High levels of stress and anxiety can express itself in a multitude of ways in the body. This includes jaw clenching, teeth grinding, and pressing your tongue against your teeth. Over a period of time, the pressure on the tongue will lead to indentations.
It may be because of a bad habit called tongue thrusting or tongue rubbing. It's just how it sounds — you either consciously or subconsciously thrust your tongue against your front teeth. Over time, this pushes them forward and spreads them out, causing a bad bite and a gap.
No, a scalloped tongue is not dangerous. In most cases, it is benign and does not require treatment. However, it may be a sign of an underlying medical condition in rare cases. If you are concerned, you should talk to your doctor.
Vitamin and mineral deficiencies
Scalloped tongue can occur when the body does not get enough of certain vitamins and minerals, especially B vitamins, which can lead to tongue enlargement. Common nutritional deficiencies that cause scalloped tongue include: vitamin B-12. riboflavin.
But what if that tongue has wavy edges that look like the edges of a pie crust? You could have a condition known as scalloped tongue. It's a known sign of hypothyroidism and other underlying health conditions. Ahead, we'll look at the ins and outs of scalloped tongue and the connection to hypothyroidism.
Treatment will depend on the root cause of the problem. For example, for genetic conditions that cause a swollen tongue, surgery is an option to reduce the size of the tongue. If your scalloped tongue is caused by health conditions, like hypothyroidism, prescription medication may help.
While there is a plethora of factors that contribute to the presence of a scalloped tongue, they are most commonly related with poor dental hygiene and other underlying medical issues.
Signs of your body undergoing excessive stress can show up on your tongue as unusual redness, sores, and ulcers. Also, if your tongue appears to have marks around the edges, that could signify consistently biting your tongue as a reaction to stress.
A pink tongue is healthy and normal. A red tongue may indicate heat in the body like a fever or a hormonal imbalance. A reddish purple tongue is a sign that there may be inflammation or an infection in the body. A pale pink tongue may be a sign of a vitamin deficiency, a weak immune system or a lack of energy.
A red tongue can be a sign of a vitamin deficiency (B2, B6, B9, B12) Iron deficiency, protein deficiency such as Kawasaki disease, or a strep infection (scarlet fever).
Proper Tongue Positioning
When your mouth is at rest, your tongue should be against the roof of your mouth, but it should not be pressing against any of your teeth. Your teeth should be slightly apart, and your lips should be closed.
Some people might also have “nervous thrusting,” pushing their tongue involuntarily against their teeth when they are stressed. The tongue is also connected to the free floating hyoid bone, which connects to the muscles of the neck and shoulders.
People with macroglossia have tongues that are larger than typical, given the size of their mouths. Most people are born with macroglossia that can be linked to conditions such as Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome or Down syndrome. People can also develop macroglossia from some forms of cancer or severe infections.
Anxiety can cause tingling or numbness in your tongue as well as other changes in your mouth. You may need to talk with a health professional if you have these signs. Anxiety may cause you to experience mental, emotional, and physical symptoms. This may include a tingling feeling, numbness, or swelling in your tongue.
Overgrowth conditions such as Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome and vascular anomalies of the tongue can lead to its enlargement. Other conditions such as Down syndrome, trauma, inflammatory conditions, primary amyloidosis, and congenital hypothyroidism may also be associated with a large tongue.
Tongue numbness is most commonly caused by an allergic reaction from eating certain foods or chemicals, low calcium levels which is also known as hypocalcemia, a bacterial infection like Lymes disease, or a condition involving the nervous system. Read below for more causes and treatment options for a numb tongue.
If you spot what you think might be scalloped tongue, see your dentist or medical professional to understand why it's happening. Some of the causes with relatively simple solutions include: Teeth clenching: The teeth press against the tongue over time and cause these indentations.
Oral anxiety isn't being stressed, anxious, or depressed about your oral health. Instead, oral anxiety is the effects these mental health problems end up having on your oral health. This is especially true if you struggle with depression.
Leukoplakia. Leukoplakia can cause white, raised patches on the tongue, inside of the cheeks, or on the gums, that do not come off when you rub them. Read about leukoplakia.