Taste buds are small sense organs located as small round bumps at the back of the tongue. Thanks to approximately ten thousand taste buds, people are able to taste various flavors (sweet, salty, sour, bitter and savory). New taste buds are developed by the body every week or every two weeks. In some situations, these papillae become damaged, burned or swollen. Swelling of the taste buds has various causes, each with treatments tailored to this. If the swollen taste buds persist, a loss of taste occurs, which is accompanied by various possible complications.

• Causes of swollen taste buds
• Risk factors

• Diseases
• Environmental factors

• Symptoms
• Alarm signals
• Diagnosis and examinations
• Therapy

• Self-care
• Professional medical care

• Prognosis of swelling of papillae
• Complications due to loss of taste

Causes of swollen taste buds

Microvilli (small, hair-like projections in the papillae) contain sensory cells. These cells provide information to the brain. When damage occurs to the microvilli, it is no longer possible for the patient to taste properly and a loss of taste occurs.

Risk factors

Diseases

Various conditions irritate the taste buds, causing swelling, such as:

• aphthous mouth ulcers (painful canker sores in the mouth)
• allergies (foods, chemicals, other substances)
• asthma (chronic inflammation of the airways in the lungs)
• burns, cuts or injuries to the mouth leading to inflammation and swelling
• eczema (chronic skin disease with dry and itchy skin)
• a dry throat
• dry mouth (xerostomia)
• an infection, such as a viral infection, a fungal infection or a bacterial infection
• dental problems (a sharp tooth rubs against the papillae causing irritation)
• cancer: oral cancer (swallowing problems and swelling) and tongue cancer (ulcers, swelling and pain in the tongue area)
• oral thrush (oral candidiasis)
• sexually transmitted diseases such as oral herpes, oral gonorrhea and syphilis
• stress
• systemic lupus erythematosus (autoimmune disorder)
• tongue biting or other trauma to the tongue area
• transient lingual papillitis (inflamed or enlarged papillae that only appears briefly)
• vitamin deficiencies (a deficiency of iron, a deficiency of vitamin B or other missing nutrients lead to a swollen tongue)
• acid reflux (acid in the throat rises and burns the taste buds at the back of the throat)

 Smoking may lead to swelling of the taste buds / Source: Geralt, Pixabay

Environmental factors

Swollen taste buds result from some environmental factors such as:

• drinking alcohol
• exposure to extremely hot or cold foods
• a history of or exposure to radiation therapy of the head and neck
• poor oral hygiene
• a tongue piercing
• eating very spicy or acidic foods
• medication that is very acidic on the tongue
• smoking/using tobacco products
• eating sugar or sweets (this may cause irritation, swelling and inflammation of the taste buds)
• change the brand of toothpaste or mouthwash
• drink hot drinks

 Fatigue sometimes occurs with swollen taste buds / Source: Concord90, Pixabay

Symptoms

In addition to the swelling of the taste buds, other symptoms appear, which depend on the cause. The most common symptoms are:

• general : a loss of appetite, weight loss, joint pain, swollen lymph nodes, flu-like symptoms, headache, itching, fever, pain and discomfort, fatigue
• throat : a lump in the throat, hoarseness, sore throat, pain in swallowing, difficulty swallowing
• mouth : blistering of the oral cavity and genitals, excessive saliva production (drooling), loss of taste, eating problems, ulcers in the oral cavity
• Teeth : bleeding gums, swollen gums
• tongue : a discoloration of the tongue surface, redness of the tongue, white sores, or red bumps on the tongue

Alarm signals

If a patient has chronically swollen taste buds or the sense of taste is affected, a visit to the ear, nose and throat specialist (ENT specialist) is recommended.

Diagnosis and examinations

Interview An ENT specialist goes through the patient’s health history. For example, he examines which medical conditions the patient has or has recently had and also asks the patient about medication use. He further listens to the patient’s presenting symptoms.Physical examination The doctor examines the color, structure, appearance and size of the tongue. He examines the tongue with his gloves to detect lumps or other irregularities in the tongue. He also tests whether the patient experiences pain.Diagnostic examination The doctor may then use taste tests. He then places certain flavored substances on the patient’s tongue. If a doctor suspects that a patient has tongue cancer, a tongue biopsy is required because it allows a laboratory to examine a suspicious piece of tissue for the possible presence of cancer on the tongue.

Therapy

Treating the underlying problem often reduces swollen taste buds.

Self-care

Eating yogurt is good for the taste buds / Source: HealthGauge, Flickr (CC BY-2.0)Lifestyle The patient avoids very spicy, spicy, sour, sugary or sweet foods and very hot and cold drinks. Quitting smoking and drinking alcohol is another useful piece of advice when taste problems are present. Ginger, garlic, pepper, yogurt and probiotics reduce swelling and inflammation. Taste is also improved by gargling with warm salt water several times a day and by keeping small amounts of ice on the tongue to reduce swelling. Drinking enough during the day is also necessary, especially when swelling of the papillae is caused by a dry mouth or throat.Oral hygiene The patient ensures good dental and oral hygiene. He should brush and floss his teeth at least twice a day. He also uses a special mouthwash and toothpaste if chronic dry mouth leads to swelling of the taste buds.

Professional medical care

The doctor treats a bacterial infection or gum problems with antibiotics. If the patient is taking medication that leads to swelling of the taste buds, the doctor sometimes uses other medication. The doctor uses medications to reduce acid reflux, such as antacids, proton pump inhibitors (medications that reduce stomach acid) and H2 receptor blockers. The patient must address nutritional and vitamin deficiencies by taking supplements. Finally, if the patient is allergic to certain drugs or substances, he avoids them.

Prognosis of swelling of papillae

Due to the development of new taste buds, the swelling disappears quickly. Treating the underlying condition also helps the swollen taste buds recover.

Complications due to loss of taste

Tasting spoiled food is not possible when the taste buds are damaged. Appetite is also reduced, and patients no longer enjoy tasting food. Due to the loss of taste, the patient is more likely to experience weight loss and psychological problems. It is therefore important to have the cause of the swelling of the taste buds identified by the doctor, so that these complications do not arise. As a result, the taste sensations persist and there is no reduced quality of life.