Geographic Tongue: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

Geographic tongue is an irritation on the tongue that causes it to appear to have a map-like look to it. It heals on its own, but will then move to a new part of the tongue. Geographic tongue is also known as benign migratory glossitis.

Definition

• Geographic tongue is an condition on the tongue that causes red, irregular shape patches on it. It occurs when the tongue is missing the top layer called the papillae.

Causes

• The cause for the loss of papillae is unknown. It is believed to be genetic, as it can run in families.

Symptoms

• Symptoms include an odd shape on the tongue that appears very red. There can be a discomfort on the tongue that will feel like a burning sensation.

Risk Factors

• Some risk factors of geographic tongue are if an individual has a family member with it, psoriasis, hormone changes, extreme stress, allergies, and the use of systemic steroids.

Treatment

• To treat the discomfort an individual can use over-the-counter pain relievers, anti-inflammatory medications, or mouth rinses that have a topical anesthetic in them.