What's up with my tongue?

@trailsillustrated is a dentist, you may message him/ her. Helped me with a question a few weeks ago.

The clear, raw patches are called “geographic tongue”, because they make the tongue look like a map. It’s nothing to be worried about. Sometimes caused by sensitivity to certain foods or irritants.

A geographic tongue can be indictative of food sensitivities, intolerances, or imbalances.

You probably have nutritional deficiencies. I suppose it could be nothing to worry about but you would probably feel better having addressed them.

Sugar or yeast just make a mental when eating a lot to look at your tongue the next day. Those are usually two big food types that cause a lot of problems.

@rosehips For me it seems to be acidic fruits mostly that do it. When I was younger I loved sour Warheads and would eat a lot of them, always got a hole in my tongue then. Now, however, I think this current case of “geographic tongue” (coolest name!) is from an entire pineapple I ate on Friday/Saturday…I also ate a lot more fruit and I think the general acidity causes that, that seems to be what I’ve noticed in the past anyhow as well.

@thorninmud I’m about to go see what land masses my tongue holes look like right now.

If your tongue, lips and the inside of your eyelids are very light pink or even white you likely are iron dificient. You can easily get a blood test to see where your iron level is, and taking iron should help resolve it if you are dificient.

If it is white and you can scrape it off that can be thrush/yeast. Some medications cause a white coating on the tongue like Flagyl.

@JLeslie I’m not on any meds and like I’ve said I’ve had it literally since I can remember, very young. When I last had blood taken he said my iron was high and at a great level actually, so it isn’t that that’s causing it. And from what I’ve read about thrush, it is the worst thing ever pretty much and very painful and other symptoms, right? I was thinking maybe it’s yeast-related, but I don’t know anything more than that….or what else it could be ?

@deni I don’t know other causes. It sounds like you have sufficiently ruled out the two I mentioned. I doubt it is thrush if you have had it for many years. Did you forward this to rarebear and trailsillustrated?

A total guess on my part, do you eat or drink very hot foods? Very hot coffee? I wonder if that can affect the tongue to form some sort of protective coating? Like a callus on a foot? Really that is a blind hypothesis with no knowledge behind it, so don’t take it as a definite possibility for a cause.

@JLeslie No, but I will now :) Ummm, no I actually hate really hot food/drinks. I do drink coffee every day but I put ice cubes in it so it’s almost never hot at all. Same with tea.

I would say avoid those foods that aggravate the condition or limit quantities, another option to note would be the high acidity in them. As well as the direct contact with the mouth. As long as you experience no other symptoms you can cut them by mixing rich foods with them. An avocado pineapple cherry smoothie for example.

How was your B level on your last test? Or in any tests? Does your family have a history of it?

Another thing you could try switching toothpaste or mouth wash. Most toothpaste and mouthwash contain so much sugar it is criminal. I make my own so I can’t suggest any brands. However xylitol is a sugar that increases saliva production overall boosting oral hygiene.

@rosehips Interesting thoughts….B level, I’m not too sure. Can’t recall it ever being mentioned. My mom does have a thyroid problem and is anemic. I think I’m pretty normal with those things though. I don’t see the doctor much.

As far as toothpaste, I was thinking that. However, I used Toms of Maine for years which is pretty natural and good as far as toothpaste goes. But then I ran out about a month ago and switched to some Crest just because a friend left a whole tube here while they were visiting. So I also don’t think any of the mouth products I use have anything to do with it because I’ve used so many different ones over the past 10+ years that I’ve had it.

You know I don’t know what’s up with your tongue, but if that were my tongue, I would be totally freaked! I would not be showing my tongue to anyone!

Levels of B vitamins which are actually a series of vitamins are linked with anemia and a geographical tongue.

It is possible to overdose on these vitamins so without knowing your score I would just try to eat a lot vitamin B rich foods.

Avocados, legumes, nuts: peanuts, brazil nuts etc. bananas, flax seed, chia seeds (like chia pets yes) and the list goes on.

It looks really painful. I’d go to the doctor if I were you.