Transient lingual papillitis - wikipedia Transient lingual papillitis This article contains weasel words : vague phrasing that often accompanies biased or unverifiable information. Such statements should be clarified or removed. ( January 2014 ) Transient lingual papillitis ( also termed fungiform papillary glossitis, eruptive lingual papillitis, or colloquially, lie bumps ), are painful, hypertrophic, red and white papillae on the tongue. Cause The name `` lie bumps '' is a result of a myth that telling lies would cause them. However, very little has been written about this condition in scientific articles or textbooks and scientific studies have failed to produce a definite cause. Possible causes include : `` stress, gastrointestinal upset, menstruation, acidic or sour food, smoking, and local trauma '' ( direct physical irritation ) of the tongue. Lie bumps are often caused by the taste bud / buds splitting. These bumps are small, white bumps on the base of the tongue. They are likely to be the result of transient lingual papillitis ( TLP ). This condition is limited to the upper ( dorsal ) surface of the tongue, affecting some of the tiny bumps on the tongue known as the fungiform papillae, what we commonly call the `` taste buds. '' TLP is a harmless problem. These bumps can become notably red or white and are quite tender for up to several days. While the cause of TLP is not known with certainty, most experts feel that local accidental trauma ( rubbing, scraping or biting ) is a major factor ; however, contact reactions to things like certain foods have also been suggested. Lie bumps are not contagious and the discomfort is relatively minor. Typically these lesions heal within a few days with no treatment, though a doctor may refer a patient to an oral pathologist in prolonged cases. Treatments Please add medical references. ( January 2014 ) There are no specific treatments for this problem, other than using ice or numbing medicines to ease the pain. References Jump up ^ Marks, R. ; Scarff, C.E. ; Yap, L.M. ; Verlinden, V. ; Jolley, D. ; Campbell, J. ( October 2005 ). `` Fungiform papillary glossitis : atopic disease in the mouth ? ''. British Journal of Dermatology. British Association of Dermatologists. 153 ( 100,000,000,000 ) : 740 -- 745. PMID 16181454. doi : 10.1111 / j. 1365 - 2133.2005. 06577. x. Retrieved 2007 - 10 - 30. ^ Jump up to : Roux, O. ; Lacour, J.P. ; Paediatricians of the Region Var - Cote D'Azur ( February 2004 ). `` Eruptive lingual papillitis with household transmission : a prospective clinical study ''. British Journal of Dermatology. British Association of Dermatologists. 150 ( 2 ) : 299 -- 303. PMID 14996101. doi : 10.1111 / j. 1365 - 2133.2004. 05703. x. Retrieved 2007 - 10 - 30. Oral and maxillofacial pathology ( K00 -- K06, K11 -- K14, 520 -- 525, 527 -- 529 ) Lips Cheilitis Actinic Angular Plasma cell Cleft lip Congenital lip pit Eclabium Herpes labialis Macrocheilia Microcheilia Nasolabial cyst Sun poisoning Trumpeter 's wart Tongue Ankyloglossia Black hairy tongue Caviar tongue Crenated tongue Cunnilingus tongue Fissured tongue Foliate papillitis Glossitis Geographic tongue Median rhomboid glossitis Transient lingual papillitis Glossoptosis Hypoglossia Lingual thyroid Macroglossia Microglossia Rhabdomyoma Palate Bednar 's aphthae Cleft palate High - arched palate Palatal cysts of the newborn Inflammatory papillary hyperplasia Stomatitis nicotina Torus palatinus Oral mucosa -- Lining of mouth Amalgam tattoo Angina bullosa haemorrhagica Behçet 's disease Bohn 's nodules Burning mouth syndrome Candidiasis Condyloma acuminatum Darier 's disease Epulis fissuratum Erythema multiforme Erythroplakia Fibroma Giant - cell Focal epithelial hyperplasia Fordyce spots Hairy leukoplakia Hand, foot and mouth disease Hereditary benign intraepithelial dyskeratosis Herpangina Herpes zoster Intraoral dental sinus Leukoedema Leukoplakia Lichen planus Linea alba Lupus erythematosus Melanocytic nevus Melanocytic oral lesion Molluscum contagiosum Morsicatio buccarum Oral cancer Benign : Squamous cell papilloma Keratoacanthoma Malignant : Adenosquamous carcinoma Basaloid squamous carcinoma Mucosal melanoma Spindle cell carcinoma Squamous cell carcinoma Verrucous carcinoma Oral florid papillomatosis Oral melanosis Smoker 's melanosis Pemphigoid Benign mucous membrane Pemphigus Plasmoacanthoma Stomatitis Aphthous Denture - related Herpetic Smokeless tobacco keratosis Submucous fibrosis Ulceration Riga -- Fede disease Verruca vulgaris Verruciform xanthoma White sponge nevus Teeth ( pulp, dentin, enamel ) Amelogenesis imperfecta Ankylosis Anodontia Caries Early childhood caries Concrescence Failure of eruption of teeth Dens evaginatus Talon cusp Dentin dysplasia Dentin hypersensitivity Dentinogenesis imperfecta Dilaceration Discoloration Ectopic enamel Enamel hypocalcification Enamel hypoplasia Turner 's hypoplasia Enamel pearl Fluorosis Fusion Gemination Hyperdontia Hypodontia Maxillary lateral incisor agenesis Impaction Wisdom tooth impaction Macrodontia Meth mouth Microdontia Odontogenic tumors Keratocystic odontogenic tumour Odontoma Dens in dente Open contact Premature eruption Neonatal teeth Pulp calcification Pulp stone Pulp canal obliteration Pulp necrosis Pulp polyp Pulpitis Regional odontodysplasia Resorption Shovel - shaped incisors Supernumerary root Taurodontism Trauma Avulsion Cracked tooth syndrome Vertical root fracture Occlusal Tooth loss Edentulism Tooth wear Abrasion Abfraction Acid erosion Attrition Periodontium ( gingiva, periodontal ligament, cementum, alveolus ) -- Gums and tooth - supporting structures Cementicle Cementoblastoma Gigantiform Cementoma Eruption cyst Epulis Pyogenic granuloma Congenital epulis Gingival enlargement Gingival cyst of the adult Gingival cyst of the newborn Gingivitis Desquamative Granulomatous Plasma cell Hereditary gingival fibromatosis Hypercementosis Hypocementosis Linear gingival erythema Necrotizing periodontal diseases Acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis Pericoronitis Peri-implantitis Periodontal abscess Periodontal trauma Periodontitis Aggressive As a manifestation of systemic disease Chronic Perio - endo lesion Teething Periapaical, mandibular and maxillary hard tissues -- Bones of jaws Agnathia Alveolar osteitis Buccal exostosis Cherubism Idiopathic osteosclerosis Mandibular fracture Microgenia Micrognathia Intraosseous cysts Odontogenic : periapical Dentigerous Buccal bifurcation Lateral periodontal Globulomaxillary Calcifying odontogenic Glandular odontogenic Non-odontogenic : Nasopalatine duct Median mandibular Median palatal Traumatic bone Osteoma Osteomyelitis Osteonecrosis Bisphosphonate - associated Neuralgia - inducing cavitational osteonecrosis Osteoradionecrosis Osteoporotic bone marrow defect Paget 's disease of bone Periapical abscess Phoenix abscess Periapical periodontitis Stafne defect Torus mandibularis Temporomandibular joints, muscles of mastication and malocclusions -- Jaw joints, chewing muscles and bite abnormalities Bruxism Condylar resorption Mandibular dislocation Malocclusion Crossbite Open bite Overbite Overeruption Overjet Prognathia Retrognathia Scissor bite Maxillary hypoplasia Temporomandibular joint dysfunction Salivary glands Benign lymphoepithelial lesion Ectopic salivary gland tissue Frey 's syndrome HIV salivary gland disease Necrotizing sialometaplasia Mucocele Ranula Pneumoparotitis Salivary duct stricture Salivary gland aplasia Salivary gland atresia Salivary gland diverticulum Salivary gland fistula Salivary gland hyperplasia Salivary gland hypoplasia Salivary gland neoplasms Benign : Basal cell adenoma Canalicular adenoma Ductal papilloma Monomorphic adenoma Myoepithelioma Oncocytoma Papillary cystadenoma lymphomatosum Pleomorphic adenoma Sebaceous adenoma Malignant : Acinic cell carcinoma Adenocarcinoma Adenoid cystic carcinoma Carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma Lymphoma Mucoepidermoid carcinoma Sclerosing polycystic adenosis Sialadenitis Parotitis Chronic sclerosing sialadenitis Sialectasis Sialocele Sialodochitis Sialosis Sialolithiasis Sjögren 's syndrome Orofacial soft tissues -- Soft tissues around the mouth Actinomycosis Angioedema Basal cell carcinoma Cutaneous sinus of dental origin Cystic hygroma Gnathophyma Ludwig 's angina Macrostomia Melkersson -- Rosenthal syndrome Microstomia Noma Oral Crohn 's disease Orofacial granulomatosis Perioral dermatitis Pyostomatitis vegetans Other Eagle syndrome Hemifacial hypertrophy Facial hemiatrophy Oral manifestations of systemic disease Salivary microbiome Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Transient_lingual_papillitis&oldid=799696017 '' Categories : Tongue Conditions of the mucous membranes Oral mucosal pathology Tongue disorders Hidden categories : Articles with weasel words from January 2014 All articles with specifically marked weasel - 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Question: what exactly is a lie bump on your tongue
Answer: painful, hypertrophic, red and white papillae on the tongue