My 8 year old has a white spot on the side of his tongue near the back, where the tongue rests on the bottom molars. It is bright white and almost look like overgrown tastebuds that are white and is probably a quarter of an inch long. It is not a bump and is not rounded, more like an oval shaped area or just a little stripe. It does not hurt and when I try to scrape it a tiny amount of it will come off but not much. It is like I am scraping up taste buds though when I try. I noticed it yesterday. He is not sick, has not been sick, no fever, no other symptoms. I tried looking around on the internet and the only things that supposedly come up on the side of the tongue are things that suggest a person has some horrible immune deficiency such as HIV so now I am all freaked out!! I don't know if I should go get him from school and take him to the doctor or if I should wait a few days and see if it clears on its own since it is not causing any problems?? I called the dentist but they are closed until the 4th. I do not think that it is thrush because it is only that one small spot and doesn't really look like thrush, plus there are no other symptoms but idk. Anyone ever have this happen to their child's tongue?
I occasionally get canker sores ON my tongue, and they are exactly as you are describing. Wait a few days, it will go away on its own if that's what it is.
It's either where he has bit down on his tongue, and that is a scab, or it is a tastebud, or a canker sore . My son has gotten these on the tip of his tongue, especially after eating something sour( sour patch kids or sweet tarts do this to him) ..Do not touch it or try to scrape it off. It will eventually come off on its own. You might want him to swish some salt water in his mouth to prevent infection, and help it heal faster.
Ok, a few questions for you, it's not a bump, but it's like a white patch of taste buds? He has no pain, but it is where his tongue meets his molars?
Does he chew and bite on his tongue a little? especially when nervous or bored?
I actually do the same thing, and have a white stripe on the sides of my tongue, where I have chewed on it slightly. It doesn't hurt at all. Ask him if he has been chewing or biting on his tongue. If he has, it will stay white until he has stopped for weeks.
Stop looking online. You will always find the worst case scenarios. Can you just call the doctor's office or a medical information line? If it were me, I would wait a few days and take him in if it hasn't improved. I agree with the other posters that it is probably something harmless. If it spreads, it might be thrush after all. That was my first thought until you said it doesn't look like thrush.
Look up herpangina. My kids have both had this but it's been some time ago so do not remember specifics
My first thought was a canker sore but they are not painless.
I also suggest to stop looking online and freaking yourself out. Call the nurse and ask.
Extra rinse with salt water or Listerine might help.
Does it look anything like any of these spots?
If so make an appointment with the dentist instead of the pediatrician. But I would not worry about it if it looks like any of these. Geographic tongue has many different looks and it a genetic thing that only happens every now and then to every day.
http://www.picsearch.com/pictures/Health/Cutaneous%20cond...
