Diagnosis
People who suffer from a cracked tongue from time to time and do not have any other complaints do not necessarily need to see a doctor. The cracked tongue itself usually does not have a pathological character. Nevertheless, changes in the area of the oral mucosa and the tongue can provide an important indication of a possible underlying disease.
Therapy
A cracked tongue should be treated primarily with simple home remedies. Persons who generally do not drink enough liquid should above all remember to increase their daily amount of drinking significantly. Cracking of the tongue is usually associated with a pronounced lack of fluid.
Even this simple measure will therefore usually completely reduce the changes in the area of the oral mucosa and the tongue. In addition, especially in the presence of a cracked tongue, attention should be paid to consistent oral hygiene. Even the smallest injuries on the surface of the tongue can otherwise serve as an entry point for bacterial pathogens into the organism and cause infections.
If the cracked tongue is accompanied by pain, just a few drops of glycerin can help to effectively relieve the symptoms. In addition, regular chewing of hard foods (such as raw vegetables or hard bread) can help prevent further cracking. The reason for this is the fact that hard food stimulates the production of saliva and thus serves to moisten the mucous membranes in the oral cavity.
In addition, special mouthwashes with lemon juice or sage tea should help to treat the cracked tongue. In this context, however, it should be noted that too aggressive mouthrinses can further attack the mucous membranes and cause severe pain. For this reason, rinsing solutions should be diluted with some tap water before use.
Patients suffering from a cracked tongue should also not manipulate the tongue too much. Especially the contact between tongue and toothbrush can aggravate the situation and cause bleeding. Furthermore, highly irritating substances must be avoided until the cracked tongue has healed completely. This applies especially to hot food and drinks. The consumption of alcohol and/or nicotine can also promote the mucous membrane changes and negatively influence the healing of the cracked tongue.
