Blood Blister on Tongue (Under, Side, Tip, Back): Causes & Treatment

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Do you have red bumps on your tongue that makes it uncomfortable to eat or swallow food?

You could probably be suffering from blood blisters or any other serious medical conditions such as oral cancer or herpes. Blood blisters on the tongue appear on any part (tip, back, sides on or underneath) of the tongue as red tiny or at time huge spots.

What does a blood blister on tongue look like?

A blood blister is simply a skin that is formed when blood vessels are damaged without necessarily breaking the skin. It is a tiny red bump that is filled with blood and can appear anywhere; on the surface of the tongue, under and or the sides.

However, blood blister on the tongue should not be confused with more serious disorders such as dermatitis or mucous membrane pemphigoid.

What causes blood blisters on tongue

The tongue experiences a bump filled with blood instead of a transparent fluid commonly noticed in a blister. Usually the blister on the tongue is a tiny red bump either on the surface of the tongue or any other side of tongue-back, under and or sides. Your tongue should be pink always moist and some texture on it.

A slight change of color and texture indicates your health is at risk. The tongue often shows the general health condition of a person.

This could be the reason why the physicians often ask you to show your tongue while examining your health condition? There are several reasons that cause tiny vessels of the tongue to rupture.

Here are the causes:

1. Angina Bullosa Hemorrhagica (ABH)

According to Indian Journal of Dermatology, angina bullosa hemorrhagic is a condition that is sudden and depicts itself as blood filled blisters over the oral mucosa. It is an acute, benign blood disorder. Generally, the condition appears more commonly on the subepithelial mucosa of the oral cavity and the tongue.

You should not be worried, ABH are not related to any systematic or blood clotting disorder. The condition, though rare, has been found to majorly affect the middle-aged and elderly individuals.

2. Mouth and tongue ulcers

Mouth and tongue ulcers are characterized by sores that often appear either on either side of the cheeks, on the lips, tongue and gums. The ulcers are sometimes caused by biting the cheek or tongue. Usually in the process of chewing hard foods or even at times during brushing teeth we end up developing bumps that are filled with blood.

• The tongue experiences this kind of ulcers that are tiny and red in color owing to the blood filled in them
• They might take long to heal (more than 3 weeks) as in this case of large ulcers which have been found to be severe.
• The worst cases to be reported are usually located near the tonsils and are usually painful.
• Minor ulcers are the most common and in some cases appear as clusters (four to six at ago).

3. Cancer and ulcers on the tongue

Another worrying cause of bumps on the tongue is cancer. Usually affects the mouth and appear as ulcers. Most of the victims report the ulcers due to cancer appear as a single bump that is sore and obviously lasts for a long time. If you are experiencing ulcers that tend to last for a period of more than three weeks, then it s advisable you visit your dentist.

See also:

• Blood-filled blisters inside cheeks
• Blisters on fingers
• How to get rid of blood blisters on toes fast

The tongue is usually affected in places like on or under. However, other places in mouth or tongue are equally prone. The risk of contacting ulcers of the tongue is heavily linked to smoking and drinking.

There is a misconception that kissing or sharing drinks or utensil can cause ulcers. Ulcers in the mouth and tongue cannot be transferred in any of this form. This simply indicates that the ulcers are not contagious but you should not take anything for granted.

How to treat mouth ulcers

Ulcers that last for more than 3 weeks should always be treated as an emergency. A dental doctor should be able to advice you on the treatment after examining the cause. Usually a series of tests is carried out to detect the actual cause before diagnosis. In some cases, if the cause is brought by a sharp tooth, it will be smoothened or adjusted.

Other ways of preventing oral ulcers include:

• Oral hygiene

Keeping your mouth clean always should be a routine to keep off the ulcers. You might be forced to use mouth washes or at times tablets to kill bacteria and fungi that cause oral inflammation.

Oral hygiene entails using high quality toothbrushes that reduce the risks of moth and tongue damage.

• Eating the right foods – good diet

Food has a direct influence on your health. Eating diet that is rich in vitamins A, C and E and combining with fresh fruits and vegetables helps reduce the risk of mouth cancer.

• Regular dental checkup

Always make a date with your dentist for regular mouth checkup. This makes it easier to handle mild or severe case of ulcers.

4. Teething in babies

Could teething be another cause of blood blister on the tongue? Teething is more common in infants. It generally occurs when teeth erupt in infants through the gum surface.

The teething process associates the gum and the jaws causing pressure on the gum which in turn forms blood blisters.

5. Nutritional deficiency

The tongue generally is able to tell the health condition of a person. Slight changes in color or texture pose a health risk which should be taken seriously. Otherwise your tongue could be infected by fungi or bacteria. Oral blisters can be linked to inadequate vitamins such as B12 and vitamin C in the diet.

6. Allergic reactions

Allergy has been found to be another cause of blisters on tongue. Do you get blisters on the tongue after eating some foods or when exposed to certain medical conditions? It could be as a result of allergic reactions hence the bumps on the tongue.

7. Steroid inhalers for asthma

The use of inhalers has been linked to be the cause of ulcers in the mouth. According to Health guide info.com- source at the end- see inhaling steroids for asthma results to formation of thrush and ulcers in the mouth which form blisters on the tongue and mouth.

8. Piercing

Tongue piercings can cause bumps that are filled with blood especially after the piercing is done. The bump always surrounds the region and can last for days though this should not worry you.

Healing depends on how serious the blister is. The tongue being vascular, a normal blister should not last for more than three days. If the blister doesn’t heal on its own and or pops, try using salty water to keep it clean.

9. After eating hot foods

Do you often develop blisters in your mouth and tongue after eating?  Tongue blisters also arise from eating either hot or hard foods. Some people are allergic to certain foods such as citrus which in turn leads to the blisters. Other causes of blood blisters under the tongue.

Pregnancy and red spots on tongue

Some women experience sore tongue while pregnant. According to research by MedicineNet.com women while pregnant undergo hormonal changes that manifest itself as soreness on the tongue.

While a hormonal change is attributed to be the major cause of bumps on tongue in pregnant women, other causes such as: injury or trauma of the tongue, eating hot food or beverages, undergoing dental procedures, vitamin deficiency and use of certain medications can cause blood blisters as well.

Symptoms of tongue soreness during pregnancy

The common symptom for pregnant women is the soreness which form blister like lesions that appears within the mouth, the tongue as well as around the lips. Other symptoms associated with pregnancy and tongue blisters include:

• Fever
• Skin rash
• Experiencing difficulties in chewing and swallowing of the food.

Are there remedies for tongue problems during pregnancy?

The treatment of blood blister depends generally on the cause. Some tongue problems, mild cases, no treatment is needed. However, the rare cases which last for long should be of great health concern. If the tongue is influenced as a result of medical condition such as oral cancer, consulting a medical doctor is necessary. Exercising good oral hygiene and eating healthy diet should be able to keep your tongue free from blisters.

When under the tongue

Oral blister are sometimes painful and may refuse to go. The tongue is susceptible to blisters since food gets into the mouth and pass through the tongue, in the process physical injury or blockage of salivary glands could lead to blisters under the tongue or on the tongue. Although the blisters are hardly serious, they can be uncomfortable especially if the blisters occur repeatedly.

On side, tip, back of tongue

The surface of the tongue is the most common area where red bumps are known. However, other parts also vulnerable of blisters on the tongue include: the tip, side, back, end and the frenulum. Red bumps on the aforementioned parts might be caused due to physical trauma like teething or chemical trauma (burns or taking hot foods).

The tip of the tongue is prone to blisters as result of eating hot foods and beverages. On the other hand, if there is a physical trauma such as chewing of food the sides of the tongue might develop blisters.

Usually, eating hard foods might cause physical injury to the tongue by the teeth leading to rapture of blood vessels on the tongue forming blisters. Since the tongue aids in swallowing of chewed food, the back and the end of the tongue are prone to blisters as well. Though rare, underlying diseases such as viral infections (herpes) can be linked to blisters.

In the mouth, cheek and throat

Could there be any medical condition that causes blood blisters to occur in the mouth, on the tongue, on the cheek and the throat?  Most of the blisters that occur in the mouth, cheek or throat should heal fast. Otherwise, if they take longer than three days, there could be a viral infections or thrush which leads to recurrent blisters.

According to Dr. G. Scott Heron, an assistant professor of dermatology at the Stanford University, recurrent blisters could be a serious case which indicates underlying conditions which should get treatment right away. Oral herpes sores appear on the palate which spread as small blisters to the cheek and throat.

Blisters on baby

Soreness in mouth and on the tongue of your infant can be worrying and scary. You probably have a child who has red bumps on the tongue and other areas of the mouth. Most infants during teething exert pressure on the gum and jaws.

This process can cause physical injury to the tongue and mouth hence making your baby to develop blisters.

Causes

The cause of blisters in infants depends on the reason behind the blisters. While some maybe due to trauma others are caused by underlying diseases.

Here are the causes

• Vitamin deficiency. Inadequate or lack of vitamins in the infant can be the cause of blisters on its tongue. Vitamins such as B or folic acid are important and its deficiency cause red bumps on the child’s tongue.
• Hand and foot mouth disease. Kids at tender age are prone to this disease which is linked to blisters on the tongue.
• Injury or burns. Feeding your child with hot foods or sometimes causing injuries during feeding can be the reason why your child is having blisters.
• Allergic reactions. Some of the foods or medications exposed to infants could be the cause of red spots on the tongue.

Treatment for infants

Treatment of blisters on tongue on infants cut across regardless the cause. Just like in the case of adults, the treatment should be simple and not make you worried.

Most blisters on the tongue unless otherwise, should go on their own. In case of a more complicated situation, you should take your child to the doctor for drugs and food recommendation.

Can you pop tongue blisters?

Unless otherwise blood blisters on the tongue are painless and therefore do not have serious risk on your body. Blood blisters do not last for long; they are short lived in normal cases.

However, for the most complicated blisters, visiting a dermatologist should be the sure way to handle blisters. It is recommended not to pop the blisters. This only irritates or aggravates it even more. Using a needle to prick and pop it out might not be safe either.

Recurrent ones that won’t go away

Why do I  have a tongue blood blister that won’t go away or won’t heal? Blood blisters on the tongue appear suddenly after blood vessels are damaged which sometimes refuses to go away. Spontaneous onset of blood in the blister on the tongue often occurs in middle aged and the elderly individuals. Usually this is a case of ABH, forming a lesion which lasts between three to four days.

However, blood blisters that keep on recurring could be a signal of a problem that may require immediate medical attention. The blister that refuses to go could be due to viral infections that come periodically and such should not be taken for granted.

References

• http://rdoc.org.uk/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/46510549/m/42510159
• Mouth ulcers caused by the use of Asthma Inhalers: http://www.healthguideinfo.com/asthma-management/p107759/
• http://www.webmd.boots.com/oral-health/guide/oral-herpes
• http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3519269/
• http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1078960-overview