Burning your tongue, eating hot foods, or having allergies or dry mouth can make your taste buds swell up. It can be caused by stress too. Taste buds that are swollen aren’t serious, and they normally get better on their own in a few days. Mouthwashes and rinses with salt water can help ease your symptoms.
What is a Inflamed Taste Buds?
A taste bud that is swollen is one that is red, itchy, or otherwise uncomfortable. Your tongue has a lot of taste buds all over it. You can tell the difference between sweet, salty, sour, and bitter tastes with these tiny organs. But your taste buds can get swollen, just like other parts of your body. When taste buds get swollen, they can hurt and be sensitive, especially when you eat or drink.
Some people only have one large tastebud, while others have several. Most of the time, they’re safe and go away on their own in a few days. Taste buds that are swollen may sometimes be a sign of something else going on, like acid reflux, dry mouth, or allergies.
How Common Are Inflamed Taste Buds?
A lot of people have swollen taste buds. Experts say that more than half of all people in the U.S. get them at some point.
Symptoms And Causes
Some signs of swollen taste buds are spots on your tongue that are:
- Bright red.
- White.
- Fluid-filled.
What Causes Inflamed Taste Buds?
There are several factors that can result in swollen taste buds, including:
- Poor oral hygiene. If you don’t floss and brush your teeth regularly, the plaque and germs on them can make your mouth and taste buds swell.
- Irritation from dental appliances. When your braces, dentures, or other oral appliances rub against your tongue, they can make your taste buds swell and become inflamed.
- Smoking. Tobacco products have chemicals in them that can hurt the soft parts of your mouth, like your taste buds.
- Dry mouth (xerostomia). Dental health problems like cavities, gum disease, and swelling in the mouth can be caused by not making enough saliva.
- Burning your mouth. If you burn your tongue on something, like very hot food, the taste buds on your tongue might get swollen.
- Eating certain foods. Sore and swollen tissues in your mouth can be caused by foods that are very sour or spicy.
- GERD (chronic acid reflux). When you have acid reflux, stomach acid comes back up and into your esophagus. The acid can get all the way to your mouth sometimes. If this happens a lot, it can make your taste buds swell.
- Allergies. When they touch your mouth, some foods, medicines, and chemicals can make you sick.
How Can I Ease My Symptoms?
To ease the pain of your swollen taste buds while you wait for the swelling to go down, try the following:
Rinse Your Mouth With Warm Saltwater Twice A Day.
Put an ice cube between your teeth and press down on it until it melts.
Eat bland, soft, and cool things.
When To See A Doctor
In most people, swollen taste buds go away quickly because the body is always making new taste buds. It’s either going to get better or the damage to their taste buds will go away on its own over time.
The National Institutes of Health, on the other hand, say that about 200,000 Americans get help every year for problems with their taste buds.
If someone has taste buds that are always swollen or thinks their sense of smell is off, they will usually make an appointment to see an otolaryngologist, which is short for “ear, nose, and throat” doctor.
Inflamed Taste Buds: 3 Effective Ways to Get Rid of Them Fast
Rinse your mouth with saltwater two times a day.
A quick and easy way to get rid of sore taste buds is to rinse your mouth with salt water. Put some hot water in a medium-sized glass and mix it with one tablespoon of salt. Now, take a sip, chew it for as long as you can, and then spit it out.
1. Apply an Ice Cube Against Your Tongue
Putting an ice cube against your tongue is one of the oldest and most effective ways to soothe irritated taste buds. All you have to do is pop an ice cube and hold it against your tongue until it melts. Your taste buds will feel better if you do this twice or three times a day.
2. Brush Your Teeth With A Soft Toothbrush
Another common reason for taste buds that are red and swollen is dirt or food stuck on the tongue or in the mouth. For gentle cleaning of your teeth that won’t hurt your gums or swell up your tongue, use antibiotic toothpaste and a soft-bristle toothbrush.
3. Eat Soothing Foods
It can be hard to eat hard or crunchy foods when your taste buds are swollen. In order to help your tongue heal faster, eat cool, creamy foods like yogurt, soups, and pudding.
Will My Inflamed Taste Bud Go Away?
Yes, in a few days your swollen taste bud should go away. Some people may even have pain and swelling for a week or more. But if your signs don’t go away, it could mean that you have another health problem. In these situations, you need to see a doctor or nurse.
When Should I See My Healthcare Provider?
After two weeks, if your taste buds are still swollen, you should make an appointment with your doctor. They can help figure out if the redness was caused by something else.
Also, you should call your doctor if pain or stiffness keeps you from doing the things you normally do.
Why Is Just One Taste Bud Inflamed ?
Most people only have one swollen taste bud. That could be because you bit your tongue or because your tongue is naturally getting rid of dead cells.
Why Do Taste Buds Turn White And Hurt?
A white look could mean that a taste bud is swollen. This can happen for many reasons, such as because of worry, not getting enough vitamins, or eating certain foods.