Lie bumps or lingual papillitis are the inflamed bumps or pimples on your tongue that give you a lot of discomforts. (1) You want to get rid of lie bumps as soon as possible.
They particularly appear on your taste buds. Many refer to it as popped taste bud or swollen taste bud on the tip of the tongue.
These tiny bumps mostly appear on your tongue’s tip, base, and sides.
Luckily, some natural ingredients may help you quickly get rid of lie bumps on the tongue.
In popular folklore, a person suffers a lie bump on his tongue because of telling a lie.
Hence its name- lie bumps.
But thanks to advanced medical science, we know the real reasons for developing lie bumps.
Lie bumps may not cause you any pain except for constant irritation. These swollen tongue bumps heal by themselves in a week. (2)
In this article, you’ll learn about some natural home remedies to eliminate lie bumps. These home remedies are safe and easy to perform.
Much scientific research confirms the efficacy of these natural ingredients for oral health. The article also covers the causes and preventative measures for lie bumps.
10 Natural Home Remedies to Get Rid of Lie Bumps
1. Salt Water
This simple home remedy for your lie bumps requires only water and a pinch of salt. Salt has anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Those properties may kill pathogens and reduce oral swellings and pains.
Salt is a cleansing agent to cut down dirt, oil, and any acidic residues left in your mouth. People use salt water gargling as an oral hygiene process. It can dry out the pus accumulated inside the papillitis. Research has proved that salt may also fight against viral infections and heal wounds. (4)
How to use salt water to get rid of a lie bump:
Mix 1 teaspoon of salt in a glass of lukewarm water. Stir the solution and allow the salt to dissolve well. Take a sip of the solution and swish it inside your mouth for 30 seconds. Spit it out and go for the next round. Redo this process thrice daily to recover faster from lie bumps.
Read More: Himalayan Salt Lamp Benefits: 19 Reasons to Buy One
2. Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple Cider Vinegar, or ACV, is a pale amber-colored vinegar made from apple must. It is a combination of fermented apple juice and acetic acid. (5) Like all other vinegar, ACV has a strong smell and sour taste.
For centuries, people have been using ACV for various purposes. It is a potent cure for flu, sores, diabetes, and even cardiac problems—no wonder people consider ACV a panacea in the home remedy.
ACV contains anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and antimicrobial properties. These components can reduce swellings and pains and heal lie bumps on your tongue. It may particularly treat tongue bumps caused by stomach disorders and food allergies.
Learn how to use ACV to get rid of lie bumps on the tongue:
Dilute 1 tablespoon of organic or raw apple cider vinegar with a ¼ cup of cold water. Now, soak a cotton swap in the solution. Press the cotton swab on the lie bumps for 10 minutes. You can repeat the method thrice daily for a quick recovery.
Read More: How Effective is Apple Cider Vinegar for Ringworm Treatment?
3. Baking Soda Scrub
Baking soda or sodium bicarbonate is alkaline based. It is a natural exfoliator that cleanses your mouth of all unwanted pathogens. (6) This easy-to-reach kitchen ingredient is a potent remedy for your tongue bumps.
Many dentists recommend baking soda as a natural ingredient for oral hygiene. It is high in anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial compounds. These properties may ward off infectious bumps on your taste buds. A study says that baking soda can also be a powerful remedy for mouth ulcers.
You can do either a baking soda mouthwash or a soda scrub to heal your tongue of lie bumps.
Try these two methods of using baking soda for lie bumps:
Direction 1: Baking Soda mouthwash
Mix a teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of lukewarm water. Now, sip on the solution and swish it inside your mouth and over the tongue for 5 minutes. Then, spit out and continue with a new sip of the solution. Redo this mouthwash 2-3 times daily for faster recovery from tongue inflammations.
Direction 2: Baking soda scrub
Make a thick paste by mixing 1 tablespoon of baking with the required water. Next, wash your mouth by swishing regular water. Next, take baking soda paste on your fingers and apply it to your tongue bumps. Rub it for some time. After 5 minutes, wash off your mouth and tongue with clean water. Repeat applying this scrub several times daily until you are out of inflammation.
Read More: Baking Soda for Acne: 12 Easy Ways You Can Use
4. Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil comes from the evergreen Melaleuca alternifolia, a native of Australia. This herbal oil has a pale yellow color and camphor-like odor. (7)
This cheap herbal oil is famous for curing fungal and bacterial infections. In addition, the skin care industries rely heavily on tea tree oil for many cosmetics and skincare products.
Tea tree oil’s antiseptic and anti-bacterial components are ideal for curing lie bumps. It may also treat skin tags, cold, flu, chest congestion, congested nose, acne, burns, and minor cuts. (8)
Let’s learn how to use tea tree oil for tongue bumps.
How to get rid of a lie bump using tea tree oil:
Mix 4 drops of tea tree oil with 1 tablespoon of coconut oil. Now, dab a cotton swab on the oil blend. Press the oil-soaked cotton swab on your lie bumps. Let it remain on the bump for 10 minutes. Spit out the excess oil and wash off your mouth several times. Repeat the process twice daily to eliminate tongue inflammations in no time.
Note: Don’t consume the oil.
Read More: 10 Easy Ways to Use Tea Tree Oil for Scabies
5. Ice Cubes
The ice cube on the lie bumps can reduce the blood flow to the potential sores and stop inflammation. It may constrict the taste receptor tissues and reduce their irritations and pains. The process brings quick ease to the pain and reduces swelling. (9)
How to get rid of pimples on the tongue using ice cubes:
Wrap an ice cube on a thin cloth and place it on your tongue bumps. Please keep it in the affected place until it dissolves. Then, you can switch to a new ice cube and repeat the process. Also, you can make ice cubes by diluting 2 drops of tea tree oil with water. Tea tree oil will fight the infections better. Repeat the process twice daily to see good results soon.
6. Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera is famous for its therapeutic benefits. This herbal plant is rich in anti-inflammatory enzymes, antioxidants, fatty acids, and vitamins. These components are ideal for the speedy remedy of lie bumps.
A layer of Aloe Vera gel on the swelled-up bumps may bring you great relief from the pain and irritations. The gel prevents the infectious eruptive bumps from turning into an outbreak. (10)
How to use aloe vera for lie bumps:
Slit open the Aloe Vera leaf and extract the gel. Next, apply some gel at your fingertips to the bumps. Allow some time for the gel to dry off on the sores. Then, wash it off using warm water. Also, you can mix aloe gel with warm water and rinse with the solution twice a day.
Read More: Aloe Vera for Acne: 5 Effective Ways to Use
7. Honey
Raw honey is an exceptional home remedy for many health issues such as diarrhea, cold sores, fever, etc.
Its germ-fighting components don’t let the bacteria or infections survive and reproduce.
That’s why honey is a potent agent to kill herpes and heal your tongue bumps. In addition, the nutrients in honey may speed up the healing process and repair the damaged tissues.
Try honey to soothe your lie bumps:
On your fingertips, take some raw honey. Spread it like a layer on the lie bumps. Repeat the process three times a day for a week.
Read More: Honey and Cinnamon for Weight Loss: 10 Reasons to Try!
8. Peppermint Leaves
Peppermint leaves or Mentha Piperita are famous for their sweet menthol flavor. These aromatic leaves have a rich store of flavonoids, antioxidants, and phytonutrients. These properties can ward off infections and cure inflammations on your tongue.
Mint flavor may pose soothing to the irritations of lie bumps. Peppermint is an effective natural antihistamine as well. Thus, it may prevent food allergies by neutralizing histamine reactions in your body. Thus, it can stop inflammations on your taste buds caused by food allergies. (12)
How to use peppermint to get rid of lip bumps on the tongue:
First, you can munch on some peppermint leaves for a few minutes. Then, while chewing the leaves, press them against the floor of your tongue.
Allow the essence of the leaves to work on the affected taste buds and oxidate them. Later spit out and wash off your mouth with cold water.
Also, blend some peppermint leaves to make a thick paste. Put a paste layer on your tongue and remain for 15 minutes. Then wash off with water. Repeat the process thrice a day until your tongue is clean and smooth again.
Read More: 12 Health Benefits of Peppermint Oil + (How to Use It)
9. Milk of Magnesia
Milk of magnesia contains magnesium hydroxide. This mineral compound has many health-promoting properties.
Milk of magnesia belongs to a superior class of antacids. It may cure all forms of stomach disorders such as indigestion, gastric problems, etc. (13)
Milk of magnesia is a popular medication for constipation. Besides, it can soothe complications in your muscles and nerves as well.
Milk of magnesia is laxative in nature. It can draw water into the intestines to regulate intestine movements. You can also find it in drug stores.
You can get the best out of the milk of magnesia to cure inflammations of your tongue.
Learn how you can use milk of magnesia for lie bumps on the tongue:
Pour 1 tablespoon of milk of magnesia into a glass of water. Stir the solution and then sip some of it. Swish the solution inside the mouth for some time. Then, spit the solution out and go for another round of swishing. Redo the process thrice a week to see good results.
Note: You should consult with a doctor before performing this treatment.
10. Fig Juice
Figs are superfoods that come from the ficus tree of the mulberry family.
Fig juice may reduce the swellings of your lie bumps and heal the inflammation. Figs are an authoritative source of antifungal, antibacterial, and antioxidants. (14)
You can use fig juice as your mouthwash to free your tongue from harmful microbes.
Try this fig juice recipe as lie bumps cure:
Soak 4-5 dried figs in a cup of hot water. After 15 minutes, blend the figs into a gluey paste. Now, with your fingers, layer the paste on your tongue. After another 15 minutes, wash off your mouth with water. Repeat the process 3 times daily to prevent infections on your taste buds.
Causes of Lie Bumps
Here are the causes of developing lie bumps: (3)
- Consuming acidic, spicy, and sugary foods may hurt your delicate taste buds.
- Allergy from certain food items can cause lie bumps
- Eczema and asthma
- Vitamin B deficiencies
- Stress and hypertension can trigger inflammations
- A small injury to the tongue, such as biting the tongue, can lead to an infection.
- Gastrointestinal disorders
- A viral infection in case of eruptive lingual papillitis
- Alcohol consumption and smoking
Additional Tips to Prevent Lie Bumps
You can tap into some lifestyle hacks and change certain unhealthy habits. These will help you prevent the recurrence of lie bumps on your tongue.
Here are some tips that you should follow:
- Avoid spicy and oily food items when you are suffering from lie bumps.
- Consume citrus fruits to boost your digestion and immune system to fight inflammations because these fruits have a lot of minerals and vitamin C.
- It will help if you avoid alcohol consumption and smoking while treating lie bumps.
- Don’t meddle with your lie bumps and pick on them. If you do so, you may worsen the infection.
When to See a Doctor
Lie bumps usually go away with the help of some home remedies. But if your condition isn’t improving along with the following symptoms, you must visit a dentist. A doctor may recommend using sterilized lie bumps tweezers to remove transient lingual papillitis on the tongue.
Make an appointment with the doctor if you notice the following:
- The bump doesn’t go away after a week.
- Popped up or swollen taste bud
- Lie bump comes back often.
- It causes excruciating pain.
- It bleeds when you touch it.
Final Word
Lie bumps are simple inflammations on your taste buds that you need not worry about.
Your tongue has more than ten thousand taste buds or papillae.
These taste buds consist of delicate taste receptor cells. Taste buds are responsible for giving you a sense of taste like sour, sweet, bitter, pungent, etc. Some of these factors can lead to infection in your taste buds.
The reasons can be acidity from food items or small damage to the papillae. Thus, you experience bothersome white or red lie bumps on your tongue.
Using these natural remedies, you may easily get rid of lie bumps on the tongue.
