Yes, it is possible to develop a wart on your tongue because it can travel from one area of the body to another.
The human papillomavirus (HPV) causes warts, which are flesh-colored lumps (HPV).
They may develop on the hands or the vaginal region, among other body areas.
They are able to spread from person to person.
Another common disease is oral HPV. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that oral HPV affects about 7% of Americans (CDC).
What you should know about tongue warts, including their types, remedies, and prevention, is provided here.
Read on to find out more.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
✅ The majority of the time, tongue warts don’t need to be treated.
✅ It frequently resolves on its own, but it can take years.
✅ Even though an HPV infection might resolve without any problems, call your doctor if you experience any of the following symptoms:
✅ An enlargement or lump in the mouth
✅ An enigmatic hoarseness
✅ Ongoing sore throat
✅ Trouble swallowing
Different kinds of tongue warts
Warts on the tongue are caused by several HPV strains. it’s typical to find the following wart types:
- The squamous papilloma. These white lesions that resemble cauliflower are caused by HPV strains 6 and 11.
- Vesiculosis vulgaris (the common wart). The tongue is just one of the body locations where this wart can appear. It frequently appears on the hands. HPV types 2 and 4 are to blame for these pimples.
- Focal hyperplasia of the epithelium. These lesions also referred to as Heck’s disease, are connected to HPV 13 and 32.
- The Condyloma acuminate. Although they originate in the vaginal region, these lesions can travel to the tongue through sexual contact. It is related to HPV types 2, 6, and 11.
Warts on the tongue, what causes them?
If your partner has genital warts, tongue warts may appear after oral intercourse. If your spouse has oral HPV, kissing with your mouth open could increase your risk of getting it as well.
You could get a wart on your tongue if you contact a wart with your hand and then put that part of your hand in your mouth. For instance, if you bite your nails, the virus that causes warts on your fingers can get into your mouth.
You’re more likely to have tongue warts if certain things happen. Having a compromised immune system, which makes it more difficult for your body to fight against diseases, is one example of this. The virus can also enter your body through a break in the skin if you have a cut or scrape.
How to handle tongue warts?
Some warts can disappear on their own without medical intervention. But it can take months or even years. Even though tongue warts are typically not harmful, they can be bothersome. The size of the wart and if it hurts or makes it difficult to eat or speak will determine this. Try chewing on the side of your mouth opposite the wart as you wait for it to go away. This may lessen irritability. Additionally, you’re less inclined to bite the wart.
If a wart doesn’t get better or you’d like it removed, you can also discuss treatment options with your dentist or dermatologist. Cryotherapy is one method of wart removal. In this treatment, the aberrant tissue is frozen off using cold liquid nitrogen. Electrosurgery is an additional choice. In order to eliminate the aberrant cells or tissues and cut through the wart, this procedure uses a powerful electric current.
Both remedies are effective for various kinds of tongue warts.
Things to think about when it comes to tongue warts
Since close skin-to-skin contact can spread HPV, whether or not warts are present, the only surefire approach to avoid getting warts or passing along other HPV infections to a partner is to forego all intimate and sexual contact.
However, this is frequently not practical, which makes talking to your partner and doctor even more crucial. You should be aware of the best ways to protect yourself as tongue warts are spreadable. To accomplish that, adhere to the following advice:
- Get the HPV vaccine, please. The vaccine helps prevent the transmission of warts to the mouth during oral intercourse and provides protection against HPV and genital warts. The vaccine is now recommended by the CDC for adults and children between the ages of 11 and 26. However, persons older than 45 can still obtain the immunization.
- If you or your spouse has a wart on their tongue, refrain from oral sex or open-mouth kissing.
- Post a status update. Inform your partner that you are HPV positive, and request that they do the same.
- Avoid picking or touching a wart on your tongue.
- Give up smoking. According to studies, people who smoke have an increased risk of developing oral HPV 16.
Some individuals think that they will only contract HPV during a partner’s epidemic. Keep in mind that not all HPV strains cause warts and not all HPV strains to exhibit obvious symptoms. HPV can exist without causing warts.
Therefore, the virus can be contracted even if no apparent warts are present. Use a condom when having sex because HPV may be present in the semen.
What else could a tongue wart be?
Of course, not all tongue bumps are warts. A canker sore, a benign sore that can appear on the tongue or the gums, is another possibility.
Other possible tongue lesions include:
- a wound (traumatic fibroma)
- Lymph nodes
- a cyst
- associated with syphilis
To get a diagnosis for any strange lesion or bump that develops in your mouth, consult a dermatologist or dentist.
HPVs how could they be linked to oral cancer
The American Cancer Society claims that, among other things, HPV 16 and 18 raise the risk of cancer.
According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, HPV 16 is most closely linked to oropharyngeal cancer of two. This is cancer in the oesophageal or throat tissues. According to the CDC, just 1% of persons carry this kind of HPV.
Compared to cancer brought on by smoking, HPV-related oral malignancies are a little different. When it comes to HPV, the virus changes healthy cells into malignant ones. Smoking causes the mouth and throat’s healthy cells to get damaged by the toxins in cigarette smoke, which promote the growth of malignant cells.
The presence of HPV does not guarantee malignancy, though. The majority of people recover from the virus within two years, according to the Oral Cancer Foundation.