Do I Have Geographic Tongue?

Do you have red, irregularly shaped patches (lesions) on the top or side of your tongue?

Are your lesions surrounded by white lines?

Have you noticed that the insides of the red patches on your tongue are noticeably smoother than the surrounding area?

Do you have lesions on your tongue that vary in size and shape?

Do you have lesions on your tongue that completely heal in one area, and then reappear in another part of the tongue?

Do you have similar red patches in other areas of the mouth (on the gums, the top of the mouth or inside the cheeks)?

Do you feel a stinging, tingling or burning sensation on your tongue, especially when you eat hot, spicy or acidic food?

Do your symptoms come and go?

Do you have lesions on your tongue that last for weeks or months?

Do you have a family history of geographic tongue or fissured tongue?

Based on your answers it is unlikely that you have a geographic tongue. Geographic tongue is an inflammatory medical condition that affects your tongue. It is characterized by a specific map-like pattern that appears on your tongue. The surface of your tongue is normally covered with small pink bumps that are called papillae. With geographic tongue, there are smooth, red areas without papillae, surrounded by an irregular white border. The lesion can often heal in one part of the tongue and then reappear in another tongue area. Geographic tongue is not contagious nor is it a serious condition and can occur at any time in a person’s life.

Based on your answers there is a possibility that you have a geographic tongue. Geographic tongue is a medical condition that refers to lesions that appear on the surface of your tongue. Geographic tongue lesions are reddish, smooth, irregularly shaped areas surrounded by white lines. They can occur suddenly and last for months or longer. A person can have multiple affected areas at the same time. The lesions may disappear completely and then reappear. About 3 percent of the adult population worldwide has this condition. It is more common in women than in men. A diagnosis is based on your symptoms and an examination of your tongue.

Based on your answers there is a high possibility that you have a geographic tongue. Geographic tongue is a harmless medical inflammatory condition characterized by smooth, red areas on the surface of your tongue. The name of the condition comes from the appearance of lesions on the tongue that differs in shape, size and color. The exact cause of this condition is still unknown, but geographic tongue is quite common in people who have psoriasis, food allergies, diabetes, hormonal imbalance and a family history of geographic tongue or fissured tongue. This condition does not require medical treatment. However, if you feel any discomfort, you can use pain relievers.