Diagnosing and Treating Common Tongue Conditions

Common Tongue Conditions and How Dentists Diagnose and Treat Them

Your tongue is a strong muscle that helps you chew and swallow food as well as speak. Taste buds allow us to know if we are enjoying the foods we eat. Temperature sensors warn us if something is too hot or too cold. Therefore, when there are problems with your tongue, these routine activities are difficult to perform.

At Hamby Family Dental Center, our dentists recognize the importance of your oral health and the connection to your overall health. We are knowledgeable and vigilant when issues with your tongue exist. In this article, we describe common tongue conditions and how a dentist can diagnose them.

Signs of Tongue Problems

Your tongue can say a lot about your oral health. There is a direct connection between oral health and the health of your tongue. The color and texture of your tongue can indicate aspects of both your oral and overall health.

Potential signs of problems with your tongue:

• Pain
• Swelling
• Inability to taste
• Difficulty speaking
• Bad breath
• Discoloration
• Change in texture

Causes of Tongue Disease

Many factors can lead to tongue problems. Identifying the exact cause is the first step in treating it. According to WebMD, tongue issues can be harmless but can indicate issues with your overall health.

• Infection: An infection can be either bacterial or fungal. Treating with antibiotics and antifungal medication usually clears the infection.
• Nutritional Deficiency: When you aren’t consuming the vitamins and essential nutrients your body needs, it can lead to tongue issues, including anemia tongue. Improving your diet and correcting the deficiency often clears up the condition.
• Trauma: An injury or bite can cause your tongue to swell and bleed. Typically, these injuries clear up on their own, but a proper oral care routine of brushing and flossing ensures an infection doesn’t start.
• Hormonal Changes: Any hormonal fluctuations, for instance, during pregnancy, can affect the tongue. These are often harmless conditions and resolve on their own.
• Medical Conditions: Cancer, autoimmune disorders, and nerve damage can all cause tongue disease. You should always see your dental or healthcare professional for proper diagnosis and treatment.

Common Tongue Conditions

Common tongue conditions are visible and get their names from the key symptom–changes in your tongue’s appearance. Conditions like white tongue (thrush, leukoplakia), geographic tongue, fissured tongue, and hairy tongue are all visible, allowing your dentist to visually examine the color, texture, and possible lesions. Causes such as poor hygiene, fungal infections, nutritional deficiencies, or underlying illnesses may be noted. Your dentist can distinguish between harmless signs of cancer or systemic disease and refer you to specialists when needed.

Common tongue conditions include:

• Black Hairy Tongue: Black hairy tongue is a condition where dead cells build up on the tongue’s surface to create a dark, furry appearance. Elongated papillae trap debris. This condition is often a result of poor oral hygiene, antibiotics, radiation therapy to your head and neck, tobacco and alcohol use, dry mouth, or diet.
• White Tongue: White tongue exists when a white film covers your tongue or white patches appear scattered on your tongue. A white tongue is usually a sign of bacterial buildup. A white tongue may be a sign of thrush or oral lichen planus, which means your immune system is attacking the tissues in your mouth. Rarely, it is a sign of leukoplakia, a condition that may progress to cancer.
• Red Tongue/Strawberry Tongue: A red tongue can indicate B12 deficiency, scarlet fever, or Kawasaki disease, a rare, serious illness that inflames blood vessels all over the body, most often in children.
• Geographic Tongue: A geographic tongue is a harmless condition that presents as map-like red patches with white borders.
• Fissured Tongue (Scrotal Tongue): A fissured tongue, also called “scrotal tongue,” has grooves or furrows on the tongue surface that are usually benign and require no treatment.
• Atrophic Glossitis: This condition results in a swollen, inflamed, or discolored tongue and can be caused by a number of factors. See your dentist for proper diagnosis and treatment options.
• Burning Mouth Syndrome: This is a condition that leaves your tongue and the roof of the mouth with a burning sensation. You are more likely to have this condition when you are postmenopausal and over 60 years old.
• Oral Cancer: Symptoms of oral cancer include pain, difficulty moving the tongue, and abnormal spotting.

Tongue Disease Diagnosis and Tests

A dentist or healthcare professional will consider the changes in your tongue with other symptoms and information to diagnose the underlying issue. In their investigation, they may:

• Inquire about your symptoms: They will want to know how long you have noticed changes in your tongue and if the condition has worsened. They will also want to know if you have tried any remedies that may have improved your symptoms
• Ask about your lifestyle and habits: They may ask about your oral habits if they suspect the condition can relate to dental care.
• Perform a physical exam: They will examine your tongue, which is often enough to make a diagnosis.
• Order a blood test: You may need a blood test if your provider suspects your tongue problems are related to anemia or a nutritional deficiency.
• Perform a biopsy: Your provider may remove a tissue sample and order laboratory testing if they suspect you have abnormal cells with possible cancer or precancerous conditions.

Treatment and Management of Tongue Diseases

Treatment for tongue conditions varies by the cause. You may need to visit your dentist to appropriately diagnose the condition and illuminate the cause. Treatments usually include good oral hygiene, avoiding irritants like spicy and acidic foods, and possibly medications like antifungals and antibiotics. Severe issues like cancer or nerve damage may need specialists such as an Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor (otolaryngologist) or a surgeon.

Home Care and Lifestyle Changes

Your oral health is linked to your overall health. Many times, tongue conditions can be alleviated through proper home care and lifestyle changes.

• Good Oral Hygiene: Brush, floss, and use a tongue scraper regularly. To learn more, please our article “6 Ways to Improve Oral Hygiene.”
• Diet: Avoid spicy, acidic, hot foods. Eat soft, bland foods. Stay hydrated.
• Rinses: Warm salt water or baking soda rinses can soothe soreness.
• Irritants: Avoid toothpaste with sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) if it irritates your tongue.
• Allergies: Identify and avoid the trigger, whether it is food or a drug.

Medical Treatments, Depending on the Cause

Based on the cause of the tongue condition, these treatments may be used:

• Infections (Thrush, Bacterial): Antifungals for thrush or antibiotics for bacterial infections
• Nutritional Deficiencies (Glossitis): Address the deficiency with diet or supplements
• Inflammation (Glossitis, Geographic Tongue): Anti-inflammatory medicines, medicated rinses
• Allergic Reactions: Antihistamines and avoiding the allergen
• Nerve Damage: Speech/swallowing therapy
• Oral Growths/Cancer: Biopsy, possible surgery, radiation, chemotherapy
• Burning Mouth Syndrome: Gabapentin, clonazepam, addressing underlying conditions

When You Should Be Concerned About a Potential Tongue Disease

You should schedule a visit with your dental professional or healthcare provider if you have severe pain, symptoms, or visible changes in your tongue. Symptoms that don’t improve or worsen may signal an underlying condition that requires treatment.

Contact Hamby Family Dental Center Today for Better Oral Health

Our dental professionals at Hamby Family Dental Center are committed to improving your oral health. We check for signs in your mouth, gums, and teeth that conditions may exist. Keeping up with your bi-annual dental exams is an important part of your oral health. We are accepting new patients. Contact us today to schedule your check-up. Call us at 919-552-2431 or complete the form below to request an appointment.