Geographic Tongue?

catherine225

Yesterday I had a dentist appointment and the hygenist asked, "Have you always had those marks on your tongue?" I was incredibly confused because I had no clue what she was talking about; I don't have any marks!

 She showed me a mirror and sure enough, I had two weird blotches on my tongue. She called this geographic tongue. I did a little research and I found varying things. 

 One website said that it affects about 2% of the population and can come on during hormonal changes (i.e. pregnancy).

 Another website said that geographic tongue during pregnancy means I'm not getting some nutrients that I need. The only thing that seems strange about this is that I have been putting all that I eat into my BabyFit and I've been taking my prenatals religiously for over a year. I highly doubt my nutrients are in question. 

 I'm planning on asking my doctor more, but does anyone have this? Did you get it during pregnancy? Did it go away afterward?? I don't want tongue spots!

lanabanafofana

Hi I'm lurking from TTGP. I have the "geographic" marks on my tongue as well, but my doctor told me it was from my eczema. Do you have psoriasis (sp?) or in other type of skin disorder?

jmckeag

Also lurking from TTC...I couldn't believe it when I read your subject line.  About 7 years ago when I was in college I had to go to student health services because I was sick.  One of the doctors told me I had "geographic tongue" -- student health (aka death) services didn't have a very good reputation so I just thought the woman was crazy!

I'm sure it's nothing.  I had had it a couple times prior in my life (not knowing what it was called) and it always resolved itself and never seemed to cause any problems for me.  

mopsie

Sometimes it goes away, sometimes it doesn't.  Be careful if you eat spicy/acidic foods, because the geographic tongue may make it burn.

laurenlee82

Yeah, I've had geo tongue since high school and nothing to do with pregnancy.  Mine doesn't go away.  You get used to it.  Think of it as something that makes you unique.

 

Good luck! 

lauriew77

My 6 year old has a geographic tongue, was diagnosed with it when he was 4 - it just appeared suddenly. I'll notice it comes and goes and sometimes looks worse than others. His pediatrician said it may go away, he may always have it. It hasn't affected anything and he lives normally. I assume yours would go away at the very least after you've had the baby. Good luck!

Laurie
EDD 6.10.11

JMcKelvey

My daughter has that and she has had no issues whatsoever. It's only obvious if she sticks her tongue out. Her Ped said the worst that can happen is some sensitivity, but she's never complained. In fact, she likes spicy foods and can tolerate more than I can in the heat department. 

LPJB717

My younger sister has had a geographic tongue for years, not related to pregnancy (in her case).  She's never had any problems with it!

DHYGchica3

Geographic tongue is an anomaly, or a variance of normal. It is genetically passed down, and can come and go at random times. My dad has it and I have it but only very slightly and my sister has it as well. I get very small patches of denuded lingual papilla (which is what causes it to look patchy) and it's called geographic because the patches "move" or change over time. Nothing to worry about.

There are other things that would signify a deficiency like fissured tongue (if you've never had it before- because it can also be genetic) or burning tongue or glossitis. 

(I'm a dental hygiene student and we learned all this wonderful stuff in oral pathology)

Jenn478

I got geographic tongue when I was pregnant with my DD, I sometimes get a flare up if I eat certain foods.