Sore or white tongue

• use a soft toothbrush to brush your teeth

• brush your tongue or use a scraper to help improve a white tongue

• use a straw to drink cool drinks

• take paracetamol or ibuprofen

• do not use a toothpaste that contains sodium lauryl sulphate

• do not eat spicy, acidic or hot food and drink that may irritate your tongue

• do not smoke

• do not drink alcohol

You can ask a pharmacist:

• what's causing your sore or white tongue
• if you can buy anything to help with any pain or irritation
• if you should see a dentist or GP

• you have tongue pain or itchiness that does not go away or gets worse
• you have white patches on your tongue

Biting or burning your tongue with hot food or drink can cause pain and swelling. This should only last a few days.

A white tongue can be a sign of a health condition, such as anaemia, scarlet fever, lichen planus, leukoplakia, geographic tongue, mouth ulcers or oral thrush.

But do not self-diagnose. See a GP if you're worried.

Lichen planus

If you have a sore or white tongue, it can help to brush your tongue or use a tongue scraper and avoid spicy, acidic or hot food and drink.

Tongue pain is often caused by burning or biting your tongue. Common causes of a white tongue include lichen planus, leukoplakia and oral thrush.