Why does the tongue hurt and crack? The phenomenon is extremely unpleasant, but there are many reasons for this. In each case, it is reasonable to consult a doctor - a specialist is able to conduct laboratory diagnostics and identify all the features of the condition. Let's try to consider what often leads to the formation of cracks.
Causes and consequences: general provisions
Faced with a problem, surely anyone will want to know why the language is cracking. The causes of this phenomenon are usually associated with dental diseases. Violation of the integrity of the integument of the tongue may indicate various pathological processes, glossitis. Defective areas are a source of severe discomfort. Without adequate treatment, there is a risk of worsening the situation, the appearance of complications.
To understand why a person has a cracked tongue, it is most reasonable to visit a doctor. The doctor will identify the cause and select the appropriate therapeutic course. Self-medication can be a source of side effects and troubles. Glossitis and other pathologies can be the cause of severe soreness and burning, the appearance of plaque.
Cracks: Common Causes
There are two types of integrity disorders: congenital and acquired. Birth with a scrotal tongue, that is, an organ covered with numerous folds, is possible. In this case, the cracks are usually symmetrical, transverse or longitudinal, they do not provoke any discomfort, they do not require treatment.
If the main body or the tip of the tongue crack due to glossitis, then it is necessary to start a therapeutic course, and as soon as possible. A pathological condition can be provoked by a lack in the body of nicotinic acid or iron, vitamins from group B and some other nutrients that are indispensable for the human body. Sometimes glossitis appears against a background of anemia, an allergic reaction, and increased stress. Poor, unsuitable dentures can cause your tongue to crack. The reason with which treatment should not be delayed is gastric, intestinal diseases, mucosal integrity disorders, complications against the background of chronic and acute diseases.
Protect your health: in all aspects
When figuring out why a tongue is cracking, one should not forget about the possibility of getting a mechanical injury. It is known that the integrity of the tongue is broken easier and faster, and injuries develop deeper, heal more slowly if the body experiences a lack of vitamin and mineral compounds. Glossitis is possible, even if you accidentally bite your tongue. If the immunity is high, and the body has all the necessary compounds in an adequate volume, this will not cause problems, but with certain violations and imbalances, the risk of an unpleasant condition accompanied by soreness for a long time is significant.
Varieties and forms
Finding out why the tongue is cracked and how it is treated, you need to not only analyze the condition of a particular person for saturation of the body with irreplaceable compounds, but also examine the damaged area. Several varieties of glossitis are known, each of which has unique features. The most problematic, for example, is considered to be deep, located at the bottom of the oral cavity. Without adequate treatment, the problem is gradually worsened, it is possible to expand the damaged area - the neck and chin suffer.
Sometimes pregnant women face the fact that the tongue is cracking. The causes are often gastric diseases, parasitic invasion and improper metabolism. The condition manifests itself in desquamative language. The patient is worried about burning, a visual examination shows numerous lines. Outwardly, the language is like a map depicting continents.
Reasons and Varieties
Sometimes, against the background of gastritis, with a reduced level of acidity of the gastric environment, the tongue also crackes. The reason for this condition - gastritis - leads to the formation of diamond-shaped glossitis. A visual examination shows that the tongue is thickened relative to the norm, and near the root there is a section outlined close to a regular rhombus.
Often you can see in the portfolio of specialized dental clinics a description of different cases with photos. The language is cracking, as you can conclude from these materials, a fairly large number of people - clinics have many clients. Many patients complain of the so-called villous form. With it, the lingual papillae become inflamed. Gradually, the area grows, becomes horny and outwardly begins to resemble a fleecy carpet. Fungal invasion (fungi from the genus Candida), bad habits (smoking), and also chronic trauma to the papilla can provoke such a pathological condition.
Forms: finalizing the review
Finding out why the tongue is cracking in a particular case, you should check the patient's circulatory system for the presence of folic acid, the balance of vitamins. Particular attention is paid to B12. Gunter form of the pathological condition indicates vitamin deficiency and lack of folic acid. Visually, it manifests itself as a smoothed surface of the organ, retraction of the papillae. The tongue is unnaturally even, painted in a raspberry shade, glistens.
The scrotal form does not require special treatment, but in some cases it is recommended to resort to plastic surgery. This applies to cases of very deep folds.
Finding out why the tongue is cracking in the patient, it is reasonable to check it for syphilis - it is known that this disease sometimes leads to complications in the form of glossitis. Muscular lingual fibers are transformed into connective tissues, which is visually expressed in the abundance of scars. In the absence of adequate treatment, glossitis can be the first stage of a malignant neoplasm.
Location Features
Finding out why the language is cracking in a particular case, it is worth assessing the localization of damaged areas. In some cases, inflammatory processes are quite characteristic, so a visual examination allows you to make an accurate diagnosis. Of course, additional diagnostics will still have to be carried out, but in most cases the initial diagnosis is confirmed.
Often, patients handle cracks located on the entire surface of the organ in a chaotic manner. This phenomenon often indicates a pathological condition of the large intestine. A high probability of a chronic disease. You will have to additionally undergo examination by an endocrinologist if glossitis is accompanied by dryness and craving to drink constantly.
Localization Nuances
Sometimes people come to the clinic complaining of pain in the tip: it is in this part that the language crackes. Treatment, most likely, will have to go from stomatitis or trauma. A burn at the tip of an organ can be caused by a burn obtained by drinking too hot a drink or food. There are cases when the CNS diseases, weakness of the immune system, and the habit of biting the tongue manifested themselves as such a symptom.
Some are concerned about cracks in the center of the organ. In comparison with other areas of localization, this form is characterized by the greatest depth. Often glossy rhomboid or folded, and often due to a lack of immunity, due to which the mucous membranes dry out and crack.
Another option for localization is the side surfaces. From practice it is known that this is provoked by hepatic and biliary diseases, anemia, impaired functioning of the digestive tract, thyroid gland. Cracks due to biting, due to the tendency of the tongue to swelling, are possible.
Plaque and cracks
Often, patients pay attention to the problem only because of pain during the meal and during conversation. The pathological condition can manifest itself as edema, redness of the mucous membranes, ulcerated and inflamed areas. In some, salivation is activated or dried in the mouth. Glossitis often burns sore surfaces. Possible general fever. Very often, the condition is accompanied by a white coating throughout the body.
Observing such symptoms, you must first come to the dentist's appointment. The doctor will examine the patient, make a preliminary diagnosis, direct him to additional tests and examinations, and also recommend what methods and medications can smooth out the symptoms. They can write out a referral for examination to an endocrinologist, a specialist in blood or stomach, intestines.
About diagnostics
Determining the reasons for the appearance of cracks in the patient’s tongue, the doctors will conduct an external examination of the organ and assess the tendency of the tongue to swell, fix all integrity violations, traces of which can be seen. Then, using special tools, they take a scraping from the surface of the tongue for laboratory research. They write down the direction for the delivery of blood images to assess the state of the body and identify the content of nutrients, substances, vitamins in the blood.
Since glossitis in a predominant percentage of cases indicates an acute or chronic disease, it is important to undergo a full range of diagnostics to accurately identify the causes. Cope with the disease of the tongue, not getting rid of the prerequisites for it, will not work - the cracks will return again and again. To leave soreness and discomfort in the past, it is necessary to treat the main trouble.
What will help?
The therapeutic course for cracks involves the elimination of the underlying disease and the fight against symptoms. To alleviate the patient’s condition, painkillers and drugs are usually prescribed to stop the activity of inflammatory foci (usually non-hormonal). In some cases, the hormonal drugs Hydrocortisone and Prednisolone are indicated. They are characterized by side effects, so it is impossible to use medicines without medical supervision.
With severe pain, local applications on inflamed areas will help. Apply drugs "Lidocaine", "Trimekain." To activate regenerative processes, use "Dalargin". In case of complication, infection with fungi or pathological microflora, the doctor will prescribe antibiotics based on the tests: in the laboratory, they will check which substances the microflora is sensitive to.
Therapy: an integrated approach
To activate regeneration and ease soreness, Solcoseryl paste is applied to the affected areas three times a day.
It is necessary to rinse your mouth several times a day with chamomile or calendula decoction, other infusions, herbal decoctions. You can use antiseptics, for example, Chlorhexidine.
As a rule, the doctor prescribes calcium pantothenate to maintain the strength of the body, antihistamines to reduce inflammatory processes and vitamin complexes to enrich the body tissues with irreplaceable compounds. During the treatment period, it will be necessary to exclude spicy, hot, as well as any food that can irritate the affected areas.
Traditional medicine to help the sick
Cracks in the tongue pass faster if folk recipes are used to heal wounds and eliminate edema, foci of inflammation. As a rule, these are infusions and decoctions for rinsing the oral cavity. Perhaps the most popular option is a honey oak broth. For 4 tablespoons of pre-crushed bark, take as many glasses of cold water, mix and put on fire. As it boils, the fire is turned off, the container is allowed to infuse for half an hour and the liquid is expressed. While the broth is warm, add a spoonful of honey and use it to rinse the mouth, throat up to five times daily. Before use, the broth is heated to the temperature of the human body.
You can try a sour milk compress. A mixture of sour cream, cottage cheese is wrapped in gauze and put on a sore area before breakfast for a quarter of an hour.
Sorcerers advise using a collection of sage, raspberry leaves, coltsfoot and mallow. All components are taken in an amount of 20 g, pour a glass of boiling water, insist for at least two hours, and then used to rinse the mouth.
What else to try?
A simple recipe is freshly squeezed potato juice used to rinse your mouth.
If cracks appear on the tip of the tongue, herbal baths may be most useful. In a bowl with infusion prepared according to one of the recipes described above, immerse the diseased part of the tongue for several minutes.
It is important to adhere to a limited diet during the treatment period. Spicy, smoked, pickled, salt, burning, alcohol are completely excluded. Food that can violate integrity, irritate, dry the surface of the tongue is contraindicated.