According to the pictures, I have enlarged circumvallate papillae. I noticed them because I started having bad breath, suddenly. Even after brushing my teeth. what causes them to enlarge?, can this create the sudden bad breath? Could it be the use of Listerine mouthwash causing a reaction or inflmation?
I usually never used a mouthwash,
and recently started doing so. PS: I breathe through my mouth in and out a lot.

That is so wierd!! I just recently started Listerine also and this Monday I noticed the bumps on my tongue. My tongue looks exactly like the pictures I've found for enlarged circumvallate papillae!! I can tell you this much...NO MORE LISTERINE FOR ME!!!

I have been really panicing today because i noticed some large spots on the back of my tongue. How can you be sure they are circumvallate papillae and not something else? They look like the circumvallate papillae do you know what could cause them?

Hello Puddycat

Some lumps seen at the back of the tongue are often part of the normal scenery. There are large bumps on the top surface of the back of the tongue called circumvallate papillae located along the "circumvallate line" and contain taste buds that confer the sense of sour and bitter to the back of the tongue.

Best wishes
Vinod

Hey,

So just an few hours ago it was bothering me to swallow, when i looked at my mouth in the mirror and doing some research on the web i figured i have this 'enlarging of the circumvallate papillae'. I cant recall this ever happening. But i had noticed the bumbs on the back of my boyfriends tongue a little while ago.

My question is, Is there a way to reduce the size of these bumps? And is there a way to avoid them from getting big again?

Hello Stephita and Jason

I don't think anyone knows much about the workings of Circumvallate_papillae and why they enlarge. This dicussion on enlarged circumvallate papillae has made me realise that that it is a problem that needs an answer. If anyone finds a way of getting enlarged circumavallate papillae to shrink, please let us all know.

Best wishes
Vinod

quote:

Originally posted by meeetooo:
That is so wierd!! I just recently started Listerine also and this Monday I noticed the bumps on my tongue. My tongue looks exactly like the pictures I've found for enlarged circumvallate papillae!! I can tell you this much...NO MORE LISTERINE FOR ME!!!

No way!!! I noticed the bumps, and looked at your post. I whent into the bathroom, and what do I find? LISTERINE!!

No more mouthwash for me. I'll have to brush my teeth for extra long time in place of mouthwash... It's strange though, cos I've used mouthwash for over a year with no problems, then Listerine comes along and BOOM! Enlarged circumvallate papillae hit me 1 week after I started using it.

Hi Fredstermaster

Instead of quitting mouthwashes altogether, you could switch to one that does not contain alcohol. I've been using Crest's Pro-Health Mouthwash (wintergreen--yum!) and have no problems.

Hope this helps.

Julia

I've felt like there's a hair stuck at the back of my throat for several months now. I'm 40 yrs old, a moderate smoker and drink probably a little more than I should, so naturally was starting to get a little concerned. I can feel a couple of raised small nodules right at the back of my tongue that don't seem to be enlarging but then again don't seem to be going away. I've visited my GP who couldn't see or feel anything major but has referred me to an ENT specialist as a precaution. After doing a bit of research myself I'm thinking that I've probably enlarged Circumvallate Papillae. Their onset seemed to coincide with the time I started to drink red wine rather than ale. I understand there's no treatment but I'm going to try and cut down the smoking and drinking and see whether things calm down.

I have noticed the enlarged bumps on my tounge as well and have been very concerned about them. After looking on several web sites and pictures I self diagnosed as Enlarged Circumvallate Papillae. I didn't notice them after using mouthwash like most bloggers. I however noticed them after being on 4 different precriptions from a Nasal Infesction. I believe it was either the nose spray or the anti-biotic that I had never used before. I used both Nasonex and Avelox. I hope this helps someone else....