HIV and tongue symptoms

• HIV tongue symptoms can appear in the first and last stages of an HIV infection.
• Several infections of the tongue can occur if you have HIV, all with different symptoms.
• Taking care of your oral health is important in defending yourself against tongue and mouth infections.

HIV tongue symptoms can be an early warning sign of an acute HIV infection or can appear at a later stage when the condition has progressed into AIDS. These tongue symptoms appear because HIV weakens the immune system, giving infections the chance to develop. In this article, you’ll find more information about the possible early signs of HIV on the tongue and an overview of how to protect your oral health. 

You can notice signs of HIV on the tongue during the early and late stages of the infection with the virus. An acute HIV infection can have various manifestations in the mouth and on the tongue. These mouth and tongue HIV symptoms occur due to the virus’s attack on the immune system, which weakens it and allows infections to occur. 1 These infections all have their own characteristics and particular treatment methods.

Early-stage HIV can show up on the tongue, the gums, and the inside of the mouth. If you start noticing unusual changes in your mouth, then it’s essential to follow up on this with your healthcare provider. HIV tongue symptoms can include: 1 2

• Oral Candidiasis, a fungal infection of the mouth, tongue, and throat, is also referred to as oral thrush. Candidiasis usually resembles red patches on the tongue with white lumps on them. These patches can form anywhere in the mouth and on the tongue and can cause a burning sensation. If you wipe or brush away these sores, they typically start bleeding. You may also notice painful cracks at the corners of your mouth and experience pain when swallowing.  As the immune system is compromised due to an HIV infection, the fungus can grow, causing this HIV symptom on the tongue.  
• Canker sores, also called aphthous ulcers. These are small, round, painful sores that can be found underneath the tongue, in the back of the throat, or on the inside of the cheeks or the lips. They usually look red, with a gray or white dot in the middle of the sore. These sores can usually be provoked by stress or after eating certain foods. 
• Hairy leukoplakia is characterized by white, hairy-looking patches that are usually painless. You can notice these patches on the sides of the tongue, and you cannot remove them using your toothbrush. In some cases, the patches can cause discomfort and may even alter your sense of taste.
• Kaposi sarcoma, which is characterized by dark purple, or red spots on the back of the tongue, the roof of the mouth, or the gums. 
• Oral warts can also be a sign of an HIV infection. Oral warts with HIV may look like bumps on the tongue or the inside of your mouth. These warts are not painful. 
• An HIV tongue with sores is usually due to a viral infection with Herpes. This causes red sores, which can be found inside the mouth or on the lips. 

Besides these signs of HIV on the tongue, there are also other symptoms of the mouth that may point to an early HIV infection. HIV often causes a dry mouth due to a lack of saliva production. Saliva is vital to your oral health, as it protects your teeth and gums from decay and infections. Gum disease can also occur and can cause your gums to swell and loosen up. This eventually leads to the loss of teeth and high levels of inflammation throughout the body. 

HIV tongue symptoms are caused by infections by viruses, bacteria, and fungi. Usually, your immune system fights off these infections. With HIV, certain cells of the immune system get destroyed, which debilitates the immune system. This allows for these infections to develop, which causes symptoms. HIV can affect your tongue in the early stages of the infection, which is why HIV tongue symptoms may be an early warning sign of an HIV infection. If your HIV infection is not diagnosed or not under control, then it can progress to AIDS after years. In this late stage of HIV, you can frequently notice infections all over the body, including the mouth and tongue. 3

It’s important to know what a normal tongue vs an HIV tongue looks like. If you start to notice HIV tongue sores or other tongue HIV symptoms, then it’s important to get tested for HIV as soon as possible. If you’ve been diagnosed with HIV, then it’s important to take care of your oral health. You can do so by: 4

• Getting regular check-ups at your dentist. Make sure to tell your dentist about your HIV status, HIV symptoms on your tongue, and any changes which you’ve noticed lately. 
• Brush and floss your teeth thoroughly twice per day in order to remove dental plaque. 
• Take your HIV medication as prescribed, according to the plan set out for you by your healthcare provider. This way, your immune system does not get weakened. Most HIV tongue infections happen because of a debilitated immune system, so keeping your immune system healthy is an important step in preventing oral infections. 
• Avoid smoking, as this increases your risk of hairy leukoplakia, thrush, gum disease, tooth loss, and cancers of the mouth, tongue, throat, and lips. 

Signs of HIV on the tongue can appear both in the early and late stages of HIV. It’s crucial to be aware of your HIV status and to talk to your healthcare provider and your dentist about any unusual changes you may have noticed in your mouth and on your tongue. Maintaining good oral hygiene and taking your HIV medication consistently can help decrease the possibility of developing oral infections. 

Q: How long does HIV white tongue last? 
A: A white tongue caused by thrush usually lasts  2 to 3 weeks with the proper treatment.

Q: How does your tongue look when you have HIV? 
A: Your tongue can appear differently depending on which condition you have. If you have thrush, then your tongue can look like it has red patches with white lumps on them. If you have hairy leukoplakia,  you can notice white patches that look hairy. Sores can also appear due to HIV

Q: What are the early signs of HIV on the tongue? 
A: The early signs of HIV on the tongue can be white patches that look hairy, a tongue with red patches with white lumps on them, sores, and warts.

Q: Can oral thrush be the symptom of an acute HIV infection? 
A: Yes, oral thrush can be a symptom of an acute HIV infection. With HIV, the immune system is attacked and weakens. The immune system normally keeps fungus in check, but as it weakens, a fungus in the mouth can take over, causing thrush. 

Q: Can I get HIV from oral sex? 
A: There is a risk of getting HIV from oral sex, although the risk is much lower than with anal or vaginal sex. The risk of contracting HIV from oral sex increases if you have open wounds in your mouth or if an HIV-infected partner ejaculates in your mouth.