Some General Information Regarding Geographical Tongue

Geographical tongue is an unusual and rare inflammatory condition which affects less than three percent of the world’s population. A person with the disease is typically known for his tongue’s odd discoloration and deep cracks. Geographical tongues are not usually painful, though they are chronic and are often worsened by stress and eating.

A tongue that is afflicted with these particular syndromes generally appears to be cracked and discolored. The discolorations usually manifest as patches of red that are surrounded by gray regions. The side and top of the affected organ may also be covered with small protrusions called papillae. A crack or lesion, in a normal case, will begin to appear on the tongue’s top and side as well.

Experiencing pain in the affected area is not common but sensations of burning or stinging can occur there if a certain food is eaten by the patients. Certain cheeses, acidic fruits, sour foods, tomatoes, and walnuts can all cause burning, swelling, and other irritation when they come in close contact with the tongue. Teeth whiteners, certain breath mints, mouthwashes, and other substances may also aggravate the condition.

The condition’s cause is still not yet known although it appears to be hereditary. Most researchers tend to debate over exactly which genes are involved with the disease, with some of them claiming that its tendency to run in families is more related to similar diets than genetics.

In most cases, the condition is found in people who already have an external sensitivity like moderate allergies or chronic asthma.

There are no known cures currently unfortunately for the afflictions but with the right life style changes, treatment, and medications, they can be suppressed sufficiently. The easiest ways to keep the symptoms down to a minimum is to avoid the chemicals and foods that exacerbate them carefully. Many a patient will be advised to keep detailed food logs so he can be more aware of the items he should not eat.

Keeping logs may help people determine which food can alleviate their many symptoms as well. Many find that chewing a sprig of mint helps ease the pain during flare ups, while many others say candies help. Many respond to supplements of zinc, which help them eat fruits like tomatoes and strawberries. A topical cream filled with certain steroids have been found to keep the condition’s symptoms temporarily at bay as well.

You can find geographic tongue treatment on the Internet that can help people relieve the pain caused by this kind of tongue disorder. For more information, you can visit Geographical tongue.