I am 30 years old and have smoked on and off for the last 4 years (i'm currently smoking) and a few days ago my tongue stated to hurt. I noticed this morning that I have a lump inside my tongue about the size of a bee-bee. I have my tongue pierced and it has been pierced for over 3 years with no complications. The lump is located at the front of the piercing hole. At first I thought perhaps I tore my tongue some with my tongue ring, but now that I notice the lump I don't think this is the case.

I have read the old questions and answers about saliva glands but that was not painful. Mine is painful whether I push on it or not. It hurts to inhale when I smoke and it hurts to eat/drink. Its a constant throbbing pain that I am experiencing.

I have no dental or medical insurance. Any suggestions on if I should be seen and if so should I see a doctor, dentist or oral surgeon?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,
Melissa

Hi Melissa

You didn't say how long you've had the lump and the pain. Is it possible that you've gotten a seed (from a strawberry, for example) caught in the piercing? Perhaps it's somehow gotten infected. Try to keep your mouth as clean as possible. To ease the pain, Chloraseptic (sore throat spray) would be a good place to start.

Is there a clinic in your area that handles the under- and uninsured (like the Hope Clinic in Ypsilanti)? Hospitals all over the place are opening "urgent care" clinics, and their prices are reasonable. You might also want to see if there's a dental school in your area; treatments can take a while but they're generally effective. Since it's interfering with your eating and drinking, it's certainly something that should be checked out.

You're not going to like my last suggestions, but please consider them: remove the tongue stud and let the piercing close; quit smoking. (I've put my soapbox away.)

Please let us know how it turns out.

Julia (a fellow Michigander)

Julia,

Thank you for your response! The pain has been there for about 3 days. I just noticed the lump today when I was investigating the pain.

I did have strawberries last week and again today, so I suppose that is a possibility. I am not sure about under or uninsured clinics, but I will check into them as well as a dental school.

I thought about removing my tongue ring, however I am worried that if it is an infection that I will be sealing the infection in (if that makes sense). I am also in the process of quitting. My partner has been on me for a few months now and I have been slowly working myself up to quit and lower the amount I smoke daily.

Thank you again for your suggestions!

Melissa

Oddly enough, my doctor at one point suggested that I get my tongue pierced after my surgery so I could have something to hold while I stretched my flap. It's bad enough having a two-tone tongue--I didn't need the bling.

I had a couple of ideas that might help: crush up an aspirin, dissolve it in warm water and use it as a "swish and swallow"--it might make your tongue hurt a bit less. Also, dilute some hydrogen peroxide in warm water (ask your local pharmacist how much to use); use it the same way as the aspirin, but DON'T swallow, then rinse your mouth well. This might help to draw out any infection that might be in your tongue.

Julia

Thank you again Julia! I took out my tongue ring and rinsed my mouth with listerine to try to clean the pierced site well. I put in a new sterilized tongue ring and if it still hurts in a day or two I will try your suggestions and see a doctor. Do you recommend seeing a dentist or a regular doctor?

A dentist might be the better place to start because they know more about the mouth than a regular doctor.