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What Causes a White Tongue Blister?

Helen Akers
Helen Akers

A white tongue blister is usually caused by a viral infection, a sore, or an allergic reaction. Some blisters are the result of hormonal fluctuations, injury, a shortage of essential vitamins, or a compromised immune system. Other causes of a white blister on the tongue include foot and mouth disease and tonsillitis.

Viral infections are a leading cause of a white tongue blister. Yeast infections, which occur as a result of an imbalance between the bacteria levels in the body, are one of the possible viral causes. Tongue swelling is common with a yeast infection. The white blisters or bumps usually form on the back of the tongue, while a white coating may be seen on the top.

White tongue blisters may be accompanied by swollen lymph glands if they are the result of fever blisters.
White tongue blisters may be accompanied by swollen lymph glands if they are the result of fever blisters.

Canker sores are another cause of a white blister on the tongue. These types of sores sometimes occur as a result of being infected with the herpes virus. Fever blisters can also result in a blister. These sores are also directly linked to the herpes virus.

Fever blisters are usually smaller than canker sores. An individual's lymph nodes may become swollen and he may run a temperature. These sores can break out inside as well as outside the mouth. It is not uncommon to see blisters on the tongue, lip, and along the edges of the mouth.

An allergic reaction to food may cause the development of white tongue blisters.
An allergic reaction to food may cause the development of white tongue blisters.

Deficiencies in vitamin B can cause a white tongue blister. In general, blisters are only seen when there is a deficiency in more than one type of B vitamin. Usually, the deficiency has to be sustained for an extended period of time. These deficiencies are usually resolved with supplements or high-potency prescription treatments.

Bacteria overgrowth and infection might also lead to the development of tongue blisters. The most common strain that causes white tongue blisters is staphylococcus. Sometimes the bacterial infection occurs as a result of taking certain prescription medications.

Kissing someone with a tongue blister might cause it to spread.
Kissing someone with a tongue blister might cause it to spread.

Foot and mouth disease can cause a white tongue and blisters as well. The disease is usually spread through hand and mouth contact among children, but it is possible for adults to become infected. In addition to white blisters on the tongue, foot and mouth disease is characterized by a fever.

Allergic reactions to certain foods might also lead to the development of white tongue blisters. Usually, an allergic reaction will be accompanied by other symptoms, such as indigestion or nausea. The development of white tongue blisters will typically only occur when exposure to the specific food occurs and will resolve shortly thereafter.

Discussion Comments

Fa5t3r

@Ana1234 - Some people get that kind of deficiency as a result of being sick, so it's not always bad eating habits. And it's usually easy enough to correct.

It sounds like having tongue blisters is often fairly serious though, especially if you've also got a fever. If you find a white sore on your tongue, it's probably a good idea to go and get it checked out.

Ana1234

Vitamin B deficiencies are all too common these days and they usually happen because people don't eat enough vegetables. You get most of your B vitamins from green vegetables and they are water soluble which means they can be difficult to hang on to.

So, if you boil your vegetables, they go into the water. And if you don't eat vegetables for a while, you lose them through your urine (unlike, say, iron which tends to stick around longer).

People just don't think about how bad their diets are until they suddenly get those blisters and other problems. I had a friend who was basically living off potato chips and she ended up almost collapsing because she had deficiencies.

clintflint

Whenever I get mouth ulcers, they tend to look like white sore tongue blisters, although they aren't really blisters I think.

I just get them when I'm tired or really run down. So, if you've got white sores in your mouth and they aren't obviously a blister (i.e. they aren't really raised and defined) then it might just be an ulcer which will heal on its own.

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    • White tongue blisters may be accompanied by swollen lymph glands if they are the result of fever blisters.
      By: Creativa
      White tongue blisters may be accompanied by swollen lymph glands if they are the result of fever blisters.
    • An allergic reaction to food may cause the development of white tongue blisters.
      By: Monkey Business
      An allergic reaction to food may cause the development of white tongue blisters.
    • Kissing someone with a tongue blister might cause it to spread.
      By: berc
      Kissing someone with a tongue blister might cause it to spread.
    • Tonsillitis can cause white tongue blisters to form.
      By: designua
      Tonsillitis can cause white tongue blisters to form.