Lie bumps (transient lingual papillitis^[1] and fungiform papillary glossitis^[2] ) are painful, hypertrophic, red and white papillae on the tongue.^[1]

Lie bumps are relatively common — a 1996 study found that 56% of the respondents to their survey reported these lesions.^[1] The most common presentation of this was found to be in young women, involving one or several fungiform papillae.^[1] The symptoms last several days and resolve on their own with no treatment.^[1]

The name “lie bumps” is a result of a myth stating that telling a lie would cause one.^[3] Lie bumps are often attributed to irritation of the tongue’s papillae (taste buds) by sharp food or teeth.^[3] However, very little has been written about this condition in scientific articles or textbooks and scientific studies have failed to produce a definite cause.^[1] Possible causes include: “stress, gastrointestinal upset, menstruation, acidic or sour food, and local trauma” (direct physical irritation) of the tongue.^[1]

There is no specific treatment for this problem, other than using ice or numbing medicines to ease the pain. ^[4] Anecdotal remedies include gargling with salt water and direct application of hydrogen peroxide.