Many people occasionally suffer from a cracked tongue. Although most people assume that changes in the area of the tongue often have a pathological character, in many cases the cracked tongue is completely harmless. In fact, most changes in the tongue are medically insignificant.
When the tongue is cracked, large longitudinal and transverse indentations usually occur. In addition, it can bleed easily from these small mucous membrane injuries. The development of a cracked tongue can have a variety of causes.
For example, people who drink little fluid typically have a rather dry, cracked tongue. In addition, bacterial and/or viral infections associated with fever can lead to the development of a cracked tongue. However, the reason for this is not the infection itself, but the progressive lack of fluid.
Affected persons often state that especially the consumption of acidic or spicy foods and drinks is particularly unpleasant. Even eating apples, lemonade or chilli peppers can be extremely painful for a person who has a cracked tongue. Although in most cases the cracked tongue itself does not have a pathological character, a look into the oral cavity can help to make a diagnosis in case of long lasting diseases. People who suffer from a cracked tongue over a long period of time and/or recurrently should consult a doctor. Only through targeted treatment can the symptoms associated with the tongue change be effectively alleviated and complications prevented.
Symptoms
Patients who suffer persistently or recurrently from a cracked tongue often describe a variety of other complaints. In general, it can be assumed that cracks in the area of the tongue and the oral mucosa are associated with further complaints. However, a cracked tongue can also occur without other symptoms.
Among the most common complaints that can be observed in connection with a cracked tongue are slight bleeding and whitish discoloration. In addition, the injuries to the tongue can initially affect the perception of taste. Many of the affected patients also report that the consumption of acidic foods and beverages is very unpleasant.
Transverse and/or longitudinal cracks in the area of the tongue are mostly caused by bites on the tongue. In addition, congenital abnormalities of the mucosal relief (technical term: lingua plicata) are one of the most common causes for the repeated or long-term occurrence of a cracked tongue. This disorder is a harmless, relatively frequent deviation of the normal mucosal fine structure.
An impairment of the normal function of the tongue (e.g. when chewing or speaking) cannot be observed in affected individuals. The tears in the area of the tongue can occur in lingua plicata patients (synonym: wrinkled tongue) both asymmetrically and symmetrically. In a few cases the cracks in the tongue can cause tongue burning (glossodynia).
Another cause for the repeated occurrence of a cracked tongue and inflammatory processes in the area of the oral mucosa can be a chronic lack of biotin (vitamin H). Typically, affected individuals also suffer from infections of the mucous membranes, anaemia and hair loss. To avoid serious complications, the missing vitamin should be supplied immediately in the form of vitamin preparations.
Furthermore, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract can be accompanied by a cracked tongue. In infectious diarrhea diseases, the changes on the tongue are primarily caused by the progressive lack of fluid. For this reason, affected patients should pay particular attention to ensuring that enough fluid is supplied.
In severe cases of diarrhea, this may mean that an infusion may be necessary. Even in patients suffering from chronic gastrointestinal diseases (e.g. Crohn’s disease), changes in the area of the oral mucosa and the tongue can often be observed. In the presence of pathological changes in the liver (e.g. liver insufficiency), reddish-shiny changes in the tongue typically occur.
In these cases, one speaks of a so-called “varnished tongue”. Another cause for the development of a cracked tongue can be an acute fungal infection.In the affected patients the tongue is particularly cracked, rough and reddened. In addition, the presence of a fungal infection typically results in the appearance of whitish coatings and/or contact bleeding.
