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Geographic Tongue
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Geographic Tongue
I must admit, this was a new one for me! Have you ever heard of geographic tongue?
Following our recent oral health webinar, Dr Hibberd has kindly been answering questions from our community.
This week’s question: I’ve had something all my doctors, internists, primary care, dentists, and ear, nose and throat, called geographic tongue. They said it would go away on its own. It’s gotten worse over the years. That was 9 years ago. Where can I get help with this?
I have put Dr. Hibberd’s answer ion the comments.
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2 Replies
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Geographic tongue is an interesting inflammatory condition.
Geographic tongue, also known as benign migratory glossitis, presents with irregular, map-like red patches where the tiny filiform papillae are lost, often bordered by a raised whitish or yellowish edge.
These patches can migrate across the tongue and change size and shape intermittently. It’s generally considered a benign, chronic, fluctuating, inflammatory condition rather than something that steadily “accumulates” microbes or progresses to serious disease. Because the cause is still unknown, there is no “established” cure that eliminates it permanently. Many people notice it on and off for decades once it starts.
If symptoms are bothersome, as you mention, or the appearance is changing in unusual ways, professional evaluation is the best next step for tailored management, especially if there are other symptoms or risk factors.
Some proposed associations are allergies & elevate IgE, also, fissured tongue (commonly coexists), stress, hormonal changes, nutritional deficiencies (zinc, iron, folic acid, vitamins B6/B12/D), and occasionally conditions such as reactive arthritis or diabetes. Practical advice would include avoiding or limiting common triggers: spicy and acidic foods, alcohol,
tobacco, harsh toothpastes. Discuss checking for nutritional deficiencies with your doctor and address them if present.
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Oral Medicine: The Missing Link in Whole Body Health Webinar : https://youtu.be/3-DLzlLCQMI
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