Tongue Diseases

The list of tongue diseases is quite long. The following article presents a quick overview on some of the common tongue diseases.

Insufficient dental hygiene, smoking, chewing tobacco and inheritance can give rise to numerous tongue diseases. Some of them may be restricted to the tongue only while some may spread to other parts such as lips, throat, palate, mouth, etc. The tongue diseases symptoms commonly include swelling, redness, pain, soreness and discoloration. Following is a short description on some of the major tongue diseases.

Common Tongue Diseases

Oral Candidiasis

Candidiasis is a fungal infection, which is mostly caused a yeast called Candida albicans. Other less common causative agents are Candida glabrata and Candida tropicalis. When it occurs on the mucus membrane of the mouth, it is known as oral candidiasis. The identifying symptoms are appearance of thick white or cream-colored deposits on the surface of tongue. The infected tongue may appear red and a bit raised from the normal level.

Oral candidiasis causes a burning sensation and a lot of discomfort. It is treated with antifungal drugs. The patient is asked to use this oral suspension to wash around the mouth and swallow. In some severe cases, the medicine may be administered intravenously on the tongue. Read more on tongue yeast infection.

Leukoplakia

Leukoplakia is a disease the involves the formation of a white spot or patch on the mucus membrane in the mouth. The common mouth parts that develop leukoplakia are tongue, gums, etc. If not treated on time, leukoplakia may lead to cancer. The leukoplakia patches on tongue cannot be easily scraped off. The common causes of leukoplakia are smoking and chewing tobacco. In majority of the cases, this tongue disease is harmless. But seeking dental assistance is necessary to prevent cancer. Read more on tongue cancer symptoms.

Keratosis Pharyngis

Another example of common tongue diseases is keratosis pharyngis. It occurs when the protein of the hair or nails, called keratin, grows at the pharynx. This is a tongue disease which belongs to a group of those disease for which there is no treatment known till date. The identifying symptoms are pain at the back of the throat and difficulty in swallowing.

Hypoglossia

Hypoglossia is one of those tongue diseases which is quite rare. It is marked by incomplete development of the tongue. It may occur either as a single disorder or in company with other deformities. One of the disorders that is mostly found accompanying hypoglossia is oromandibular limb hypogenesis syndrome. The reason behind this particular tongue disease is genetic abnormality.

Glossitis

The inflammation of the tongue is medically termed as glossitis. The characteristic symptoms are swelling, discoloration, and abnormal smoothing of the tongue. The factors that can lead to glossitis are viral infection, bacterial infection, poor hydration, mechanical irritation, tongue piercing, allergic reaction to chemical irritants, malnutrition (especially the deficiency of iron and vitamin B) and genetic predisposition. The goal of the treatment for glossitis is to cure the inflammation. This is possible by curing the underlying factor of the inflammation, and subsequently reducing the discomfort. Generally, drugs containing corticosteroids are used to reduce the symptoms of glossitis such as redness and swelling.

Read more on:

Tongue Blisters

Tongue Sores

Tongue disease diagnosis includes physical examination and blood work. The data obtained from blood work helps in determining the deficiencies of nutrients that can cause tongue diseases. Many a times, the treatment for tongue diseases are short term. Following a healthy diet to have a strong immune system will reduce the risk of developing tongue diseases in future.