I get canker sore (Or what I think are canker sores) every so often. It seems like when I eat alot of sugar, it comes on, or when I eat potato chips, it comes on. Anyway, how common are caker sores on the tongue? I know that most of them are inside the lip and gum area, but the tongue? What causes that? Is this something that I could have had since childhood or something I could have gotten as an adult? Should you rinse with hydrogen peroxide? These little things can be so painful and they seem to last too long! Can someone please help? I don't know much about canker sores (if that is what it is)It starts out with a red area, then it almost looks like a white pimple on the tongue (not open) and it hurts! I thought that maybe if was an inflamed or irritated taste bud, but I don't know the difference. It's so frustrating! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/frown.gif

Hi N2golf,

Canker sores have nothing to do with herpes. It is not conclusively known what causes them but it is not herpes. Occasionally herpes is found inside the mouth but not often, and the appearance is usually different. Cankers are thought to be caused by either a bacterial or fungal infection, whereas herpes is caused by a virus.

You can find out more about them at MedLinePlus:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000998.htm

Good luck!

TheOneInFour

Thanks Oneinfour!