Tongue Discomfort

Tongue discomfort, which includes pain and burning sensations, often can result from

• Irritation from certain foods, especially acidic ones (for example, pineapple)

• Irritation from certain ingredients in toothpaste (for example, sodium lauryl sulfate [SLS]), mouthwash, candy, or gum

• Certain medications

• Thrush (candidiasis), a common infection in which an overgrowth of fungi forms a white film on the tongue

• Tongue injury or tongue sores

• Celiac disease

Intense pain of the tongue or the entire mouth can be caused by burning mouth syndrome.