Cracked tongue: Causes and Home Remedies

We do not pay all the attention that it deserves, sometimes even when we brush our teeth, but the truth is that the tongue is an organ that can reveal many things about our state of health.

Is the case for example of the cracked tongue (also referred plicated or scrotal tongue), a benign condition that is manifested by the appearance of grooves or fissures in the surface of the tongue. It is considered that the tongue is healthy and clean when it looks pink and smooth. But why these cracks occur? What can we do to prevent it? And above all, what are the most effective remedies?

Cracked tongue since birth

Did you know that some people have a fissured or cracked tongue since birth? That is, in these cases, it is a normal condition for these people, something genetic, and therefore do not have any health problems that produce it or have to worry. Those who have it, will feel completely normal for them, they will not feel pain or any kind of stinging or discomfort in this part.

There are specific cases where it is more likely to appear due to genetics. These are those with a family history that has a geographic tongue and people with Down syndrome.

Causes

Although cracked tongue does not usually take further complications, should not be underestimated, it is advisable to consult the doctor about the best remedies to eliminate cracks. Cracked tongue, whose exact cause remains an unanswered question, can occur at any age, being in some cases a hereditary problem.

Diabetes is a chronic pathology that is characterized because your body is unable to regulate the amount of sugar in the blood, since there may be little production of insulin, the hormone responsible for this action, or it is possible that there is a resistance to same.

If you are of the people with cracks on tongue you are much more likely to suffer from different oral diseases, so it is essential that you maintain proper hygiene in the area and permanent monitoring with a professional. Disorders such as oral neuropathies are very common in diabetic people, so it could become one of the causes of the cracks in tongue.

Bruxism is one of the main causes of cracks in the tongue. It is a problem in which it squeezes and grinds teeth without hardly realizing it, which happens mostly while we sleep. Other symptoms of bruxism apart from the cracked tongue are the following:

• Changes in the pH of saliva
• Broken teeth, or small cracks in the teeth
• Pain in the jaw
• Pain in the tongue, until cracks appear due to pressure and pH
• Facial discomfort
• Headache
• Pain in the neck and ears

One of the first things that the specialist will recommend in case of suffering bruxism is to use splints of discharge, especially for the night.

Feel constant stress or have episodes of anxiety are two very common conditions today and that also affect health very seriously. There are many problems that can result from these conditions; however, changes in the mouth are one of the most common signs that manifest themselves physically, alerting us that our stress level is too high. It may be that a whitish or dark coloration on the tongue, this becomes villous, that much irritated and appear sores or appear cracks are formed.

Smoking is a chronic disease caused by a nicotine addiction that is naturally present in tobacco. This usually causes numerous alterations in your whole body and, the mouth, can also be seriously affected if you habitually consume this substance.

Tobacco can cause cavities in the mouth, stains on the teeth, bad breath known as halitosis, spots on the palate, cancer in the oral cavity, among other disorders that usually change the appearance of the tongue and favor the appearance of cracks in the mouth.

The food allergies are quite common and one of the clearest signs are producing reactions in the mouth, including the tongue. In these cases, the most common symptoms of food allergy are the following:

• Itching in the mouth
• Metallic flavor
• Pain in the mouth, tongue and throat
• Dryness and cracking of the tongue
• Swelling of the lips, tongue, inner part of the cheeks and throat
• Respiratory distress, due to occlusion of the larynx
• Skin rash
• Feeling very hot
• Stomach pain
• Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea

An incorrect diet that produces deficiency of vitamins and minerals, abuse of chili, curry, pepper or other spicy foods, and have the habit of eating too hot, are other reasons why these grooves may appear on the tongue.

If you think that maybe your case, it is clear that you will have to reorganize the way you feed and change habits. In addition, the abuse of spicy foods can cause other problems, such as hemorrhoids, and the deficit of certain nutrients can cause problems in the bones and cartilages, among many others.

In fact, by eating spicy or hot foods may appear a feeling of pain, as in the case that the cracks of the tongue are too deep (in some cases may reach 6 mm). If in addition to the pain appears swelling, burning sensation or increases the sensitivity in certain areas, we should consult our dentist since we may be facing a problem of fungal infection or other disorders (geographic tongue, for example, an appearance of spots).

Home remedies

What are the best remedies for cracked tongue? If it is not of any annoying symptoms, the problem can be solved by following a few simple tips and home remedies. So, first, you have to take care of oral hygiene, including cleaning of the tongue at the time of tooth brushing. This also helps prevent infections in the tongue.

If the cracked tongue is accompanied by halitosis (bad breath), you should use peroxide toothpaste to remove bacteria may have been accumulated in the fissures. It can also be effective to apply a drop of toothpaste, twice a day, directly on the tongue and extend it.

Wash 15 sheets of neem and crush them to make a paste. Then brush the tooth with the paste and especially the tongue twice a day. This remedy has anti-bacterial properties that fight many oral diseases including the cracked tongue.

Mint leaves also good remedy for cracked tongue. Wash 10 to 15 mint leaves. Place in a cup of water and boil for 5 minutes. Cover and let cool. Strain and take twice a day. Mint leaves have an effect of oral cleaning and, at the same time, combat the halitosis or bad breath that can accompany the cracked tongue.

The garlic and ginger, for its antibacterial properties, are also a good remedy. In this case, peel, cut and crush the two ingredients and add to a glass of water. With the resulting mixture we do gargle. It is also advisable to include in your diet probiotics foods to reduce yeast infection, a frequent risk in the case of cracked tongue.

Take 1-2 glasses of coconut water every day. This remedy is intended to hydrate the body that often causes dry mouth and cracks in the tongue.

Finally, a fissured or cracked tongue is not a serious disease, and rarely causes the symptoms of discomfort. In the case of the absence of symptoms, using remedies for a cracked tongue is all that one needs to avoid any worsening of the symptoms, which can occur under these conditions. In the case of any unusual type of signal, such as a patch or swelling of the tongue, consult your doctor as soon as possible. The dentist will examine the symptoms to confirm this type of benign language problem. Possibly, your doctor may suggest some tests to diagnose or rule out possible yeast infection and other dental problems, as well as, advise some of the options for treatment without delay.