{"id":392441,"date":"2026-01-27T04:06:13","date_gmt":"2026-01-27T04:06:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/392441\/"},"modified":"2026-01-27T04:06:13","modified_gmt":"2026-01-27T04:06:13","slug":"covid-mouth-is-a-lesser-known-symptom-that-could-affect-10-percent-of-people","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/392441\/","title":{"rendered":"&#8216;Covid mouth&#8217; is a lesser-known symptom that could affect 10 percent of people"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Covid could lead to uncomfortable symptoms in your mouth<\/p>\n<p>11:37, 26 Jan 2026Updated 11:38, 26 Jan 2026<\/p>\n<p>This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/affiliates\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Learn more<\/a><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1_GettyImages-2217192526.jpg\" alt=\"Man with sore mouth\" loading=\"eager\"  \/><\/p>\n<p aria-label=\"You may not know that Covid has been linked to changes to your mouth\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">You may not know that Covid has been linked to changes to your mouth(Image: Getty)<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">A lesser-known symptom in the mouth could affect around one in 10 people with Covid. One study found that around 10 per cent of those hospitalised with coronavirus experienced changes to their mouth or tongue.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/news\/health\/latest-covid-symptoms-nhs-shares-36083864\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\">Many of us are well aware of some of the most common signs of Covid.<\/a> A <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/news\/health\/official-7-covid-symptom-musts-36002173\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\">continuous cough, loss of taste and smell<\/a>, and exhaustion are among the primary indicators to watch for.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">However, like any illness, there are some less typical symptoms of Covid that you may be unaware of. The <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/go.skimresources.com?id=76202X1526515&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fzoe.com%2Flearn%2Fcovid-symptom-tongue&amp;sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mirror.co.uk%2Fincoming%2F-36614725\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Zoe Health StudyLink opens in a new tab.\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\">Zoe Health Study<\/a>, a survey initiated in 2020 to monitor emerging symptoms and patterns of the virus, identified &#8220;Covid tongue&#8221; as a possible indication of infection.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">This term describes any alterations to the mouth or tongue resulting from Covid. Zoe documented how &#8220;many&#8221; people observed that their tongue appeared white and patchy and &#8220;didn&#8217;t look normal&#8221; during the period when they tested positive.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0_GettyImages-2208312901.jpg\" alt=\"Sore tongue\" loading=\"lazy\"  \/><\/p>\n<p aria-label=\"Covid tongue may result in swelling, a burning feeling, and a rough, bumpy texture on the tongue's surface\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Covid tongue may result in swelling, a burning feeling, and a rough, bumpy texture on the tongue&#8217;s surface(Image: Getty)<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Professor Tim Spector, one of Zoe&#8217;s co-founders, <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/timspector\/status\/1349421278034325506\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"shared an imageLink opens in a new tab.\" rel=\"nofollow\" tabindex=\"0\">shared an image<\/a> of a white and patchy tongue on X, previously known as <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/twitter\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\">Twitter<\/a>. He stated: &#8220;One in five people with Covid still present with less common symptoms that don&#8217;t get on the official Public Health England list &#8211; such as skin rashes. Seeing increasing numbers of Covid tongues and strange mouth ulcers.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">This symptom has been examined in numerous scientific studies. One review of research, published in the <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/epdf\/10.1111\/dth.14717\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Dermatologic Therapy journalLink opens in a new tab.\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\">Dermatologic Therapy journal<\/a> in 2020, documented various mouth-related changes associated with Covid.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Researchers discovered that dry mouth was the most frequently reported problem, followed by loss of taste (dysgeusia) and oral thrush, a fungal infection. They also noted alterations in tongue sensation, muscle discomfort during chewing, mouth swelling, and ulcers on the tongue or the inner surfaces of the mouth and lips, though these occurred less frequently.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0_GettyImages-2226120645.jpg\" alt=\"Sore mouth\" loading=\"lazy\"  \/><\/p>\n<p aria-label=\"Fortunately, the symptom typically resolves once the Covid infection clears\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Fortunately, the symptom typically resolves once the Covid infection clears(Image: Getty)<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Meanwhile, a separate study published in the <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/epdf\/10.1111\/bjd.19564\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"British Journal of DermatologyLink opens in a new tab.\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\">British Journal of Dermatology<\/a> revealed that amongst 666 hospitalised COVID-19 patients in Spain, a tenth experienced changes to their mouth or tongue. Study authors wrote: \u201cOverall, 304 (45.7 per cent) of our patients presented with one of more mucocutaneous manifestations [areas of the body involving both skin and mucous membranes].<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cOral cavity [mouth] findings were seen in 78 cases (25.7 per cent), including transient lingual papillitis (11.5 per cent), glossities with lateral indentations (6.6 per cent), aphthous stomatitis (6.9 per cent), glossitis with patchy depapillation (3.9 per cent) and mucositis (3.9 per cent). Burning sensation was reported in 5.3 per cent of patients, and taste disturbances (dysgeusia) were commonly associated.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.medicalnewstoday.com\/articles\/tongue-pain-covid#contacting-a-doctor\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Medical News TodayLink opens in a new tab.\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\">Medical News Today<\/a> has also reported that Covid tongue may result in swelling, a burning feeling, and a rough, bumpy texture on the tongue&#8217;s surface. The exact cause of Covid tongue remains unclear, though infections generally can trigger changes within the mouth.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Fortunately, the symptom typically resolves once the Covid infection clears, which generally takes approximately two weeks. Several over-the-counter remedies have proved helpful, including:<\/p>\n<p>Antifungal, antiviral, and antibacterial mouthwashes for white patches and ulcersSaliva substitutes for dry mouthLozenges to stimulate saliva productionNonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen for tongue swelling and pain<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">If the issue continues beyond two weeks, it&#8217;s advisable to consult your GP.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Covid could lead to uncomfortable symptoms in your mouth 11:37, 26 Jan 2026Updated 11:38, 26 Jan 2026 This&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":392442,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[2211,59,102,8667,56,54,55],"class_list":["post-392441","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-health","tag-coronavirus","tag-gb","tag-health","tag-therapy","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/392441","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=392441"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/392441\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/392442"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=392441"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=392441"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=392441"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}