Hi everyone,
10 days ago, I noticed a big ulcer with lots of swelling on the back side of my mother's tongue. We applied some glycerine and the ulcer subsidied. Yesterday, I took a look at her tongue again and noticed that her foliate pappilae have swollen a lot and she had a broken tooth there. She was biting a lot with that sharp broken tooth onto that area. We saw the dentist and he gave a steriod gel and also requested a biopsy. We went to see an ENT, who said it was just chronic irritation and she does not even have precancerous symptoms. I am really scared and not sure what needs to be done. With the steroid gel, her swelling has reduced. The papillae still looks inflammed. its been two days. What do you guys suggest. A picture of the irritation is close to what I found here on the net:
http://classconnection.s3.amazonaws.com/342/flashcards/148342/png/olt1316472100551.png
My mothers is a bit more stronger than this.


Waiting for your responses.
Sesame.

The tongue will instinctively gravitate to a damaged tooth. That should be repaired right away. Then see what develops. if the wound is not healing in 2 weeks then an appointment with an ENT, with oral cancer experience is in order.

The tooth has been repaired. The swelling seems less. Its been two days.

Thank you for your reply Gary. We are applying Kenocort for the last three days. The swelling seems to have gone down. But the papillae is still pretty sharp and are of skin color.
As suggested, we will wait for two more days and get a check done from the ENT. Is this a sure shot sign of oral cancer.

Please do share if any of you have has similar experiences. My mom is otherwise healthy and active. She does not smoke etc. Just been biting her tongue with a sharp tooth.

Only thru a biopsy could it be determined if this was indeed oral cancer. At this point all you can do is what Gary advised and wait the 2 weeks. The rule goes like this.... any sore in your mouth that does not heal itself within 2 or 3 weeks should be checked by a professional. That means an ENT or oral surgeon.

Hopefully your mothers sore will heal and it is nothing to be concerned about.

Best wishes!

I agree with david. I would follow through on the dentists request for a biopsy. Particularly if the area doesn't heal. I have a very similar experience this is why I am pushing you to follow through. Oracort will decrease swelling as it is an anti inflammatory. It has a tendency to mask other things. SO if the sore does not go away I would see a different ENT. best of luck.

Thanks for all your responses.

Do you suggest that we go for a biopsy right away?
Or should we wait for a week to check the healing and then follow up with the dentist?

Its been three days already and we do see that the swelling is gone and there is 15-20% hraling. The foliate papillae look quite enlarged still, no red or whte patch and no hardness either.

I would make an appointment as these sometimes take a week or two to get. Then see what happens - you can always cancel if things clear up. best of luck