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Medical Health Encyclopedia
Tongue problems
From Healthscout's partner site on breast cancer, HealthCentral.com
Tongue problems include pain, swelling, or a change in how the tongue looks. Alternative Names
Dark tongue; Burning tongue syndrome Considerations The tongue is mainly made up of muscles. It is covered with a mucus membrane. Small bumps (papillae) cover the upper surface of the tongue.
There are many different reasons for changes in the tongue's function and appearance. PROBLEMS MOVING THE TONGUE Tongue movement problems are most often caused by nerve damage. Rarely, problems moving the tongue may also be caused by a disorder where the band of tissue that attaches the tongue to the floor of the mouth is too short. This is called ankyloglossia. ![]() Tongue movement disorders may result in:
TASTE PROBLEMS Taste problems can be caused by damage to the taste buds, nerve problems, side effects of medications, an infection, or other condition. The tongue normally senses sweet, salty, sour, and bitter tastes. Other "tastes" are actually a function of the sense of smell. INCREASED SIZE OF THE TONGUE Tongue swelling occurs with:
The tongue may get wider in persons who have no teeth and do not wear dentures. Sudden swelling of the tongue can happen due to an allergic reaction or a side effect of medications. COLOR CHANGES Color changes may occur when the tongue becomes inflamed (glossitis). Papillae (bumps on the tongue) are lost, causing the tongue to appear smooth. Geographic tongue is a patchy form of glossitis where the location of inflammation and the appearance of the tongue change from day to day. HAIRY TONGUE Hairy tongue is a harmless condition in which the tongue looks hairy or furry. The disorder usually goes away with antibiotics. BLACK TONGUE Sometimes the upper surface of the tongue turns black or brown in color. This is an unsightly condition but it is not harmful. | |||||||||||||||||||
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