A: Fissured tongue is a harmless condition usually with no associated symptoms. No treatment is necessary except to encourage good oral hygiene including brushing the top surface of the tongue to remove any food debris from the fissures.
There is no cure for fissured tongue. However, taking some simple steps can help to ensure that a fissured tongue doesn't cause any health problems. Tongue fissures are deep grooves on the upper surface of a tongue.
Patients may be concerned about the possibility of oral cancer and need reassurance that malignancy is not an issue associated with a fissured tongue.
Signs of fissured tongue may be present during childhood, but the appearance tends to become more severe and prominent as you age.
Fissured tongue (scrotal tongue, plicated tongue, lingua plicata) is a common normal variant of the tongue surface with a male preponderance and a reported prevalence of 10% to 20% in the general population, and the incidence increases strikingly with age.
If you have fissures in your tongue, it's likely no cause for concern. In fact, certain types of grooves or cracks are considered simply a variation of a normal tongue. Sometimes called a plicated or scrotal tongue, this condition is often harmless. However, it's rarely a good idea to diagnose yourself.
Fissured tongue occurs in about 5% in the U.S. population. As people age, this condition is found more commonly and the severity also increases. Men are affected slightly more commonly than women.
You could be one of the 5 percent of the U.S. population who has a fissured tongue. A fissured tongue is a benign (noncancerous) condition. It's recognized by one or more deep or shallow cracks — called grooves, furrows, or fissures — on the top surface of your tongue.
Once the factors associated with lifestyle are addressed, the body will begin to heal on its own, and the fissuring will start to diminish. Conclusions: Even though the fissured tongue is considered a benign condition with no treatment needed, the body is perhaps telling us something that needs to be addressed.
In rare cases, malnutrition can cause cracked tongue. A different study from 2016 found a link between cracked tongue and vitamin B12 deficiency. Meanwhile, research from 2015 indicates that pain associated with cracked tongue may stem from deficiencies in: B vitamins.
The symptoms of tongue cancer might include: a red or white patch on the tongue that won't go away. a sore throat that doesn't go away. a sore spot (ulcer) or lump on the tongue that doesn't go away.
Chronic trauma and vitamin deficiencies may have a role to play in the formation of fissured tongue [2]. Iron deficiency anaemia, deficiencies of Vitamin B2, folic acid, Vitamin B12 and zinc can cause burning sensation of the tongue.
Fissured tongue is when one or more grooves appear on the surface of the tongue. These grooves can be shallow or deep. Usually, the primary fissure occurs in the middle of the tongue. In some cases, the fissures may be large and deep, making the tongue look like it has distinct sections.
Your tongue takes about two weeks to fully heal, and the pain will gradually get easier to tolerate over time. Pain may be more intense when you talk, eat, or generally use your tongue throughout the day.
Fissured tongue is a benign condition characterized by deep grooves on the dorsum of the tongue and, in many cases, is associated with geographic tongue.
How common is tongue cancer? Tongue cancer is relatively rare, representing nearly 1 percent of newly diagnosed cancer cases in the United States, according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI). However, it's one of the more frequently diagnosed forms of head and neck cancers.
Is tongue cancer painful? Some of the first signs of tongue cancer often include a painful lump or sore on the side of the tongue that may bleed easily and resist healing. Mouth or tongue pain is also a common symptom.
For tongue lesions such as changes in color, growths, or texture changes, an oral surgeon or an otolaryngologist (ear, nose, and throat specialist, also known as an ENT specialist) can evaluate the area, perform a biopsy, and follow up or refer for appropriate treatment such as surgery or medication.
If you have anaemia caused by a vitamin B12 deficiency, you may have other symptoms, such as: a pale yellow tinge to your skin. a sore and red tongue (glossitis)
One large sign of anemia is called anemia tongue. It is typically characterized by an inflamed or swollen tongue in multiple shades of red. Other signs include impaired chewing, swallowing or speaking abilities, tongue pain or tenderness.
In some cases, having deep grooves on your tongue can be a symptom of other diseases, such as Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome and geographic tongue. Other times, a fissured tongue can signal a vitamin deficiency, particularly in Vitamin B12.
It is mainly characterized by an inflamed or swollen tongue in multiple shades of red. Other symptoms include the difficulty or inability to chew, swallow or speak, tongue pain or tenderness, and the loss of the papillae, or those bumps on your tongue that house your taste buds.
When a tongue is unhealthy. One of the first noticeable symptoms of an unhealthy tongue is a significant change in color from the normal pink shade you're used to seeing. Other signs of concern can include pain when eating, drinking, and swallowing, as well as new lumps and bumps.
An unhealthy tongue. If your tongue is a different colour than pink, or has large patches of white, brown, black, or another colour, this might indicate a specific health issue. Similarly, if you have large bumps or no bumps at all, you may also want to speak to a doctor.