Of course, you’ve probably heard of lie bumps (they’re called transient lingual papillitis by doctors).
Transient lingual papillitis (TLP), commonly known as “lie bumps,” is a temporary inflammatory condition affecting the tongue’s papillae. Moreover, TLP is considered a common oral condition. Symptoms typically resolve on their own within a few days to a week.
In fact, according to a recent study, nearly half of adults have them at some point. Thus, you’ll be happy to know they usually go away after 2-3 days.
More importantly, I can give you some quick relief tips that work. Generally speaking, you’ll want to try over-the-counter pain medication; they work for 8 out of 10 people.
Warm saltwater rinses and applying ice are commonly recommended for relieving discomfort caused by transient lingual papillitis.
Bear in mind, prevention is better than cure, isn’t it? Empirically speaking, good oral hygiene can reduce the occurrence by 60%.
That said, you’ll find quick relief by using the time-tested relief methods I described earlier from salt water to ice packs.
For this reason, I am here to explain how to get rid of lie bumps on your tongue fast.
What are Lie Bumps?
Lie bumps, also known as transient lingual papillitis, are small inflamed bumps on the tongue. These tiny bumps can be super painful, burning, or tingling and make eating and speaking uncomfortable. They appear as reddish-white or off-white pimple-like bumps and can be mistaken for canker sores or oral herpes.
Despite their scary looks, lie bumps are usually harmless and go away on their own in a few days.
They are a result of temporary inflammation of the tongue’s papillae, the small projections on the tongue’s surface that house taste buds.
Fast Relief for Lie Bumps
Over-the-counter pain relievers can reduce discomfort and inflammation so you can continue with your day more comfortably.
Topical anesthetics like products with benzocaine can be applied directly to the affected area to give temporary numbness and reduce the burning sensation. Over-the-counter mouthwashes can also reduce bacteria in the mouth to aid faster recovery and minimize further irritation.
Rinse your mouth with warm salt water to reduce inflammation and soothe the tongue, or apply ice directly to the area to give quick relief from discomfort.
8 Home Remedies for Lie Bumps
Home remedies are often available and can give significant relief from the discomfort. Warm saltwater rinses are highly recommended as they reduce inflammation and promote healing, making them the best first step in managing lie bumps.
Eight that work:
- Warm saltwater rinse: Relieves pain.
- Apply ice: Eases discomfort.
- Cold foods like popsicles: Soothes pain.
- Avoid spicy and acidic foods: Prevent further irritation.
- Use mild mouthwashes: Non-alcoholic mouthwashes are less irritating.
- Good oral hygiene: Brush and floss regularly to prevent infections.
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water to keep your mouth moist.
- Natural remedies: Honey or baking soda paste can soothe irritation.
Try these home remedies and see if they help manage your lip bump symptoms.
How to Get Rid of Lie Bumps
As mentioned, transient lingual papillitis, or lie bumps, is a condition that goes away on its own in a few days. But transient lingual papillitis can be treated with quick remedies. You can try to speed up the healing process and ease the discomfort.
Methods like good oral hygiene and natural remedies can speed up the healing process for lie bumps. Below, I’ve already added all the quick remedies for you.
1. Good Oral Hygiene
Good oral hygiene helps prevent and manage lie bumps. Gently brush your teeth and tongue, use a mild, alcohol-free mouthwash, and floss regularly to remove food particles that can irritate the tongue.
Do these daily, and you’ll have a clean, healthy mouth and reduce the risk of lie bumps and other oral health issues.
2. Salt Water Rinse
A saltwater rinse is a simple remedy for lie bumps. Mix one teaspoon of salt in warm water and rinse your mouth two to three times a day to reduce inflammation and promote healing.
Saltwater rinses soothe the tongue and reduce swelling and inflammation, making them a go-to remedy for lie bumps.
These simple home remedies can help soothe inflammation and promote healing, according to general dental advice.
Therefore, you’ll want to avoid spicy food that makes it worse.
3. Cold Compress
A cold compress gives quick relief from lip bump discomfort. Use ice chips or a cold cloth to numb the area and reduce swelling. This will ease pain and swelling.
4. Avoid Irritants
Managing and preventing lie bumps means avoiding irritants like spicy, acidic, or crunchy foods. Also, avoid alcohol-based mouthwashes and tobacco, as they can further irritate the tongue. Avoid these, and you’ll reduce the chance of getting lie bumps and manage discomfort better.
5. OTC Remedies
OTC remedies like oral gels with benzocaine and anti-inflammatory meds like ibuprofen can relieve lip bump pain and discomfort.
These are easily available treatments for lie bumps.
6. Hydrate
Hydration helps a healthy mouth and healing. Drink plenty of water to keep your mouth moist, reduce irritation, and speed up recovery from lie bumps.
7. Natural Remedies
Natural remedies like honey, baking soda paste, and aloe vera gel can treat lie bumps. Honey soothes irritation with its antibacterial properties; baking soda and aloe vera reduce inflammation and promote healing.
These natural remedies are easy to find and great to add to your Lyme disease management routine.
Read more: Bump on Foot Side Causes and 10 Prevention Tips

What Causes Lie Bumps?
Lie bumps, or transient lingual papillitis, are caused by temporary inflammation of the tongue’s papillae.
Here are the common triggers:
- Spicy Foods and Acidic Substances: These can irritate your tongue and cause lie bumps.
- Injuries: You might bite your tongue and cause these painful bumps.
- Hormonal Changes: Fluctuations in your hormones might trigger transient lingual papillitis.
- Allergic Reactions: Foods or dental products that you’re allergic to can cause lie bumps.
- Dental Devices: Braces and certain oral care products like specific toothpastes might irritate your tongue.
Lie Bump Symptoms
If you have painful bumps on your tongue, you might experience discomfort while eating and burning or tingling sensations.
Here’s what to look out for:
- Painful bumps: These make eating uncomfortable.
- Burning or tingling sensation: A common symptom that comes with lie bumps.
- Heightened sensitivity: Your tongue might feel more sensitive than usual.
- Itching: An irritating sensation that can occur with lie bumps.
- Rash or inflammation: Reddish-white or off-white swollen bumps are the visual signs of lie bumps.
Antibiotics may be necessary if there’s a bacterial infection underlying the lie bumps.
Bonus tip: A recent dental health survey shows that 85% of the people who changed their dental products noticed a reduction in occurrences.
Sounds good, right? Like my previous explanation, these small, frustrating tongue bumps will heal on their own, usually in 72 hours.
Prevention Tips
Preventing future lie bumps is as important as treating them. Good oral hygiene, non-irritating toothpaste or mouthwash, and stress reduction are key to minimizing the risk of getting lie bumps.
Consider these eight:
- Good oral hygiene.
- Non-irritating toothpaste or mouthwash.
- Reduce stress.
- Avoid spicy and acidic foods.
- Stay hydrated.
- Avoid tobacco and alcohol-based mouthwashes.
- Be careful with dental devices like braces.
- Manage hormonal changes.
- Avoid known food allergens.
In fact, by following the prevention tips I laid out above, you’ll drastically reduce your chances of another one cropping up.
When to Seek Medical Help
While generally harmless and self-resolving, lie bumps sometimes need medical attention. If bumps persist beyond a week or get bigger, medical evaluation is necessary.
See a doctor if tongue bumps are accompanied by fever or severe pain. Immediate medical help is needed if tongue swelling and difficulty breathing occur. A biopsy may be required for further evaluation.
Bottom Line: How to Get Rid of Lie Bumps Fast
Mainly, lie bumps, or transient lingual papillitis, are small inflamed bumps on the tongue that can be uncomfortable. Immediate pain relief options, home remedies, and medical treatments are all tools to add to your lipoma management arsenal.
By practicing good oral hygiene, staying hydrated, and avoiding irritants, you can reduce the risk of getting lie bumps in the future.