TONGUE, SORE PATCHES ON
Description and Possible Medical Problems
Does your tongue resemble a topographic map? Have some parts of its surface smoothed out, leaving bright red and sometimes painful craters behind? You may have geographic tongue, a disorder in which some of the papillae, which form the rough surface of the tongue, wear away over time.
A healthy tongue is covered with hairlike tissue called papillae. Each papilla is surrounded by taste buds, which help detect flavors.
Sometimes, the papillae will become deformed and may disappear in spots for a time. The patches can become sore and turn dark red. Alcohol, tobacco, and spicy foods can make the condition worse; they might even be the cause of it.
Geographic tongue may appear and disappear for no apparent reason. Glossitis is a related condition in which the papillae disappear completely and the entire tongue is sore and red. The exact cause of geographic tongue is not known, though it is not considered to be a serious problem. Glossitis usually results from—guess what?—a deficiency in vitamin B.
Treatment
There is no known cure for geographic tongue or glossitis. Spicy foods, cigarette smoking, and alcohol can aggravate geographic tongue and increase the pain; avoiding them may help prevent a recurrence. An antiseptic mouthwash will help soothe the pain; some physicians prescribe the use of a special medication such as viscous lidocaine to coat the tongue and ease the pain. The recommended dosage is application of a thin coating three or four times daily.
Glossitis is frequently caused by a B vitamin deficiency. A regular program of supplementation may help, as well as increasing your intake of foods that are high in vitamin B.
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