Cracks in the tongue: TOP 23 effective treatment methods, 18 reasons

During a routine examination by any specialist, the doctor asks you to show your tongue. This request is not made out of great love for bullies, but with the aim of diagnosing many diseases.

And not only the oral cavity, but also the internal organs in particular. According to research, the first manifestations of diseases begin in the oral cavity.

And during a routine examination by this specialist, you can notice them. The most diagnostically significant is the tongue - its shape, the presence of plaque, the condition of the papillae and the appearance of ulcers and cracks.

Why do congenital fissures appear?

Photo: the cause of cracks in the tongue is a malfunction of the internal organs

In some cases, tongue defects are present from birth. Such changes in the oral cavity do not cause discomfort. The main cause of fissures in infancy is the so-called “folded tongue” syndrome.

Folded or scrotal tongue syndrome does not require treatment. Children and adults who have a similar symptom have no complaints, the cracks do not cause discomfort, they are located longitudinally and transversely, symmetrically to each other.

Traditional treatment

If the cracks are the result of an injury, and not a manifestation of a serious illness, then traditional medicine can be effective here.

Traditional medicine:

Chamomile. Prepare the decoction and cool. You should rinse in the morning, afternoon and evening. Chamomile relieves inflammation and heals ulcers.
Oak bark. Grind, take 4 tablespoons, 4 glasses of water and place it all in an enamel container. Place on the stove and bring to a boil. After boiling, reduce the heat and keep for another 30 minutes. Pass through a sieve or cheesecloth. You need to rinse your mouth with this decoction 5-6 times a day.
Potato. Grate 1 tuber through a coarse grater, pour 1 tablespoon into cheesecloth and put it in your mouth. This compress will be useful for ulcers and cracks due to its starch content.
Vegetable oil (olive or sea buckthorn). In the morning before breakfast, you need to apply the oil (literally on the tip of a teaspoon) to your tongue and hold it for 10 minutes.
Honey or propolis. Chew honeycomb at night. It is not advisable to drink or eat anything until the morning.

Why do they appear in adulthood?

Changes in the oral cavity in adulthood indicate serious disturbances in the functioning of internal organs. Also, the root cause of the disease can be external factors.

Main reasons:

dental or local;
diseases of organs, organ systems or internal ones.

Dental

Often dental reasons are caused by a disease called glossitis. The disease can be identified by the appearance of small cracks on the tongue, around which light spots (plaque) form. A person feels unpleasant sensations - tingling, burning, at this time the inflammatory process is actively going on in the body.

The disease occurs against the background of:

allergic reaction to dental medications
(toothpastes, mouth rinses, etc.);
repeated trauma to the oral cavity
. This may be involuntary biting of the tongue caused by a nervous reaction, wearing incorrectly selected dentures

It is not difficult to get rid of local causes; you just need to remove the source of their occurrence (the irritant).

Types of glossitis

Desquamative glossitis
can be characterized by the appearance of pain in the oral cavity, burning sensation and the presence of swelling. At the first time the disease develops, the damage may be small and unnoticeable. Over time, the affected area increases in size. Without treatment, glossitis takes on an advanced form. Pregnant women and teenage children are more often susceptible to desquamative glossitis;
rhomboid glossitis
characterized by damage to a diamond-shaped area of the tongue (hence the name). Often occurs in a chronic form, with some improvements from time to time.
Rhomboid glossitis does not cause pain in humans and can develop over years. The main causes of the disease are considered to be acute gastritis with low acidity;
folded glossitis
can be characterized by the appearance of transverse and longitudinal cracks on the lingual surface. The painful sensations are pronounced, often sharp, aching pains.
Complications of the disease are ulcers and abscesses. More often men suffer from folded glossitis. Forms of the disease: superficial and deep folded glossitis. The first is much easier to tolerate and responds better to treatment.

Are common

In order to accurately determine the cause of cracks, it is necessary to take into account the person’s age. Thus, in childhood, first of all, damage to the oral cavity can be caused by the following reasons:

avitaminosis
– a lack of vitamins A, PP and B in the body. The disease develops against the background of poor nutrition;
helminthic infestations
– parasitic infection of a child with various forms of helminths. There are more than ten types of parasitic worms that cause various negative effects in the human body;
entry into the gastrointestinal tract of heavy metal salts
.

In adulthood, the main cause of damage to the outer covering of the tongue is diseases of the internal organs. First of all, problems with the gastrointestinal tract affect it; these can be gastritis, cholecystitis in acute and chronic form, and gastric ulcers.

If your tongue is covered with red spots, first find out the reason, and then take appropriate measures.

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Find out here: https://www.vash-dentist.ru/detskaya-stomatologia/yazyik/geograficheskiy-u-rebenka-iz-za-chego-poyavlyaetsya-i-kak-lechitsya.html about methods of treating geographic tongue in a child.

Prevention

To prevent cracking of the organ in the future, you need to follow a number of simple rules:

identify and eliminate pathologies in a timely manner;
maintain oral hygiene;
visit the dentist for a preventive examination;
when dental ailments are identified, treat them in a timely manner;
exclude infection through intimate contact;
Healthy food;
stop taking uncontrolled medications;
increase the body's protective functions.

Important: Smoking can cause tongue cracking. This bad habit inhibits the body's protective functions and makes it more susceptible to various pathologies.

By observing simple precautions, it will be possible to exclude the development of the disease in question.

Dependence of appearance on localization

Cracks can be localized in the middle part of the tongue, on its tip or lateral surfaces.

In the side parts

The root causes of the appearance of cracks in this area may be blood diseases, in particular anemia, as well as malfunctions of the gastrointestinal tract, and pathologies of the thyroid gland.

Anemia

– a blood disease that is characterized by a decrease in the concentration of hemoglobin in a person’s blood. This effect leads to the fact that body tissues do not receive enough oxygen.

In advanced forms, anemia causes cracks on the surfaces of the tongue, as well as on the nail plates.

Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract

(Gastrointestinal tract) are the second cause of damage to the oral cavity. First of all, such gastrointestinal diseases include gastritis, colitis, i.e. those ailments that lead to impaired absorption and digestibility of nutrients, changes in the intestinal microflora.

Cracks in the tongue are one of the first symptoms of gastrointestinal dysfunction.

The main reasons for the appearance of cracks on the side of the tongue are considered to be improper functioning of the thyroid gland.

. The disease can be recognized by the following signs: the appearance of swelling in the oral cavity, discomfort.

On the tip

The main reasons for violating the integrity of tissues at the tip of the tongue are injuries, burns, the development of stomatitis, and disturbances in the functioning of the nervous system.

Against the background of a weakened immune system, injuries and burns lead to the appearance of cracks in the oral cavity. If the body's defenses are insufficient, it is enough to bite the tongue for damage to form on it.

A fast pace of life, overexertion, stress, and fatigue can lead to disturbances in the functioning of the central nervous system. Often, after overwork, a person may automatically bite his tongue while sleeping, which ultimately leads to the appearance of cracks.

Stomatitis is a disease characterized by an inflammatory process in the oral cavity. It can develop against the background of prolonged consumption of hot food, infection in the body, or use of inappropriate medications. The development of the disease is accompanied by the appearance of cracks in the mouth and on the tip of the tongue.

In the middle

There are two reasons for the appearance of cracks in the middle of the tongue, these include rhomboid and folded glossitis

. Diseases develop against the background of weakened immunity, the tongue becomes dry, and as a result, its surface becomes covered with cracks.

Symptoms

When first contacting a medical facility, patients complain:

for pain that occurs when eating food, during conversations;
burning sensation in the affected areas;
swelling of the organ, its swelling;
dysfunction of taste buds;
increased dry mouth, constant feeling of thirst.

In inflammatory processes on the body of the tongue (glossitis), the manifestations are symptomatic:

pronounced hyperemia of damaged areas;
formation of small bubbles;
increased work of the salivary glands – hypersalivation;
swelling.

A secondary infection causes hyperthermia (increased body temperature), general signs of intoxication of the body (headaches, feeling tired, weak).

What causes deep cracks to appear?

Damage to the tongue may differ in size and depth. Cracks with a depth of more than six millimeters are especially painful. In such cases, food debris collects in the depressions, causing decay and unpleasant painful sensations.

The reasons for the appearance of deep cracks are generally the same as the reasons for the appearance of small ones. The course of the disease is often accompanied by fever, poor health, and general weakness.

There are a number of diseases during which deep damage to the oral cavity occurs. One of these diseases is iron deficiency anemia, which is typical for the weaker half of humanity.

This fact can be explained by the fact that during childbirth the body weakens, and during breastfeeding a large amount of iron is lost. When the disease occurs, the entire oral cavity is affected, abscesses form on the tongue, as well as on the mucous membranes of the mouth.

Deep cracks appear due to a disease called “ geographical tongue.”

" More often the disease affects the female population, as well as children. The body becomes susceptible to developing the disease:

during the period of growth of baby teeth in children;
during puberty;
during pregnancy.

The exact reasons for the development of the disease are unknown; scientists suggest that it could be both allergic reactions and disturbances in the functioning of the digestive system.

Diseases of internal organs

If the dental origin of tongue cracks is excluded, perhaps the cause of the development of this symptom lies in a disruption of the gastrointestinal tract. Even if the slightest problem occurs in the functioning of the digestive system, such a phenomenon almost instantly affects other systems and organs of the human body, including the tongue.

the formation of cracks may indicate the following pathological processes:

gastritis;
ulcerative lesion;
enterocolitis;
Cholecystitis;
liver and kidney diseases.

Important: As a number of studies have shown, cracking on the tongue most often occurs as a result of a malfunction of the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, when such a symptom appears, it is important to check the functioning of the stomach. The best solution would be to visit a gastroenterologist, she will prescribe what tests need to be done and help confirm or refute suspicions.

This relationship is due to the fact that when the mucous membrane is damaged, nutrients stop being absorbed, which causes cracks.

Rare and exceptional cases

There are a number of reasons for the appearance of cracks in the tongue, which are quite rare in medical practice. One of these causes is Melkersson-Rosenthal

, which leads not only to the appearance of damage in the oral cavity, but also to paralysis of the facial nerve and swelling of the lips.

Children with Down syndrome

, may also suffer from cracked tongue. According to sociological studies, five out of ten children with a chromosomal disease are susceptible to cracks in the oral cavity.

A healthy human tongue has the following appearance: the color is pale pink, the fold is even, there are no bends, the papillae are well defined. If changes in the appearance of the tongue are detected, it is necessary not to delay a visit to the doctor, who will help determine the exact cause of the disease.

Diagnosis is carried out on the basis of an initial examination, during which attention is paid to the location of the damage, its depth, and shape. The color of the tongue, the presence of plaque and other signs are also taken into account.

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Dentists cannot always help with the problem of cracks, plaque and pain in the tongue. It is quite possible that the patient will be recommended to see another specialist – a neurologist:

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Cure prognosis

Cracks usually respond well to the proposed treatment if the cause of the inflammation is eliminated or cured. If left untreated, it can cause severe swelling and blockage of the airways.

It is imperative to consult a doctor in the following cases:

the cracks did not heal within 10 days;
the tongue is very swollen;
difficulty breathing, talking and chewing food;

In any case, good oral hygiene (thorough brushing, regular professional cleanings, and dental examinations) can help prevent tongue defects.

Allergic reactions

Did cracks appear on your tongue out of nowhere? Pay attention to your personal hygiene products; perhaps the reason is unsuitable toothpaste or mouth rinse. Or maybe you recently started taking medications that led to a similar reaction.

It will be enough to stop using the product and take a course of antihistamines so that the tongue in the cracks no longer bothers you. After such manipulations, the symptoms will naturally disappear.

“I really like to eat sour fruits, I love citrus fruits. There was a time when I couldn’t live a day without them. However, something bad happened to me; one morning I felt pain and a burning sensation on my tongue. Looking in the mirror, I saw that he also looked extremely unpleasant. The doctor said that this is an allergy to citrus fruits, that in principle you can’t eat a lot of them, and they are even dangerous for the mucous membranes.”
[email protected] , from correspondence on the forums

Possible complications

A cracked tongue cannot be ignored. The condition itself does not pose a threat to human life, but its presence is dangerous due to the development of various complications, such as:

obstruction of the respiratory and digestive organs due to swelling of the tongue;
difficulties with speech;
candidiasis;
spread of the infectious agent to the mucous membrane and gum tissue;
inflammation of the lymph nodes;
weakness, malaise.

Lack of timely treatment and improper use of prescribed medications often make the process chronic. Without proper attention to it, the favorable prognosis of the treatment result changes to negative with the manifestation of complications.

Top five dental clinics

All clinics on the list are multidisciplinary. They are engaged in prevention, treatment, prosthetics and implantation.

Dental center	Clinic address	General information
Cerecon	Moscow, Andropova Ave. 8	Metro Technopark. Opening hours: 24 hours a day
ROOT	Moscow, st. Rustaveli, 14 building 9	Metro Butyrskaya. Opening hours from 10:00 to 22:00
Alpha-Dent	Moscow, Beskudnikovsky blvd., 24, bldg. 1	Metro Petrovskoye-Razumovskoye. Open all days of the week.
MegaStom	Moscow, Bolshoi Kozlovsky lane, building 10, building 2	Metro Red Gate. They don't work on Sundays
Denta amo	Moscow, st. Grekova, 9	Metro Medvedkovo Open daily from 9 to 9.

Diagnostics

At the initial visit of the patient, the following is carried out:

collection of anamnestic data – complaints, previous diseases;
examination of the organ, assessment of its general condition;
identification of risk factors;
assessment of general health.

After consultation, the patient is sent for research:

general blood test - search for inflammatory processes, the presence of anemia, assessment of the state of the autoimmune system;
biochemical blood test - for the functionality of the liver and kidneys;
tests for Wasserman reaction, HIV infection;
stool examinations for helminthic infestations and dysbacteriosis;
bacterial culture - taken from the mucous membrane of the tongue to determine the pathogen.

Histological examination of cells and tissues is prescribed if their structural changes are suspected. The patient may be referred for consultation with specialists:

allergist;
venereologist;
gastroenterologist;
hematologist;
dermatologist;
nutritionist;
infectious disease specialist;
otolaryngologist;
rheumatologist;
endocrinologist.

What is this?

The occurrence of these problems in a patient signals a disruption in the functioning of his body. If they are completely absent, this fact is confirmation of the person’s good health.

If certain changes appear in the tongue in the form of cracks, this indicates the development of various pathological conditions that cause problems with the patient’s health and, in some cases, threaten his life.

Such violations of the integrity of space do not pose significant threats to the patient’s health, but at the same time they spoil his appearance and cause significant inconvenience.

Timely treatment helps eliminate the problem and bring the mouth to a normal, healthy state.

Home Remedies

Folk remedies are not able to eliminate the cause of cracks, especially if it is a common disease. In rare cases, the body can defeat a bacterial infection on its own. Therefore, medications from a home medicine cabinet can only be considered auxiliary. These include:

Gargling with decoctions of sage and chamomile
Lotions with sea buckthorn or olive oil
Propolis
Potato juice applications

Incorrectly selected folk remedies can reduce the effect of drug treatment.
Be sure to consult your doctor.