Having warts anywhere on the body is very unpleasant, especially if it grows inside the oral cavity. HPV or human papilloma virus is the reason why warts on the tongue appear, it is rather an uncommon occurrence and usually pops out of nowhere. However, that is not the case; here is an explanation regarding the types and treatment of bumps on the tongue because of HPV.
Warts are small bumpy benign structures that are pink colored if keratinized via a single layer and look white if multiple layers are involved. A wart or bump in the tongue because of HPV is cystic in appearance and is a raised white spot like structure. Usually, once grown, they stay for months or even years! Do not ignore it if the hpv bumps on the tongue exceed 6 month time as it may indicate oral cancer.
Types of Warts or Bumps on the Tongue – HPV
Different strains lead to mouth wart growth, and HPV strain 6 and 11 are the reasons for bumps appearing on the tongue.
Squamous Papilloma
Strains 6 and 11 cause lesion growth that looks like a cauliflower. However, they resolve without medical assistance but will take some years to do so. Therefore you should notify your healthcare provider when you find wart like bumps inside your mouth or on the tongue due to HPV. The growth is common on the tonsils, palate, gums, pharynx, epiglottis, etc., apart from the tongue.
Common Wart – Verruca Vulgaris
Common warts usually grow on the hands because of strain numbers 2 and 4. It is commonly found in places where the chances of trauma are more and can grow on any skin part or mucocutaneous surface.
Condyloma Acuminate
These bumps of HPV do not grow on the tongue rather are found in the genital area. But, if the infected individuals indulge in oral sexual contact, then it will spread inside the oral cavity. It is a result of strains 2, 6, and 11.
Focal Epithelial Hyperplasia
It is also referred to as Heck’s disease, and the bumps on the tongue are caused because of HPV strains 13 and 32. In this condition, the wart inside the mouth has papules of white or pink color, giving it a cobblestone appearance.
HPV Bumps On Tongue Treatment
Usually, warts go away without medical treatment, but it may take around 2 years. On the other hand, topical creams are mostly ineffective when it comes to the oral cavity. Another option is freezing warts with Cryotherapy, which involves injecting interferon alpha in them; however, it is reported that surgical removal of oral warts is the best-recommended treatment.
Conclusion
While home remedy options are limited; applying a few drops of tea tree oil on the wart or rubbing clove of raw garlic show promising results. Your dentist will suggest whichever option is the best for you to help soothe any pain and discomfort. Call the dentist in Porter at Porter Smiles Dental at 281 519 7200.