Geographical Tongue In Children: Symptoms And Treatment

Geographic tongue in children is usually not painful. But sometimes it can make children feel uncomfortable and irritated. Therefore, it is important that you know how to help your child cope with this condition.

What is geographical tongue?

It is an inflammatory condition that affects the tongue and gives rise to spots on it that resemble a map. They are usually red and white on the edges.

Its Latin name is lingua geographica and it is sometimes called benign migratory glossitis. This name comes from the fact that the spots move around on the tongue.

These spots are usually visible on the tip, back and sides of the tongue. In some cases, they reach the ventral segment.

Although it can be long or even chronic, it is not a dangerous condition. There are no risks to the child’s health.

Symptoms

Often the first spots on the tongue appear bright and even, and they grow quickly. Although it is painless, it sometimes causes discomfort. It can also create a burning sensation, especially if they eat spicy or sour foods.

Geographic tongue also makes children lose taste buds, but only in the top layer. Therefore, it does not affect the sense of taste. In addition, new taste buds grow rapidly and are constantly renewed.

How long this condition lasts varies from case to case. It can take between a week to a month, or sometimes even longer.

It is an ever-changing condition, and its appearance changes every day. It can also change in a few hours. In addition, it is chronic, which means it will come back again.

If you notice that your baby’s tongue swells up, that she cannot breathe, speak, swallow or chew, then it may be related to a serious illness. Therefore, you should contact your doctor immediately.

Causes

Although we do not know exactly what causes it, many doctors see a correlation to vitamin B deficiency.

In addition, doctors have associated it with emotional factors such as stress and anxiety. Annoying factors such as acidic foods, spicy foods, hot foods and tobacco can also cause it.

On the other hand, there is also a link between geographical tongue and diseases such as rhinitis and asthma.

Can you treat geographical tongue?

The causes are unknown, therefore there is no specific treatment for geographical tongue. Basically, doctors recommend avoiding things that can cause more irritation and discomfort.

In addition, they suggest that you take care of your oral health by brushing your teeth with a soft brush. You can also use sterile gauze to clean your baby’s mouth.

On the other hand, older children can use mouthwashes that contain chlorhexidine. If discomfort persists, apply antihistamine gel where it hurts. This also helps to regenerate taste buds faster.

Another tip is to review the food your child eats. Some foods make it easier to get geographically heavy. For example, kiwi, banana, melon, walnuts, vinegar and tomatoes.

What you should know about geographically heavy

You should know that this is not a disease, but rather a harmless condition. Although it may take a while before it heals in children, it generally does not cause pain.

However, it can be uncomfortable for a while. It does not require rigorous or expensive treatments or lots of tests.

Keep in mind that it is not common in infants. However, there have been some cases in 6-month-old children. However, it is more common in older children.

It is even less common for adults and middle-aged people to have this problem. It is more common in women than men.

In conclusion, it is a good idea to follow these tips to prevent your children from getting geographically heavy. Of course, if you are worried, consult your doctor. It is always better to be on the safe side.