What do tongue ridges mean

Scalloped tongue is sometimes called rippled tongue, crenated tongue, piecrust tongue, or lingua indenta. The condition is rarely painful or a sign of more serious complications, but knowing the cause of scalloped tongue can help prevent or treat any underlying conditions. A scalloped tongue can be the result of macroglossia, which is an inflammation or abnormal enlargement of the tongue. It can be a symptom of other conditions that do not enlarge the tongue.

If these conditions lead to compression of the tongue against the teeth, tongue scalloping will result. Scalloping can be caused by a variety of things, including:. Better known as bad habits, parafunctional activities are considered the leading cause of scalloped tongue.

Bad habits include teeth grinding , cheek sucking, and picking at the teeth. Many things can lead to a person performing parafunctional activities, such as stress , sleep disorders, systemic disease, poor tooth alignment or tooth loss, and trauma.

The immune system causes inflammation in response to infection, injury, and allergens. Certain reactions will lead to swelling of the tongue. As the tongue swells and enlarges, it presses up against the teeth, often causing indentation or pitting. Scalloped tongue can occur when the body does not get enough of certain vitamins and minerals, especially B vitamins, which can lead to tongue enlargement.

Dehydration can cause swelling, which may cause the tongue to become compressed in the mouth and indented by the teeth. Smoking causes an immune response and irritates the mucosal tissues, increasing the risk of swelling and inflammation. Smoking also increases the risk of dehydration, a factor known to influence the likelihood of developing scalloped tongue. Injuries or chronic conditions involving the temporomandibular joint that connects the jaw to the skull may cause scalloped tongue.

People with temporomandibular joint dysfunction TMD may develop indents in their tongues because of dehydration, teeth grinding, or because the tongue is pushing against the lower teeth to accommodate for the misaligned joint. Scalloped tongue is most commonly associated with TMD cases in women and those involving frequent headaches. Scalloped tongue may be a sign of sleep apnea. Some studies suggest this may occur because the body retains more water when it lacks oxygen, which in turn leads to fluid swelling in the head, neck, and tongue.

A study examining over 1, Japanese adults found a higher prevalence of moderate to severe nocturnal intermittent hypoxia NIH , the primary sign of sleep apnea, in people with scalloped tongues.

But believe it or not, your tongue is a great indicator of your overall health. Ancient forms of medicine in China and India focused on the tongue as a microcosm of the body for thousands of years. Seth Linker. White, lumpy coating If you have a thick, white coating on your tongue, it could be a sign of a thrush infection.

If you notice painful white patches in your mouth, they could be lesions caused by irritation from your teeth, smoking, braces or dentures. Black or brown fuzz The cells on your tongue are constantly growing. For some people, these cells grow faster than your tongue can shed them. As these cells grow, they can resemble fuzz or hairs, and as bacteria grows on them, they can turn a brownish or blackish color.

Normally, hairy tongue is more common in people who smoke, drink black coffee or tea, and have poor dental hygiene. Score on SAT Writing. What ACT target score should you be aiming for?

How to Get a Perfect 4. How to Write an Amazing College Essay. A Comprehensive Guide. Choose Your Test. In this article, we explain what a wavy tongue is, why it happens, and how you can fix it.

What Is a Wavy Tongue? What Causes a Wavy Tongue? Many underlying medical conditions can cause wavy tongue edges. Have friends who also need help with test prep?

Share this article! Hannah Muniz. About the Author. Search the Blog Search. Find Out How.