# What is a "lie bump"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 11, 2006, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-lie-bump/339539 "2006-01-11T19:46:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![StewieGriffin420](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@StewieGriffin420](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StewieGriffin420)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-lie-bump/339539/1 "2006-01-11T19:46:53Z")
You know the small painful white bumps you sometimes get on your tounge? My mother called them “lie bumps” because you got one if you told a lie. What are they really? ---
**Author:** ![Psilocybe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/51bf81/32.png) [@Psilocybe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Psilocybe)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-lie-bump/339539/2 "2006-01-11T19:52:45Z")
I’ve heard they’re inflamed taste buds. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-lie-bump/339539/3 "2006-01-11T20:03:34Z")
I’ve never gotten those, but I do get bumps on the roof of my mouth towards the back. It occurs with no regularity. Usually it’s from spicy and/or acidic foods, but not always, Sometimes a ghlass of OJ will make them appear, but usually not. Completly random, midly annoyiong, but not really painful. ---
**Author:** ![Mindfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindfield/32/19759_2.png) [@Mindfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mindfield)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-lie-bump/339539/4 "2006-01-11T20:08:28Z")
My father always called them ulcers, though I’m not sure if this is the correct term for them. ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-lie-bump/339539/5 "2006-01-11T20:53:17Z")
> [@Psilocybe](#): > > I’ve heard they’re inflamed taste buds. I get them usually after indulging too much in sour candies. I call them flavor blisters. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-lie-bump/339539/6 "2006-01-11T21:47:49Z")
> [@Psilocybe](#): > > I’ve heard they’re inflamed taste buds. Ditto. Get them more often than the average bear. ---
**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-lie-bump/339539/7 "2006-01-11T21:51:05Z")
> [@StewieGriffin420](#): > > You know the small painful white bumps you sometimes get on your tounge? My mother called them “lie bumps” because you got one if you told a lie. What are they really? WAG Canker sores? [Canker Sore](http://dictionary.reference.com/search?r=2&q=canker%20sore) “Lie Bumps” = Old wives tales. ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2006, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-lie-bump/339539/8 "2006-01-12T00:58:44Z")
Naaaah… not cankers… We’re talking about on the tongue itself. They look like little white bumps. ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2006, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-lie-bump/339539/9 "2006-01-12T21:00:59Z")
I suppose they’re what _my_ mom called (translated from the original Norwegian) liar’s blister. And with that name I always just assumed they were… blisters… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2006, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-lie-bump/339539/10 "2006-01-12T21:21:18Z")
> [@Psilocybe](#): > > I’ve heard they’re inflamed taste buds. I think it’s an inflamed papillae, which is the visible bump on the tongue that contains the taste buds. ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2006, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-lie-bump/339539/11 "2006-01-12T21:44:01Z")
Another vote for **spingears** [canker sores](http://www.healingdaily.com/conditions/canker-sores.htm). The site has pictures, and says they also occur on the tongue. When I have one, I always use [Pyralvex.](http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/100002204.html). Helps almost intantly and tastes pleasantly in an interesting way. ---
**Author:** ![orangetruck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ad7895/32.png) [@orangetruck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orangetruck)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2006, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-lie-bump/339539/12 "2006-01-12T23:38:49Z")
My dentist told me that my frequent mouth sores were caused by an allergy to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, which is a common toothpaste ingredient. After switching to a brand that does not contain it, I hardly ever get them. It is unbelievably difficult to find toothpaste that doesn’t contain it, and I have occasionally switched to straight baking soda when it was not available. ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-lie-bump/339539/13 "2006-01-13T01:56:22Z")
Don’t cut them off with nail clippers. It hurts. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-lie-bump/339539/14 "2006-01-13T03:28:02Z")
> [@bouv](#): > > I’ve never gotten those, but I do get bumps on the roof of my mouth towards the back. It occurs with no regularity. Usually it’s from spicy and/or acidic foods, but not always, Sometimes a ghlass of OJ will make them appear, but usually not. Completly random, midly annoyiong, but not really painful. I get those too, but I’ve never heard about them from anyone else. They’re like little blisters that break easily and painlessly. ---
**Author:** ![yBeayf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/e274bd/32.png) [@yBeayf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yBeayf)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-lie-bump/339539/15 "2006-01-13T03:37:34Z")
> [@](#): > > Another vote for spingears canker sores. The site has pictures, and says they also occur on the tongue. I also get what’s being described in the OP, and they’re not canker sores (which I am currently suffering from). These are exactly the size of a taste bud, but white, sore, and mildly swollen. I usually get them on the tip of my tongue after eating a bunch of sour candy like lemonheads or lucas. They do seem to be inflamed tastebuds. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-lie-bump/339539/16 "2006-01-13T03:42:34Z")
I always called them ulcers as well. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-lie-bump/339539/17 "2006-01-13T14:09:22Z")
> [@yBeayf](#): > > I also get what’s being described in the OP, and they’re not canker sores (which I am currently suffering from). These are exactly the size of a taste bud, but white, sore, and mildly swollen. I usually get them on the tip of my tongue after eating a bunch of sour candy like lemonheads or lucas. They do seem to be inflamed tastebuds. I think you mean the papillae, not the taste bud. The visible bump on the tongue is a papillae, which contains tastebuds, which I do not think are visible to the naked eye. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-lie-bump/339539/18 "2006-01-13T19:27:52Z")
I used to suffer from canker sores (until I switched to a non-SLS toothpaste, as mentioned by **orangetruck** ; I haven’t had one in years), and they are not the same thing as the painful inflamed bump described in the OP. Although, interestingly, I haven’t had one of those, either, since switching toothpaste. Hmmm.