Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Geographic tongue is a harmless condition affecting the tongue’smucous membrane. It causes discolored bald spots on the tongue’s surface that often appear in island-like patches, making the tongue’s surface look like a map. This condition is also called benignmigratory glossitis.
This article explains what geographic tongue is and how to tell if you have it. It explains how geographic tongue is diagnosed and what you can do to manage symptoms.
Common characteristics of geographic tongue include:
Although less common, lesions may also occur in other mucosal areas of the body such as the labia (outer lips that protect the vagina).
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoGeographic tongue disease.angelsimon / Getty Images
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See Photo
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.
Symptoms Come and Go
People who experience geographic tongue may have periods when the symptoms disappear, but the lesions may return. In addition to coming and going at random, lesions may change:
These changes may occur slowly over the course of several days or even within a few hours.
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See Photophanasitti / Getty Images
phanasitti / Getty Images
Pictures of White Spots on Tongue
The characteristic patches of smooth skin develop when there’s a loss of papillae—the minute, finger-like projections that cover the surface of thetongue. These papillae have sensory organs that are responsible for the ability totaste(taste buds) and to distinguish between sweet, sour, savory, salty, and bitter flavors.
The exact cause of geographic tongue isn’t known. However, there are many theories associated with the disorder. Potential causes of geographic tongue include:
Geographic tongue is often diagnosed accidentally when a doctor or dentist notices the condition during a routine exam. However, some people specifically seek treatment for their tongue because they’re worried that the symptoms they see are a sign of a serious health problem such as an infection or cancer.
There’s no test for geographic tongue. Your doctor will make a diagnosis based on medical history and a physical exam while ruling out other possible causes.
Other conditions that can look similar to geographic tongue include:Chemical burnPsoriasisFungal infection such ascandidiasisLichen planusContactstomatitis(sensitivities or allergic reactions to substances such as toothpaste)Oral cancers(rare)
Other conditions that can look similar to geographic tongue include:
Geographic tongue does not require any treatment because it’s benign, resolves on its own, and usually doesn’t cause pain. If someone with the condition notices sensitivity to certain foods, drinks, or substances (such as tobacco or toothpaste), they may want to take note of what irritates the lesions and avoid them when the condition is present or flaring up.
If you have consistent pain or sensitivity related to geographic tongue, your healthcare provider may recommend:
What Is Fissured Tongue?
Summary
Geographic tongue usually causes mild symptoms or possibly no symptoms. Your tongue may have changes in appearance that come and go, but these don’t cause permanent damage to the tongue. There are no long-term health consequences associated with geographic tongue.
While there are theories about why people develop geographic tongue, none have been proven. Your doctor can diagnose the condition based on symptoms. However, they may need to do further testing to be sure that tongue lesions and other symptoms aren’t related to an underlying condition that needs to be treated.
Transient Lingual Papillitis (Lie Bumps)
4 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Organization of Rare Disorders.Geographic tongue.American Academy of Oral Medicine.Geographic tongue.Picciani BL, Domingos TA, Teixeira-souza T, et al.Geographic tongue and psoriasis: clinical, histopathological, immunohistochemical and genetic correlation - a literature review.An Bras Dermatol. 2016;91(4):410-21. doi:10.1590/abd1806-4841.20164288The American Academy of Oral Medicine.Geographic tongue.
4 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Organization of Rare Disorders.Geographic tongue.American Academy of Oral Medicine.Geographic tongue.Picciani BL, Domingos TA, Teixeira-souza T, et al.Geographic tongue and psoriasis: clinical, histopathological, immunohistochemical and genetic correlation - a literature review.An Bras Dermatol. 2016;91(4):410-21. doi:10.1590/abd1806-4841.20164288The American Academy of Oral Medicine.Geographic tongue.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Organization of Rare Disorders.Geographic tongue.American Academy of Oral Medicine.Geographic tongue.Picciani BL, Domingos TA, Teixeira-souza T, et al.Geographic tongue and psoriasis: clinical, histopathological, immunohistochemical and genetic correlation - a literature review.An Bras Dermatol. 2016;91(4):410-21. doi:10.1590/abd1806-4841.20164288The American Academy of Oral Medicine.Geographic tongue.
National Organization of Rare Disorders.Geographic tongue.
American Academy of Oral Medicine.Geographic tongue.
Picciani BL, Domingos TA, Teixeira-souza T, et al.Geographic tongue and psoriasis: clinical, histopathological, immunohistochemical and genetic correlation - a literature review.An Bras Dermatol. 2016;91(4):410-21. doi:10.1590/abd1806-4841.20164288
The American Academy of Oral Medicine.Geographic tongue.
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