumps on the tongue, which are called papillae, are normal and necessary. From time to time, however, one of these bumps can become inflamed or irritated. When this occurs, the affected papillae might swell and develop into a painful bump on the tongue. Usually, this type of affliction is due to eating foods that are too hot, drinking beverages that are scalding or through inadvertently biting your own tongue during chewing, talking or some other activity. This type of tongue lump, while painful during its duration, will generally last only a few days and then return to its normal state.
Sometimes, a lump may develop on the side or underside of the tongue that is painless. It may not be visible, but can be felt when the tongue goes about its normal activities. This lump could be indicative of tongue cancer, especially in people that smoke, chew tobacco or habitually drink alcohol. These ulcers typically form on the sides, but have been known to appear on the underside of the tongue as well in people who chew tobacco. It is crucial to see a doctor as soon as possible, as only a biopsy of the lump will be able to determine whether it is cancerous. There are conditions in which non-cancerous tumors can appear in the tongue or an infection of the tongue may manifest as a lump. However, it is not wise to take chances as tongue cancers often spread very quickly to lymph nodes in the neck. In fact, in cases where tongue cancer is confirmed, the neck lymph nodes are automatically treated even when no indication of spread has been detected. With such a rapid growth record, early detection and treatment is vital.
It is important for all individuals to pay attention to the health and hygiene of their tongue. Though the majority of people brush and floss their teeth on a regular basis, it surprises many to learn that they should also be brushing their tongue. Doing so sweeps away any bacteria that the tiny crevices between papillae may trap; bacteria that can cause bad breath and the potential for inflamed papillae. For an individual who uses tobacco in any form or that drinks excessively, stopping these harmful activities at once will greatly improve the health of their tongue and lessen the risk for developing cancer. Keeping a mindful and healthy tongue is beneficial for anyone.