Cracked tongue is generally more common in adults. This condition will get worse with age. Cracked tongue is easy to recognize by the formation of shallow or deep grooves on the top of the tongue or the edges of the tongue.
The depth and size of the grooves vary and can bump into one another, causing the tongue to look cracked. This condition often does not cause complaints, unless there is food residue stuck in the grooves of the tongue.
Causes of Chapped Tongue
Until now, the cause of cracked tongue is still not known with certainty. However, there are several factors that are known to increase the risk of cracked tongue, namely:
- Heredity (genetic) factors, a person is more at risk of experiencing a cracked tongue if a parent or sibling has a similar condition
- Lack of intake of iron, folate, and vitamin B12
- Fungal infection
- Consumption of spicy or sour foods, hot drinks, and alcoholic beverages
- Smoking habit
- Weakened immune system
- Dehydration
- stress
The condition of a cracked tongue can usually appear together with other conditions, such as:
Geographic tongue or benign migratory glossitis (BMG)
This condition is usually harmless and often occurs together with a cracked tongue. In addition, the tongue will feel more sensitive to spicy and hot foods.
Down's syndrome
Down syndrome is a genetic disorder that causes the sufferer's physical and mental development to be delayed. Research shows that as many as 80 percent of children with Down syndrome will experience a cracked tongue.
Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome
This disease is generally rare. Apart from causing a cracked tongue, this condition is often accompanied by swelling of the lips and face and paralysis of one side of the face.
How to Overcome Chapped Tongue
Chapped tongue usually does not require special treatment. However, this condition can be prevented by maintaining regular oral and dental hygiene. After brushing your teeth, it is also recommended that you routinely brush the top surface of the tongue to remove food residue left in the tongue gaps.
If you are lazy to brush the surface of your tongue, bacteria and plaque will accumulate and cause cracked tongue accompanied by bad breath and damage to your teeth.
Apart from that, there are several other ways you can do to prevent chapped tongue, including:
- Quit smoking
- Stop consuming alcoholic beverages
- Eat a balanced nutritious diet
- Reduce consumption of spicy, sour and hot drinks
- Meet the body's fluid needs by drinking at least 8 glasses of water each day to prevent dehydration and dry mouth
- Check yourself regularly to the dentist 2 times a year for maintenance, cleaning, and dental and oral health checks
Cracked tongue can generally improve on its own as long as dental and oral health is maintained. Also avoid habits that can cause cracked tongue as mentioned above.
If the condition of the cracked tongue is accompanied by other complaints, such as canker sores that don't heal, impaired taste, and the tongue appears swollen or painful, immediately consult a dentist for treatment.
