What causes blisters in the mouth?
Oral blisters can come in several forms and types. Some of them are more serious than others. The appearance of blisters in the oral cavity often causes people to start asking what causes blisters in the mouth. Generally, it should not raise an alarm, even though there may be pain with it unless there are also some other symptoms with it.
Causes of Blisters
There are many possible causes as to why blisters may form on your tongue. One of the main reasons is that you bit into some food or drink that was too hot. Other causes include:
- Mouth ulcers (canker sores).
- Allergies.
- A yeast infection (oral thrush).
- Smoking excessively.
- Stopped smoking – this can also sometimes result in mouth blisters.
- Irritation that enlarges tongue papillae (taste buds) – often the result of a bite or from food too hot to eat. Sometimes referred to as “lie bumps,” and are often caused by stress. A similar condition called eruptive lingual papillitis occurs in children and is usually contagious. It can take up to two weeks to be settled.
- Medical conditions – leukoplakia, stomatitis, cancer, Crohn’s Disease, and Celiac Disease.
- Food triggers – most common foods include cheese, coffee, wheat flour, tomatoes, peanuts, strawberries, and chocolate.
- Vitamin deficiency – deficiencies of vitamin B-12 and iron can produce blister inside mouth.
- Medications – various medications may cause oral blisters, including NSAIDs and Beta-blockers. If so, talk to your doctor about a different prescription.
Lie Bumps
These small bumps on your tongue may be red or white bumps, often looking like blisters. Lie bumps are usually small and appear quickly and will usually disappear in several days. They may be painful. Some people feel a burning sensation, or a tingling or itching.
Blood Blisters
The appearance of blood blisters in the mouth often has no cause. They can appear suddenly and many times there is no serious cause behind it. It can be caused by things such as stress, an allergy, dentures that do not fit right, braces, accidental biting of the lip, or scalding of the lip or cheek. Another condition may be angina bullosa hemorrhagica, which is generally harmless but it causes blood blisters to form in the mouth spontaneously.
Blood blister in mouth may also be caused by more serious health problems. These include:
- Oral cancer
- Low platelet count
- Diabetes
- Deficiencies of vitamins
- Renal failure
- Oral herpes
- Alcohol abuse.
There are some situations where the appearance of blood blisters means you need to see a dentist. They include the following:
- When blood blisters do not heal
- When they become very large
- When they frequently reoccur
- When they are caused by poor-fitting braces or dentures.
Pemphigus Vulgaris
There are two Pemphigus disorders: pemphigus vulgaris and pempigus foliaceus. These two disorders are rare but are considered to be autoimmune diseases. The pemphigus vulgaris form starts out forming blisters in the mouth. From there it will cause sores and blisters on your mucous membranes and skin, particularly in the mouth and genital areas. There is no cure, but it can be managed. Early treatment is better.
Other Possible Causes
In addition to the previous causes, blisters on tongue, or blisters in mouth in general, may also be caused by other conditions. These include:
- A sore throat
- Various gastrointestinal diseases
- Menstruation.
Some causes of blisters in mouth are contagious. When the blisters break open and the virus is released into your mouth, the following diseases can be spread to other people:
- Chickenpox
- Herpes (cold sores)
- HIV/AIDS
- Infectious mononucleosis
- Syphilis
- Hand, foot, and mouth disease
Each of these health conditions requires additional medical treatment. Seeing a doctor is necessary since some of these conditions are potentially fatal.
Mouth Ulcers
Mouth ulcers, otherwise known as canker sores, are not really blisters, but they are small and may be mistaken for one. These sores have similar causes as the blisters, especially vitamin deficiency. They are not contagious but can be very painful, especially when eating spicy or acidic foods. They are normally about the size of a pencil but can grow up to an inch in diameter. Most canker sores will disappear within two weeks, but a larger one may take up to six weeks. More than one sore may appear at the same time.
There is no cure, but treatment can help. Any mouth ulcer that lasts more than three weeks should be seen by a dentist because it could be a more serious problem. A canker sore could indicate the beginning of oral cancer.
Mouth Blister Treatment
Mouth blisters need to be seen by a dentist if they do not heal within 10 days, especially when there are multiple other symptoms present simultaneously. With some diseases, the first indication of it is blisters, and sometimes it is the only one, which may be the only indication of a much more serious condition.
If suffering with blisters and looking for diagnosis or treatment , you can schedule a quick appointment at Champion Dental clinic, Farmers Branch, Texas – contact 214-747-0763
