Geographic tongue

Date Updated: 03/06/2018

Overview

Geographic tongue is an inflammatory but harmless condition affecting the surface of your tongue. The tongue is normally covered with tiny, pinkish-white bumps (papillae), which are actually short, fine, hairlike projections. With geographic tongue, patches on the surface of the tongue are missing papillae and appear as smooth, red "islands," often with slightly raised borders.

These patches (lesions) give the tongue a maplike, or geographic, appearance. The lesions often heal in one area and then move (migrate) to a different part of your tongue. Geographic tongue is also known as benign migratory glossitis.

Although geographic tongue may look alarming, it doesn't cause health problems and isn't associated with infection or cancer. Geographic tongue can sometimes cause tongue discomfort and increased sensitivity to certain substances, such as spices, salt and even sweets.

Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of geographic tongue may include:

Smooth, red, irregularly shaped patches (lesions) on the top or side of your tongue
Frequent changes in the location, size and shape of lesions
Discomfort, pain or burning sensation in some cases, most often related to eating spicy or acidic foods

Many people with geographic tongue have no symptoms.

Geographic tongue can continue for days, months or years. The problem often resolves on its own but may appear again at a later time.

When to see a doctor

Geographic tongue is a minor — although sometimes uncomfortable — condition. However, lesions on the tongue may indicate other more-serious conditions of the tongue or diseases affecting the body in general. If you have lesions on the tongue that don't resolve within 10 days, see your doctor or dentist.

Causes

The cause of geographic tongue is unknown, and there's no way to prevent the condition. There may be a link between geographic tongue and psoriasis and between geographic tongue and lichen planus. But more research is needed to better understand possible connections.

Risk factors

Studies of factors that may be associated with an increased risk of geographic tongue have produced mixed results. Factors that are likely associated with an increased risk include:

Family history. Some people with geographic tongue have a family history of the disorder, so inherited genetic factors may increase risk.
Fissured tongue. People with geographic tongue often have another disorder called fissured tongue, which has the appearance of deep grooves (fissures) on the surface of the tongue.

Complications

Geographic tongue is a benign condition. It doesn't pose a threat to your health, cause long-term complications or increase your risk of major health problems.

However, anxiety about the condition is fairly common because:

The appearance of the tongue may be embarrassing, depending on how visible the lesions are
It may be difficult to be reassured that there is, in fact, nothing seriously wrong

Diagnosis

Your physician or dentist can usually make a diagnosis of geographic tongue based on an examination of your tongue and your signs and symptoms.

During the exam, your physician or dentist may:

Use a lighted instrument to check your tongue and mouth
Ask you to move your tongue around in various positions
Gently touch (palpate) your tongue to check for tenderness or unusual changes in the tongue's texture or consistency
Check for signs of infection, such as fever or swollen lymph nodes in the neck

Treatment

Geographic tongue typically doesn't require any medical treatment. Although geographic tongue can sometimes cause tongue discomfort, it's otherwise a harmless condition.

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

Over-the-counter pain relievers
Mouth rinses with an anesthetic
Antihistamine mouth rinses
Corticosteroid ointments or rinses
Vitamin B supplementation, in some cases

Because these treatments haven't been studied rigorously, their benefit is uncertain. Since the condition resolves on its own and has an unpredictable course, you may not be able to tell if the symptomatic treatments are actually working.

Lifestyle and home remedies

You may reduce discomfort associated with geographic tongue by avoiding or limiting substances that commonly aggravate sensitive oral tissues, such as spicy or acidic foods or beverages, as well as alcohol and tobacco.

Preparing for an appointment

If you're concerned about the appearance of your tongue, make an appointment with your dentist.

What you can do

Prepare questions ahead of time to make the most of your appointment. Basic questions to ask include:

What's the likely cause of my condition?
Could there be any other possible causes?
Is my condition permanent?
What treatments are available?
Is there anything I can do at home to relieve discomfort?
What should I do if my condition flares up again?

What to expect from your doctor

Be prepared to answer the following questions:

When did the lesions first appear?
Have the lesions changed in appearance or location on your tongue?
Have you had any other lesions in your mouth?
Have you experienced any discomfort or pain?
Does anything, such as spicy or acidic food, seem to trigger pain?
Have you had any other symptoms that may seem unrelated to the condition of your tongue?
Have you had a fever?