How do you get rid of white geographic tongue?

What are the treatments for geographic tongue?

1. Mouthwash with an antihistamine (medication to relieve allergic reaction).
2. Topical analgesics (pain relievers) that you can apply directly to your tongue.
3. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Is it bad to have white spots on your tongue?

The white patches are usually harmless. But in rare cases, leukoplakia can develop into oral cancer. Oral lichen planus: With this condition, a problem with your immune system causes white patches to form in your mouth and on your tongue.

What diseases cause geographic tongue?

In addition to fissured tongue, geographic tongue has been associated with many other conditions especially psoriasis. Psoriasis a chronic, inflammatory skin disease characterized by dry, reddish (erythematous), thickened patches of skin that are covered with silvery-gray scales.

Is geographic tongue harmful?

Geographic tongue is a benign condition. It doesn’t pose a threat to your health, cause long-term complications or increase your risk of major health problems. However, anxiety about the condition is fairly common because: The appearance of the tongue may be embarrassing, depending on how visible the lesions are.

What does white patches on your tongue mean?

White tongue is the result of an overgrowth and swelling of the fingerlike projections (papillae) on the surface of your tongue. The appearance of a white coating is caused by debris, bacteria and dead cells getting lodged between the enlarged and sometimes inflamed papillae.

What does white patch on tongue mean?

White tongue is usually caused when bacteria, debris (like food and sugar) and dead cells get trapped between the papillae on the surface of your tongue. These string-like papillae then grow large and swell up, sometimes becoming inflamed. This creates the white patch you see on your tongue.

Why do I get patches on my tongue?

Geographic tongue results from the loss of tiny hairlike projections (papillae) on your tongue’s surface. This papillae loss appears as smooth, red patches of varying shapes and sizes. Geographic tongue is an inflammatory but harmless condition affecting the surface of your tongue.

Does a white tongue mean your sick?

When your tongue appears white, that means food debris, bacteria and dead cells have been lodged between inflamed papillae. (1) White tongue is usually harmless and only temporary, but it can also be an indication of an infection or some serious conditions.

Is geographic tongue curable?

Geographic tongue does not have a treatment or cure. Most lesions and symptoms will disappear in a few days or weeks.

Is it normal to have white patches on your tongue?

While white patches on the tongue are generally benign, in rare cases they can be a sign of a more serious condition. It is important to contact a healthcare professional to get any questions answered and to receive proper treatment if it is needed.

What are geographic tongue spots?

The irregular patches make the tongue resemble a map, which is where the condition gets its name. In some cases, geographic tongue spots can appear in other areas of the mouth. A dentist or doctor may discover the condition. Geographic tongue may go undetected for months or years.

Can geographic tongue cause health problems?

Although geographic tongue may look alarming, it doesn’t cause health problems and isn’t associated with infection or cancer. Geographic tongue can sometimes cause tongue discomfort and increased sensitivity to certain substances, such as spices, salt and even sweets.

What does it mean when you have patches on your tongue?

These patches (lesions) give the tongue a maplike, or geographic, appearance. The lesions often heal in one area and then move (migrate) to a different part of your tongue. Geographic tongue is also known as benign migratory glossitis.