This article was co-authored by Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS and by wikiHow staff writer, Aly Rusciano. Luba Lee, FNP-BC is a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and educator in Tennessee with over a decade of clinical experience. Luba has certifications in Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Emergency Medicine, Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Team Building, and Critical Care Nursing. She received her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from the University of Tennessee in 2006.
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Swollen or irritated taste buds are fairly common and can happen for several reasons (burning your tongue, eating spicy/acidic foods, having dry mouth, smoking, or allergies). If you have inflamed taste buds, you might see spots on your tongue that are bright red, white, or puffy. It might seem like you’ll never be able to enjoy food again if you’re dealing with this—but don’t worry. There are ways you can quickly soothe your irritated buds at home to get some relief. However, if your taste buds are consistently inflamed or don’t heal after a few days, check in with a doctor.
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