When they lie down to sleep at night, stomach acid can travel up the esophagus and irritate the back of the throat. This is a common cause of sore throat. Minor burns of the tongue from drinking ...

Tongue diseases and problems can cause pain, bumps, and changes to the color ... which is the front two-thirds of the organ, or in the back one-third, which extends down your throat.

You may also notice bumps on the back of your tongue, sores that appear on the side, or a white coating. COVID can also sometimes cause loss of papillae, which makes your tongue look smooth.