Cracked tongue is quite common. Although it looks mild and harmless, this condition still needs to be addressed because it can cause problems in the mouth. Find out what causes a cracked tongue and how to treat it, to prevent and treat this condition.
Cracked tongue is generally more common in adults. This condition will get worse with age. A fissured tongue is easily recognized by the formation of shallow or deep grooves on the top of the tongue or the edges of the tongue.
The depth and size of the grooves vary and can bump into each other causing the tongue to look cracked. This condition often does not cause complaints, unless there is food debris stuck in the grooves of the tongue.
Reason Lbye Pcracked
Until now, the cause of cracked tongue is still not known with certainty. However, there are several factors that are known to increase the risk of a cracked tongue, namely:
- Hereditary factors (genetic), a person is more at risk of experiencing a cracked tongue if a parent or sibling has a similar condition
- Lack of intake of iron, folate, and vitamin B12
- fungal infection
- Consumption of spicy or sour foods, hot drinks, and alcoholic beverages
- Smoking habit
- Weakened immune system
- Dehydration
- Stress
Cracked tongue condition usually can also appear together with other conditions, such as:
Geographic tongue or benign migratory glossitis (BMG)
This condition is usually harmless and often occurs with a cracked tongue. In addition, the tongue will feel more sensitive to spicy and hot foods.
Down syndrome
Down syndrome is a genetic disorder that causes the sufferer's physical and mental growth to be delayed. Research shows that as many as 80 percent of children with Down syndrome will experience a cracked tongue.
Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome
This disease is generally rare. In addition to causing a cracked tongue, this condition is often accompanied by swelling of the lips and face and paralysis of one side of the face.
Method Movercome Lbye Pcracked
Chapped tongue usually does not require special treatment. However, this condition can be prevented by maintaining regular oral and dental hygiene. After brushing your teeth, it is also recommended that you regularly brush the upper surface of your tongue to remove food residue left in the gaps of your tongue.
If you are lazy to brush the surface of the tongue, bacteria and plaque will accumulate and cause a cracked tongue accompanied by bad breath and tooth decay.
In addition, there are several other ways you can do to prevent a chapped tongue, including:
- Quit smoking
- Stop consuming alcoholic beverages
- Eat a balanced nutritious diet
- Reduce consumption of spicy, sour, and hot drinks
- Meet the body's fluid needs by drinking at least 8 glasses of water every day to prevent dehydration and dry mouth
- Regularly check up with the dentist 2 times a year for maintenance, cleaning, and dental and oral health checks
Chapped tongue generally gets better on its own as long as your teeth and mouth are healthy. Also avoid habits that can cause a cracked tongue as mentioned above.
If the condition of a cracked tongue is accompanied by other complaints, such as canker sores that do not heal, impaired taste, and the tongue looks swollen or painful, immediately consult a dentist for treatment.