Geographical tongue: symptoms, causes, to treatment

Definition

What is geographic tongue?

Geographical tongue is the appearance of an irregular, smooth, red area on the tongue that is shaped like a map. This condition occurs on the top and sides of the tongue, and sometimes under the surface. Usually there are white wavy stripes next to the area.

You may notice that in a few weeks or months, the position of the stripes and red areas will change.

These patches (lesions) give the tongue a map-like pattern. Lesions often heal in one area, then move (migrate) to another part of your tongue.

While it may seem alarming, geographic tongue causes no health problems and is not linked to infection or cancer. This condition can sometimes cause tongue discomfort and make your tongue more sensitive to certain substances, such as spices, salt, or even candy.

How common is this condition?

Geographical tongue is a common condition. This condition can occur at any time in life, including childhood.

Reporting from DermNet NZ, this condition is thought to attack 1-3% worldwide. This condition is more common in adults than children.

Tongue with irregular spots is also more common in women than men.

In affected individuals, geographic tongues tend to vary in color, shape, and size. This condition is not contagious, so it cannot be spread from person to person.

Signs & symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of a geographic tongue?

Geographic tongue signs and symptoms can include:

• A smooth, red, irregularly shaped area on the top or side of your tongue
• Frequent changes in the location, size and shape of the wound
• Discomfort, pain or a burning sensation, often associated with hot, spicy, salty or sour food.

Many people with geographic tongue don't have any symptoms.

There may be signs and symptoms not listed above. If you have concerns about a particular symptom, consult your doctor.

When should I see a dentist?

Geographical tongue is a minor, though sometimes uncomfortable, condition. However, a sore on the tongue can indicate a more serious condition of the tongue or a disease that affects the body in general.

If you have a sore on your tongue that doesn't get better in 7-10 days, see your doctor or dentist.

Cause

What causes geographic tongue?

Quoted from the Oral Health Foundation website, this condition occurs because the "old" surface on the tongue replaces itself. The top layer of the "skin" of the tongue does not appear evenly. Some parts of the "skin" appear too early and leave red, painful areas like scratches on the skin. Other parts of the skin are too long and white.

Due to the thin area that is red, sometimes infected with thrush (candida). Thrush is very common in the mouth.

However, the exact cause of this condition is not clearly known and there is no way to prevent it. The Mayo Clinic says irregular areas on the tongue may be related to psoriasis. However, further research is needed to prove this.

Complications

What complications can I have with this condition?

There are no major complications associated with geographic tongue. There is no known disease or cancer to stem from this condition.

Related to the appearance of the tongue, this condition may cause anxiety or other psychological complications. Anxiety may appear in the form of fear of other people's bad judgments.

Risk factors

What are the things that increase my risk of developing this condition?

Factors associated with increased risk include:

• Family history. Some people with geographic tongue have a family history of this disease, genetic inherited factors can increase the risk.
• Cracked tongue. People with geographic tongue often have another disorder called a cracked tongue, which appears to be cracks or grooves on the surface of the tongue.

This condition affects all age groups and you can be aware of it since you were a child. This condition is not an infection.

Diagnosis and treatment

How do doctors diagnose this condition?

The dentist will usually make a diagnosis of this condition based on examining your tongue and looking for the signs and symptoms.

During the examination, the dentist can:

• Use a lighted device to examine your tongue and mouth
• Ask you to move your tongue in various positions
• Gently touch your tongue to check for possible changes in texture
• Check for signs of infection, such as fever or swollen lymph nodes in the neck.

What are the treatment options for geographic tongue?

Geographical tongue generally does not require medical treatment. Although geographic tongue can sometimes cause discomfort, it is also harmless.

To reduce discomfort or sensitivity, your doctor may recommend medications, such as:

• Over-the-counter pain relievers
• Antihistamine mouthwash
• Corticosteroid ointments or rinses
• Vitamin B supplements, in some cases.

Because these treatments have not been studied in more detail, the resulting benefits are uncertain. As already explained, this condition is self-limiting and has an unpredictable path.

Geographical tongue will not turn into cancer, but you will need to learn to treat it. You need to find out which foods make the condition worse, as well as avoid them.

Home remedies

What home remedies and lifestyle changes can I make to treat this condition?

With geographic tongue, a person will live normally as usual. The appearance of the tongue and mild discomfort are usually the things that some people pay attention to.

There are no lifestyle changes that you need to make if you have this condition, because nothing will prevent the condition from reappearing at a later date.

However, you can reduce the discomfort associated with geographic tongue by avoiding or limiting substances that commonly aggravate oral tissue sensitivity, such as:

• Hot, spicy, sour or salty food
• Tobacco products
• Toothpaste that contains excess tartar-control, flavoring or whitening additives.

If you have any questions, consult your doctor for the best solution to your problem.

Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.