Why Do I Have Cracks In Tongue

The cracked tongue also known as the fissured tongue is a medical condition where one has cracks in the tongue means on the upper surface of the tongue there will be some tiny furrows of fissures appearing around the entire surface of the tongue out of nowhere.

In this condition, the tongue has a wrinkled appearance which doesn’t happen in a normal scenario. The American Academy of Oral Medicine stated that they found some results during their research that around 5 percent of people in America are suffering from this condition.

Cracks in tongue may not be shown after birth but they can develop after the years of birth. There is no known reason to be found what causes this medical condition but some studies say that cracks in the tongue can appear because of malnutrition or Down syndrome or it may run in the genes.

Symptoms

There is no known reason for the fissured tongue but there are some symptoms that can help you to detect this medical condition. Here we explain all the symptoms of cracks in tongue or fissured tongue for you to understand.

At first, you can detect the fissured tongue through its appearance.
Cracks in tongue can appear lengthwise like it split the tongue in half.
The number of cracks can differ from person to person.
Usually, the middle part of the tongue is the most effective portion.
But these cracks can appear on the entire tongue.
Apart from cracks in tongue, some people might experience burning sensations.
These sensations may appear after having acidic food or drinks.

These are the symptoms of the fissured tongue that can detect this medical condition at the earliest stage and the patient can have proper medical attention from the beginning.

Causes

What causes cracks in tongue? This is a very obvious question among people who have suffered from cracks in the tongue. Though doctors and researchers still can’t find a definitive reason for cracks in tongue, some research studies provide some possible connections that can cause cracks in tongue or we can say fissured tongue. Here we discussed all the possible causes of this medical condition.

1. Genetic Reasons

Many people may have been asked why I have cracks in my tongue. But there is no definite answer to that question. There are many health problems that exist in the human body because of genetic connections. Many diseases, disorders and rare medical conditions run in the human body through genes. And the cracks in a tongue which is also known as a fissured tongue may be one of them.

This medical condition doesn’t have any definitive reasons but some studies show that it runs in a family. And that is why researchers and doctors say that cracks in the tongue or fissured tongue happen because of genetic reasons.

2. Vitamin Deficiency

Since doctors can’t state any definite reasons for cracks in the tongue commonly known as a fissured tongue, there are many speculations about the causes of this health problem. Some studies show that in rare cases, the fissured tongue can appear because of the lack of some essential vitamins.

There was a study in 2016 about this topic where researchers say that cracks in the tongue are linked to the deficiency of vitamin B12. Then there is research in 2015 that says that fissured tongue happens because of a lack of many vitamins and minerals like vitamin B, zinc, and iron. But none of these reasons are confirmed yet.

3. Smoking

Smoking is the reason for many serious health problems and life-threatening diseases. It is a completely unhealthy practice that humans do due to addiction. According to a study in 2016, some doctors and researchers connect a link between cracks in the tongue or fissured tongue and smoking.

They say that fissured tongue appeared due to a lack of oral hygiene which initiates the whole process. Smoking is an effective reason for this medical condition.

4. Other Health Problems

There are also some health problems or conditions that might initiate the whole process of fissured tongue or cracks in the tongue. It can be a type of psoriasis that causes itchy patches on the surface of the body. Or it can be a medical condition called geographic tongue in which some smooth patches appear on the tongue.

Some doctors say that it happens because of Sjogren’s syndrome which is a type of immune disorder. Some researchers even say that it happened because of Down syndrome. Or it can be a rare neurological condition called Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome.

There are multiple speculations in the medical field about cracks in the tongue or fissured tongue. According to some researchers, it is a hormonal disease called acromegaly and on the other side, some researchers say that it is a rare inflammatory disorder known as orofacial granulomatosis.

Complications

A common question among the patients is what cracks in the tongue mean. If a person has cracks in the tongue or a fissured tongue then it can create a dangerous situation for that person. Since his or her tongue is cracked then all those bacteria or fungi like Candida albicans can enter between the cracks and create a serious infection.

Cracks in the tongue and vitamin deficiency can be dangerous. In that case, the patient can go through a topical antifungal medication that has been used for a yeast infection with the doctor’s approval. This happens if a person doesn’t take care of their oral hygiene and health as much as required.

People should brush at least twice a day and clean their tongues. If a person suffers from a fissured tongue or has cracks in the tongue then it is extremely important to take utmost care of oral hygiene and go to the dentist frequently.

Conclusion

Yes, doctors and researchers have failed to find a conclusive reason for the cracks in the tongue but from this article, we know about the symptoms of this medical condition. So if a person detects those signs then by immediate medical attention, the complications can be minimalized. Hope you find this article helpful.

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