There was a time when it was believed that, if you told a lie, you would get a painful bump on your tongue. Such bumps were known as lie bumps. In the modern day, though, we recognize this as an old wives’ tale. These bumps are a condition known among the medical community as transient lingual papillitis.
Transient lingual papillitis comes in the form of tiny, white bumps on the upper surface of your tongue. They may sometimes turn red, or become tender for a few days. Fortunately, this is otherwise a harmless condition. You can expect them to heal by themselves in a few days, and you do not need to worry about spreading it to another person. If they persist for a particularly long time, consult your doctor or dentist.
It is unclear what causes transient lingual papillitis, though it is believed to be the result of some form of trauma. Perhaps your taste buds have been harmed by rubbing or scraping, or even via a chemical reaction with something you have ingested.
