Goodlettsville Dental Services

Lie Bumps

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

Cause

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

“Lie Bumps” are small, red bumps on the base of the tongue. The are likely to be the result of transient lingual papillitis (TLP). The name, lie bumps, arose from superstitions that they were the result of someone telling lies. This condition is limited to the upper (dorsal) surface of the tongue, affecting some of the tiny bumps on the tongue known as the fungiform papillae, what we commonly call the “taste buds.”

TLP is a harmless, but annoying problem. These bumps can become notably red or white and are quite tender for up to several days. While the cause of TLP is not known with certainty, most experts feel that local accidental trauma (rubbing, scraping or biting) is a major factor; however, contact reactions to things like certain foods have also been suggested. Lie bumps are not contagious and the discomfort is relatively minor. Typically these lesions heal within a few days with no treatment. If they do not, then you should check with your doctor who may send you to an oral pathologist.

Treatment

There is no specific treatment for this problem, other than using ice or numbing medicines to ease the pain