Are Warts on the Tongue Dangerous?

Tongue warts are unpleasant and sometimes painful lesions caused by an infection of human papillomavirus (HPV). These small bumps may last anywhere from a few months to several years, and if other people touch them, those people can become infected with HPV as well. Transmission usually takes place through kissing and oral sex.

On their own, tongue warts are not dangerous. But the HPV virus that causes them is linked as a cause of several types of cancer. It is important to slow or stop the spread of HPV by limiting the amount of intimate contact you have with other people while you have an active case of oral warts.

HPV & warts on the tongue

Warts on the tongue are caused by an infection of the human papillomavirus (HPV). The American Cancer Society says there are more than 200 different types of HPV, and all of them live in squamous epithelial cells. These cells are found on the surface of the skin and on moist membranes, such as those in the mouth or reproductive tract.

Several forms of HPV can impact the mouth and tongue. Researchers say HPV 16 is the most dangerous, as it’s responsible for up to 96% of oral HPV-related cancers. However, HPV types 6 and 11 are responsible for forms of warts that go away and come back again, which can reduce a person’s quality of life.

Oral HPV is spread mainly through tongue kissing. Sometimes, people get HPV after oral sex. Since an HPV infection can cause subtle or no symptoms, you give it to someone unintentionally.

The link between HPV warts on the tongue & cancer

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) explains that nearly all sexually active people (regardless of sex, gender identity, or sexual orientation) are infected with HPV. About half of those infections are of the type closely associated with cancer.

In most cases, the human immune system controls HPV infections and clears them within a year or two. However, high-risk HPV types can persist and lead to cell changes that cause cancer. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says cancers typically take years (or even decades) to develop after people get HPV. The CDC also says that most cases of cancer are caused by a combination of HPV, tobacco use, and alcohol consumption.

The NIC says about 70% of cancer cases in the head and neck are caused by HPV infections. Some people develop symptoms like lumps, bleeding, and pain that send them to a doctor. Others don’t have these symptoms and don’t realize that they have cancer until later.

Regular oral checkups can help to lower your risk of cancer-related complications. Your doctor can examine your tongue and mouth closely and send any suspicious tissue for cancer testing. If you’re diagnosed with cancer, your doctor can create a treatment program for you.

What else causes warts on the tongue?

Some small oral lesions may look similar to tongue warts but are not warts at all. These include the following:

• Lie bumps, which are small white bumps on the tongue that may be mildly painful but go away on their own in a few days

• Cysts

• Injuries, usually from biting the tongue

• Syphilis sores

Tongue warts can come in various sizes, from as small as 1 mm to as large as 1 cm (or even larger in some cases).

If you discover that you have new bumps on your tongue, cannot explain them and cannot identify them, your best course of action is to see your doctor or go to an urgent care facility for an examination. If the physician can’t identify the bumps, they will run tests to get a conclusive ID.

Treatment options for warts on tongue

The American Dental Association explains that most forms of HPV are cleared from the body with no treatment. However, that doesn’t mean you can ignore new warts found on your tongue and inside your mouth.

Your doctor may take a small sample of your tongue wart to determine what type of HPV infection you have. If your team thinks it’s wise to do so, they may remove the wart via one of the following methods:

• Cryotherapy (freezing the wart off with liquid nitrogen)

• Laser therapy (cutting the wart off with a concentrated beam of light)

• Electrosurgery (burning the wart off with a targeted electric current)

• Medication (using drugs like imiquimod to remove the wart)

These treatments can cause temporary discomfort, and your tongue may be sore as it heals. Your doctor can monitor your treatment and ensure you’re healing well.

If you have cancer caused by HPV warts, your treatment will be more aggressive. Doctors often use surgery followed by radiation and/or chemotherapy to destroy the tumor. Researchers with the National Cancer Institute are investigating treatments with immunotherapy, which may provide good results with fewer side effects.

Prevention

Because tongue warts are usually transmitted through sexual contact, you can avoid getting them by avoiding intimate contact or by taking precautions during your intimate engagements. The first option isn’t a realistic solution for most people because humans crave intimacy.

A better solution, then, is to lower your risk of contracting tongue warts by taking precautionary measures, such as these: