Tongue Pimples

Tongue covered in white 'lie' bumps?

My husband's tongue is completely covered in the little white 'lie' bumps, swollen taste buds, tongue pimples, or whatever you want to call them. Most of the bumps are clear in color, or the same color as his tongue but the ones closer to the edges of his tongue are more of a white color, almost like they may have pus in them. I know usually you get one, maybe two 'lie bumps' at a time but the top of his tongue is randomly covered in them, in an amount that is not countable, there is no certain spot they are just everywhere. He has extremely good dental hygiene, including flossing and no smoking. He takes medication for the nerve pain of fibromyalgia and was wondering if it is possibly from that or other pain meds even though it isn't listed in side effects? Anyway, the bumps are uncomfortable and painful for him to talk and he can barely eat solid food because of the pain. It doesn't look like oral thrush, so I am wondering what this is, what causes it, and if there is a remedy or if he has to wait it out? Serious answers only please!

Public Comments

1. me too baby
2. Could be oral thrush. Go to a dentist.
3. I'd suggest to call ER and see what they say - if they don't have an answer, stop all meds, if he can, gargle with warm salt water and consult your doctor and dentist. asap
4. Are you positive it isn't thrush? I've only had it twice, but the first time that's what it looked like. I just had painful bumps all over my tongue. I ignored them, and used a salt rinse to help with the pain, and just sort of muddled through with a lot of applesauce and oatmeal, and then about 10 days after that started I got the actual gunk in the back of my throat. He might want to see a doctor, just so he can get a proper diagnosis. As I was typing the above paragraph, it occurred to me that a woman I used to work with had a son with chronic strep, and he got little infected bumps all over his tongue, as well. In fact, they didn't take him to the doctor for a very, very long time because it was on his tongue instead of at the back of his throat. It was actually misdiagnosed several times, because he'd take antibiotics and it would go away, and then come back. His chronic strep didn't actually go away until they removed his tonsils (the reservoir) and his adenoids. Until he can get in to see a doctor, make him a salt water rinse and have him use that--it really does help with the pain. You simply dissolve a teaspoon of regular salt and a pinch of baking soda in warm water, and then swish it around in your mouth for about 30 seconds. Do that until all your solution is gone (I use that for sore throats and when I bite myself inside my mouth, or for canker sores--it really does help). You usually get two to three rinses from each solution. Because it's just salt, you can do it as often as needed. I have found it's more effective for me for oral or throat pain than anything else. Best of luck.