What causes a small swollen and painful area on the tip of the tongue, and what should I do about it?

Generally, swelling and pain on a small area of the tip of the tongue may be caused by accidentally biting the tongue while eating, irritation from consuming excessively hot or spicy foods, tongue tip ulcers, lingual papillitis, oral herpes simplex, and other reasons. It is recommended to seek medical attention promptly, identify the underlying cause, and then improve symptoms under a doctor's guidance through general management, medication, and other treatments. Specific analyses are as follows:

1. Biting the tip of the tongue during eating: Inattentive chewing may lead to accidental biting of the tongue tip, causing local tissue damage, resulting in swelling, pain, and possibly minor bleeding. Rinse the mouth with clean water immediately after injury, and avoid hard or tough foods to reduce friction against the tongue tip during chewing.

2. Irritation from hot or spicy foods: Consuming large amounts of excessively hot food or spicy seasonings in a short time can damage the mucous membrane at the tip of the tongue due to high temperature and irritants, leading to local swelling and a burning sensation. Immediately stop eating irritating foods and opt for cool or lukewarm, soft foods such as porridge or noodles.

3. Tongue tip ulcer: Stress, vitamin deficiencies, and other factors may cause round or oval ulcers on the tongue tip’s mucosa. These ulcers appear red and swollen, are significantly painful, and can interfere with eating. Patients should use medications such as Xihuangshuang spray, compound chlorhexidine mouthwash, or cydiodine lozenges as directed by a physician to relieve pain and promote healing.

4. Lingual papillitis: Inflammation of the filiform or fungiform papillae at the tip of the tongue may result from bacterial infection or local irritation, manifesting as redness, swelling, and protrusion of the papillae accompanied by pain. Patients should follow medical advice to use medications such as metronidazole mouth rinse, amoxicillin capsules, or cefuroxime axetil tablets to control infection.

5. Oral herpes simplex: Infection of the oral cavity by the herpes simplex virus leads to clusters of small blisters on the tongue tip. After rupture, these blisters form erosive surfaces, causing swelling and pain. Patients should use antiviral medications such as acyclovir cream, famciclovir tablets, or valacyclovir hydrochloride capsules as prescribed to suppress viral replication.

In daily life, maintain a light diet, avoid overeating, chew food slowly and thoroughly during meals, and minimize the risk of injuring the tongue tip. Maintain good oral hygiene by brushing teeth carefully in the morning and evening, rinsing the mouth after meals, and undergoing regular dental checkups to support overall oral health and facilitate recovery from discomfort at the tongue tip.