Red bumps on back of tongue and white coating

What are Tongue Bumps?

We all have bumps on our tongues. Usually the same color as the rest of the tongue, these bumps, known as fungiform papillae, are often unnoticeable, contributing to a rough texture. They contain our taste buds and temperature sensors, making them instrumental in how we consume food.

Table of Contents Show

What are Tongue Bumps?
Causes of Enlarged Papillae
Treatment for Tongue Bumps
Related articles
Things you can do if you have a sore or white tongue
A pharmacist can help with sore or white tongue
Non-urgent advice: See a GP or dentist if:
Common causes of a sore or white tongue
Lichen planus
Leukoplakia
Geographic tongue
Mouth ulcer
Oral thrush
Why do I have white and red bumps on my tongue?
Why is my tongue white and bumpy at the back?
Why does my tongue have red bumps in the back?
What does it mean when you have bumps on the back of your tongue and it hurts to swallow?

Causes of Enlarged Papillae

When your papillae, or taste buds, become inflamed and you’re suddenly seeing raised red bumps on your tongue, or bumps on the back of your tongue, it’s often not a cause for concern. If you’ve recently experienced injury from a bite or irritation from consuming a hot drink or food, your taste buds may swell up to form a bumpy texture along the tongue.

Common causes of enlarged papillae include:

Lie bumps (transient lingual papillitis): Also referred to as TLP, lie bumps are fairly common and go away on their own over time. Characterized as small white or red bumps, lie bumps form when papillae become irritated and swollen. These bumps have been linked to stress, hormones, and particular foods, but what causes them has yet to be concretely identified.
Eruptive lingual papillitis: Most common in children, this form of tongue bumps is contagious and can be accompanied by fever and swollen glands. Often caused by a viral infection, it clears up on its own within two weeks’ time and doesn’t require any treatment.
Canker sores: Occurring anywhere inside the mouth including under the tongue, canker sores (aphthous ulcers) are painful red lesions. Though not contagious, their cause is unknown. Canker sores usually go away in about ten days with no treatment but several over-the-counter pain relievers can help.
Medical conditions: Syphilis, human papillomavirus (HPV), cancer, and scarlet fever can all contribute to raised bumps forming on the tongue. If you may have any of these conditions, see your doctor right away for proper diagnosis.
Glossitis: Often triggered by an allergy, smoking, or other irritant, glossitis leaves your tongue inflamed and smooth, rather than bumpy. See your doctor if your glossitis is chronic and stubborn.
Lymphoepithelial cysts: Usually making an appearance under the tongue, the soft, yellow cysts are benign and can be removed through a surgical procedure.
Traumatic fibroma: A pink growth directly on the tongue, traumatic fibroma is smooth in texture and often a sign of irritation.

Your papillae can become enlarged or inflamed for a number of reasons, most of which are usually harmless. However, if you experience chronic issues and are having difficulty eating, then it may be time to visit your health care professional.

Treatment for Tongue Bumps

No matter what’s causing your taste buds to become enlarged, taking a few simple steps can help

Drink plenty of water
Apply a topical oral gel to alleviate pain
Use an alcohol-free mouthwash
Avoid acidic or spicy foods that may irritate the tongue or gums
Avoid tobacco products

In addition to the above, proper oral care can help keep tongue bumps from getting infected or becoming painful. Be sure to:

Brush your teeth at least two times a day
Floss once a day
Gently clean your tongue, try a tongue scraper or an electric toothbrush with a tongue cleaning mode
Visit your dental professional twice a year

Tongue bumps may leave you worried, embarrassed, or experiencing mild pain. Luckily, they are quite common and are often caused by a minor injury or harmless condition. Good oral hygiene can help curb symptoms, but if your tongue bumps are persistent, painful, and result in difficulty in eating or drinking, then see your doctor right away.

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Tongue Bumps: Enlarged Papillae and Other Problems

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Sore Tongue: Causes and Symptoms

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Discover More

Tongue Bumps: Enlarged Papillae and Other Problems

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

Why do I have white and red bumps on my tongue?

Lie bumps (transient lingual papillitis) About half of us experience lie bumps at some point. These little white or red bumps form when papillae become irritated and slightly swollen. It's not always clear why this happens, but it may be related to stress, hormones, or particular foods.

Why is my tongue white and bumpy at the back?

Why is my tongue white? White tongue is usually caused when bacteria, debris (like food and sugar) and dead cells get trapped between the papillae on the surface of your tongue. These string-like papillae then grow large and swell up, sometimes becoming inflamed. This creates the white patch you see on your tongue.

Why does my tongue have red bumps in the back?

Lie bumps (transient lingual papillitis): Also referred to as TLP, lie bumps are fairly common and go away on their own over time. Characterized as small white or red bumps, lie bumps form when papillae become irritated and swollen.

What does it mean when you have bumps on the back of your tongue and it hurts to swallow?

Whitish, enlarged bumps may appear on the back of your tongue due to canker sores. These sores can form anywhere in the mouth and usually clear up within 10 to 14 days. If they cause bumps on the back of the tongue, it may be painful to eat and swallow.