Tongue Swelling: Causes of Swollen Tongue

The medical term for swollen tongue is glossitis. Glossitis may be:

Acute: sudden onset, usually severe, such as during an allergic reaction or from angioedema
Chronic: may indicate an underlying condition
Atrophic (also called Hunter glossitis), occurs when many of the small, bumpy structures on the tongue (papillae) are lost, giving the tongue a smooth, red, glossy appearance

In addition to a tongue swelling and inflammation, symptoms of glossitis include:

There are numerous causes for tongue inflammation.

Allergic reactions
- Called angioedema, it results in swelling deep under the skin
- May be caused by foods, certain medications, insect bites
- Can lead to anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening if the tongue and throat swell and block the airways
Acquired angioedema
- May occur in people who have cancer or an autoimmune disease
- Caused by medications, especially ACE inhibitors
Injury
- Biting the tongue
- Tongue piercings
- Braces
- Mouth trauma
Infection
- Oral thrush (oral candidiasis)
- Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as gonorrhea, syphilis, and oral HPV
- Soft tissue infections of the floor of the mouth or the neck
Environmental irritants
- Tobacco
- Spicy foods
- Alcohol
- Cinnamon
- Some toothpastes and mouthwashes
Vitamin deficiencies
- Magnesium
- Iron
- B vitamins
Certain medical conditions
- Cancer
- Sjogren’s syndrome (an autoimmune disease)
- Amyloidosis

A swollen tongue is diagnosed with a physical exam in which the doctor will examine the mouth for other abnormalities of the mouth and tongue.

Blood tests and samples of saliva may be taken to check for the cause of the swollen tongue.

Treatment for swollen tongue depends on the cause.

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