Cluster of white spots on side of tongue

[foldingtowels]

Was at dentist today, he said I have some spots on the side of my tongue that he may need to refer me to get looked at if they get any worse or painful etc.

Suffer from health anxiety so now in a major panic! Has anyone had this before??

I thought maybe they are mouth ulcers? I bought some corsodyl mouthwash to try.

Really getting myself in a panic now.

Aibu? Is this common? I am fearing the worst

If the dentist thought it was a sign of something really serious, he'd have referred you straight away, so you almost certainly have absolutely nothing to worry about.

There are things that some people call 'lie spots' that can look a bit like that. They're usually just caused by being slightly run-down, tired, stressed, not eating properly etc (much like mouth ulcers). Or they could just be tiny ulcers.

Thank you!

I have been run down recently and very stressed. Hopefully it is just lie spots.

Would gp see me? Or would they refer me to dentist?

I get those if I'm under the weather or have eaten strong/spicy foods.

My DS's tongue looks like he's lost a layer of skin from it when he's poorly, so there could be a handful of reasons but as said your dentist would have sent a referral off if they'd have thought it was anything sinister.

My GP referred me to my dentist.

I was referred for something similar and had to have a tongue biopsy, as white spots in the mouth be indicative of cancer. I’d be pushing for a referral if I were you.

“Lie spot” is usually used to describe little white pimple-y things on the top of the tongue among the taste buds. I think the dentist was referring to this, which doesn’t look like lie spots. The marks on my tongue were actually much less clear than these and in fact the registrar wasn’t sure he could see them, it was only the consultant who could tell what the dentist had been concerned about.

Thank you all. @WolfFoxHare what did yours turn out to be?

I have a lot of odd-looking things in mouth. I have scars, get mouth ulcers, bite my tongue (usually accidentally), burns (usually stupidity) and wounds in unexpected places (like the time I stabbed myself in the gum with a super-crispy chip). And also unexplained white spots. Every new dentist queries something, until I explain what it is. They all say that the things to worry about are new things that do not change. So if one of my wounds/burns/ulcers does not heal up within 3 weeks, or appears to heal but leaves something different, to come and see them.

The only time I have ever been referred on was for blood blisters in my throat. Even then, the dentist said that because they come and go she is not worried - but she doesn't know what they are so she's referring me. Turned out that they were a side effect from my asthma inhaler, and I needed to gargle after puffing, rather than rinse my mouth out.

Hyperkeratinosis - basically thickened skin like you get on your elbows - a little callous on my tongue, that has developed because I have a rough patch on the tooth next to that bit of my tongue. I got seen under the 2 week wait protocol, biopsied 3 days later, so they didn’t mess about even though they were pretty sure it wouldn’t be anything serious due to my age and habits (ie no smoking, no excess drinking).

@Aparecium thank you, that has made me feel slightly more calm. As I said above I suffer from health anxiety so this has made me worried sick. Hopefully the spots clear up in the next few days and then I will be able to relax a bit.

@WolfFoxHare thank you. Glad yours was nothing to worry about. Hopefully mine is the same.

It’s almost certainly something benign but I’d definitely go back to your dentist in a hurry if they grow or become painful, even if you don’t push for a referral now.

Absolutely this.

A close friend of mine recently had tongue cancer but the spot on her tongue was one spot that was incredibly painful for her. It was like an ulcer that wouldn't go away.

Do your bumps hurt at all?

koplik spots? precursor for measles?

They don't hurt, I didn't know they were there until dentist told me.

Don't think it's these, had a quick google and they are only on my tongue at the side. Possibly looks like both sides same area.

I had a couple of sore spots in my mouth and went for Dr Google in the first instance.

I discovered there's such a thing as "covid tongue" which leads to symptoms pretty much exactly as I've got (lips too). I've tested negative (but I know tests aren't particularly reliable any more) but do feel a bit washed out generally and my lymph nodes were up yesterday.

But I've decided to do precisely nothing about this until after the Bank Hol at least, because it says that if covid, it usually goes away by itself in a few days; and it's heaps improved since yesterday without me doing anything about it at all (and lymph nodes are nearly normal again).

I think your dentist would refer immediately if they were really concerned.