Geographic tongue

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Lifestyle and home remedies

By Mayo Clinic staff

You can help reduce any discomfort from geographic tongue by avoiding or limiting these substances, which can aggravate your condition:

  • Alcohol
  • Tobacco products
  • Hot or spicy foods
  • Acidic beverages and foods, such as certain fruit
  • Toothpaste that contains tartar-control additives, heavy flavoring or whitening agents
  • Dried, salty nuts
References
  1. Shulman JD, et al. Prevalence and risk factors associated with geographic tongue among U.S. adults. Oral Diseases. 2006;12:381-386.
  2. Assimakopoulos D, et al. Benign migratory glossitis or geographic tongue: An enigmatic oral lesion. American Journal of Medicine. 2002;113:751-755.
  3. Jainkittivong A, et al. Geographic tongue: Clinical characteristics of 188 cases. The Journal of Contemporary Dental Practice. 2005;6(1):123-135.
  4. Gonsalves W, et al. Common oral lesions: Part I. Superficial mucosal lesions. American Family Physician. 2007;75:501-507.

DS00819

Oct. 24, 2008

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