You have 2,000 to 8,000 taste buds on your tongue, esophagus, epiglottis and soft palate that help you taste foods. The taste buds at the tip of your tongue detect sweetness while those at the back bitterness. The lateral buds detect sourness while those on the sides of your mouth saltiness. You cannot tastes foods and drinks with a swollen taste bud on tip of tongue. Inflamed taste buds cause further complications that require medical attention. This article outlines the causes and remedies of swollen taste buds.

Swollen Taste Bud on Tip of Tongue, Why?

There are many causes of swollen, inflamed, painful and irritated tastes buds. The factors will affect taste buds on your tongue and other areas as well. The main causes are:

1. High Acidity, Saltiness and Spiciness in food

Spicy, salty and acidic foods cause irritated and swollen taste buds. The foods may first irritate your taste receptors and then cause them to swell. These types of foods also trigger itchiness on your tongue. Scratching or rubbing your tongue against your teeth does not relieve the itchiness but makes it worse.

2. Very Hot Foods or Drinks

If you take very hot food or drinks, you will suffer from swollen and inflamed taste buds. This will affect taste buds in all areas. Hot foods and drinks will burn your mouth and cause your tongue to swell.

3. Allergic Reactions

Some of the allergens that are likely to cause swollen taste buds include medication, some foods, and dental care products. Allergens may cause your mouth and tongue to swell. You can prevent swelling from allergies by avoiding the allergens. For instance, you can avoid the foods or dental products that cause your taste buds to swell.

4. Alcohol and Tobacco

High intake of alcohol and chewing tobacco can cause a swollen taste bud on tip of tongue. Alcohol and tobacco irritate taste buds and cause infections that lead to swollen taste receptors.

5. Depression and Stress

High stress levels can cause swelling on your taste buds especially when prolonged. Some people suffer from swollen taste buds when stressed. Stress lowers your immunity level and causes hormonal imbalance. Consequently, your body is prone to infections including swollen buds.

6. Acid Reflux Condition

Acid reflux causes gastric acid regurgitation, which can irritate your taste buds, tongue and mouth. The acid in the regurgitated food causes the irritation.

7. Mouth Diseases

Some of the mouth conditions that will cause your taste buds to swell include oral cancer, oral thrush, mouth ulcers, candidiasis and canker sores. These conditions affect multiple taste buds.

8. Biting, Tongue Injuries, or Rubbing

Biting your tongue, oral surgery, injuries on your tongue and rubbing can irritate your taste buds and leave them inflamed. You can also get swollen taste receptors from tongue scrapping. Do not scrap your tongue with dental appliances or even your teeth.

How to Deal With Swollen Taste Bud on Tip of Tongue

Swollen taste buds affect your ability to taste different foods and drinks. You can use the following natural and medical remedies to heal swollen taste receptors.

1. Try Ice

Applying ice on the swollen areas of your tongue will relieve the swelling. You can use ice cubes to soothe your tongue but you must be careful not to burn it. They can burn your tongue if you keep them on your tongue for long.

2. Get Hydrated

Dehydration and a dry mouth will cause sore and swollen taste buds. Take lots of fluids everyday to hydrate your tongue and reduce the irritation. Alternatively take probiotic yogurts for a fast relief from irritated taste receptors.

3. Use Baking Soda

The anti-inflammatory properties in baking soda make it an effective remedy to inflamed taste buds. You can apply baking soda on the affected areas and leave it there to reduce the swelling and irritation. Baking soda removes the gastric acid in your mouth from regurgitated food, which causes sore taste buds.

4. Gargle with Salt Water

Add one teaspoon of salt to lukewarm water until it dissolves to form a salt solution. Gargle your mouth with this solution to relieve the swollen areas. To treat a swollen taste bud on tip of tongue, gargle the solution at least three times every day. This will also relieve swollen buds at the back of your tongue.

5. Rinse with Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil can relieve swollen tongue. Mix a few drops of this natural oil with warm water and gargle your mouth with the mixture. This solution is very effective in reducing swelling that is caused by bacteria in the mouth. Be careful with this remedy because excess tea tree oil may cause hallucinations.

6. Apply Honey

Honey is the best home remedy for swollen taste buds because it has healing and anti-bacterial properties. You can swash honey in your mouth or tongue to relieve swelling. You can also make a warm honey solution and gargle it several times in your mouth.

7. Pepper, Ginger and Garlic

Use the three ingredients to make a solution and take it at least four times in a day. This solution is very effective when bacteria cause a swollen taste bud on tip of tongue.

8. Glycerin

If your taste buds swell because of mouth sores or physical injuries, apply glycerin on the affected areas. Glycerin heals an inflamed tongue and taste receptors.

9. Try Medical Treatments

Doctors will prescribe different medical treatment for swollen buds depending on their cause. Hence, you will get different treatments for swelling caused by trauma, STDs, viral infections, and bacteria. In case of nutritional deficiency, doctors recommend Vitamin C and B complex. In case of bacterial infections and HPV herpes, doctors prescribe antivirals and antibiotics. Fungal medications treat any yeast infections.