Lie bumps

Lie bumps (transient lingual papillitis^[1] and fungiform papillary glossitis^[2] ) are painful, hypertrophic, red and white papillae on the tongue.^[1]

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Description

Lie bumps are relatively common — a 1996 study found that 56% of the respondents to their survey reported these lesions.^[1] The most common presentation of this was found to be in young women, involving one or several fungiform papillae.^[1] The symptoms last several days and resolve on their own with no treatment.^[1]

Cause

The name "lie bumps" is a result of a myth that stating that telling a lie would cause one.^[3] Lie bumps are often attributed to irritation of the tongue's papillae (taste buds) by sharp food or teeth.^[3] However, very little has been written about this condition in scientific articles or textbooks and scientific studies have failed to produce a definite cause.^[1] Possible causes include: "stress, gastrointestinal upset, menstruation, acidic or sour food, and local trauma" (direct physical irritation) of the tongue.^[1]

Treatment

There is no specific treatment for this problem, other than using ice or numbing medicines to ease the pain. Anecdotal remedies include gargleing with salt water and direct application of hydrogen peroxide. ^[4]

References