Geographic Tongue - Red Patches on the Tongue

Published: 2009-04-13 - Updated: 2015-01-23
Author: Disabled World | Contact: Disabled World (Disabled-World.com)
Peer-Reviewed Publication: N/A
Library: Oral Health and Hygiene Publications

Synopsis: Article explaining what geographic tongue is and describing steps to curing red patches and white areas on the tongue.

Geographic tongue is also known as benign migratory glossitis, erythema migrans, or continental tongue. The name geographic tongue is due to the tongue resembling a map.

Main Digest

Geographic tongue is also known as benign migratory glossitis, erythema migrans, or continental tongue. The name geographic tongue is due to the tongue resembling a map.

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Geographic tongue is characterized by red patches on the surface of the tongue surrounded by a grayish white color. Over several days these patches on the tongue may change in shape and/or size. You may also experience burning or stinging on the tongue, especially after eating spicy or citrus foods such as an orange.

Geographic tongue tends to be more common with people who suffer from asthma, allergies or eczema.

There is no known cure for geographic tongue.

It is recommended to stay away from foods that may aggravate the condition.

It has been reported that Vitamin B supplements and anti-inflammatory steroids applied topically can cause geographic tongue to temporarily disappear.

Other Steps you can try To get rid of Geographic Tongue

1. Reduce your stress levels

Easier said than done of course! However, you cannot underestimate the power of stress reduction and relaxation and the effect it has on the body's immune system and ability to combat the causes of Geographic Tongue. Stress can be physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. Invest time to find out what techniques are best for you to de-stress, and practice those techniques. Meditation is a particularly effective relaxation technique, and can be self-taught.

2. Consume the right vitamins and minerals

Are you deficient in any essential vitamins or minerals? How is your diet? In today's world, we often sacrifice healthy, fresh, nutritious food because of time restraints and other factors. If this is the case for you (or even if you do eat healthily), you may need to supplement your diet with vitamins and minerals.

Geographic Tongue is often a sign that we are lacking essential basic vitamins and minerals. There are other signs as well which we can look out for to narrow down the exact supplements we need.

3. Absorb the right vitamins and minerals!

Maybe you have already been scoffing all the vitamins you can afford, and still not getting results? Well it is not only essential to know which vitamins and minerals your body needs, but also to check that your body can absorb them. Again, there are telltale signs if your body is struggling to absorb nutrients, and steps you can take to correct this fault.

Get your digestive system working correctly, consume the nutrients your body needs, and watch what happens!

4. Keep hydrated

Very simple - drink lots of plain water. Avoid sugary drinks, and cut down on tea and coffee, as they will cause you to lose fluid rather than top it up. If, like me, you find drinking copious amounts of water near impossible, there are herbs that can actually have the opposite effect of diuretics (like tea and coffee). They help the kidneys reabsorb more water.

5. Detoxify and cleanse your colon

Follow the first four steps above, and you will already be on your way to achieving this one. To be healthy, we need to develop a routine of cleansing, particularly the colon. It's simply not healthy to have food rotting inside of us (urgh!). Learn how to develop and maintain regularity so that you absorb the nutrients you need and then get rid of the waste efficiently.

6. Maintain great oral hygiene

There are particular toothpastes and tools you can use to easily keep your tongue scrupulously clean. To combat Geographic Tongue, your tongue needs to be free from bacteria and yeast. Together with taking care of your digestive system, and eating the right foods, maintaining high levels of oral hygiene with effective cleaning will allow your tongue to heal naturally.

7. Control your level of yeast

Seed your intestines with healthy bacteria and return your digestive system to its natural balance. Our recommended resource gives all the detail you need in order to start doing this straight away.

Hope for unhealthy tongues!

Recently news to hand has shown that geographic tongue responds well to zinc enhancements, such as Solvazinc, causing some doctors to ponder if geographic tongue is caused by an allergy or a deficiency.

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