Tongue Spots
Information About the Causes of Tongue Spots
In most cases tongue spots is indicative of a condition known as geographic tongue. The spots on the tongue can be white or red, and they may appear in different areas of the tongue. People that notice spots on their tongue may well become alarmed and have no idea what the spots are caused from, and although the exact cause of this condition isn’t known, it isn’t a serious medical state.
When there are tongue spots that are white or red, what is happening is that in these areas the taste buds are falling off, though when the spots disappear this means that the taste buds have been replaced. The technical name for the taste buds is papillae; when these falls off, it will take about a week to ten days for them to be replaced. During this time there will be noticeable tongue spots.
Although the exact cause of tongue spots is not known, it is suspected that alcohol and tobacco play a role in the development of these spots in adults. No matter how the tobacco is used, whether smoked or chewed, it may cause the taste buds to fall of and cause white or red spots on the tongue.
When there are tongue spots on infants the cause is something else entirely. This is called thrush and is caused by a fungi infection in the mouth. When the cause of these spots is thrush you might also see the spots on other areas of the mouth, including the gums.
In adults, tongue spots appear to be more common in women than men, though only about 3 percent of the population develops this condition, according to recent studies. The symptoms may include a burning or tingling sensation on the tongue, but there may not be any symptoms at all.
Although in most cases white patches on the tongue will be geographic tongue, there are some instances where these spots may indicate Leukoplakia, which causes areas of the tongue to thicken; this is known to be an early sign of cancer. If thrush is the culprit for tongue spots, it might cause additional symptoms, such as fever. Due to the possibility that white spots on the tongue could be due to one of these conditions, it is important to contact your doctor if you do notice these spots on your tongue.
If the tongue spots are due to geographic tongue you may be able to avoid them by ensuring that you are getting the proper nutrition. People with low immune systems tend to be more at risk for developing this condition. Some additional steps you can take to help prevent spots on the tongue include not smoking or drinking alcohol, plus practice good oral hygiene.
If the tongue spots are due to a fungi infection, your doctor can prescribe anti bacterial or anti fungal treatments. Although there are some home remedies to help treat spots that have developed on the tongue, in most cases doctors will discourage their use due to the potential for aggravating the condition and making it worse.
If the tongue spots indicate a lack of proper nutrition, your doctor will likely prescribe some dietary supplements to help remedy this problem. Although the supplements will help, nothing replaces getting the right vitamins and minerals in their natural form, so it is important to evaluate your eating habits.
For tongue spots there are not many treatments available, but the condition is easier to treat if there is a suspected cause. If you develop these spots you might want to observe your habits to see if you can discover the reason you have this condition, and if necessary seek advice from your healthcare provider.