Are you having trouble eating recently? Do you feel that your tongue is swollen and you are feeling pain? Have you looked in the mirror and found wavy lines on your tongue? If your answers to all the above questions are yes, then you have a scalloped tongue and landed on the right page. Learning about a scalloped tongue is crucial to get the right medical help.
This blog discusses everything about the scalloped tongue, how it differs from your normal tongue, how to spot the difference, and how to treat it. So, read on!
What Is A Scalloped Tongue?
Let’s get one thing out of the way: a scalloped tongue is not something you must worry about.
Indents, ripples, or waves on the outer edges of the tongue characterize a scalloped tongue. It makes your tongue appear scalloped, thus, the name. It is also called rippled, indented, or crenated tongue. The reasons behind the same are multiple, which are discussed further in the blog.
Scalloped Tongue Causes
Check out the different causes of the scalloped tongue:
Dehydration: You might have never imagined that not drinking enough water could have such a consequence. However, it is true that if you are dehydrated, the body parts swell and the tongue is one of them. It causes the rippled edges.
Enlarged Tongue: If you have a tongue that is larger than normal might be the reason behind your scalloped tongue. The tongue unintentionally gets caught between the teeth, which causes ripples on the edges.
Teeth Misalignment: Misaligned teeth that don’t sit properly between your mouth might catch the tongue in between and cause ripples on the edges. When the tongue presses against the teeth due to overcrowding or an improper bite, it can result in indentations along the sides of the tongue.
Hypothyroidism: The condition refers to low levels of thyroid hormones, leading to many problems in the body, including a scalloped tongue.
Sleep Apnea: Sleep apnea is a sleeping disorder when your tongue muscles relax too much and restrict the airflow in and out of your mouth. It disrupts your breathing and makes you bite down hard on your tongue, resulting in a swollen and rippled tongue. It is a serious condition which must be treated at the earliest.
Anxiety: If you think anxiety only affects your mental health, you are wrong; it also impacts you physically. Your hands fidget, your fingers tremble, you can feel the buzz in the tips of your fingers, and you bite down hard, which catches your tongue, even during sleeping, and thus causes a scalloped tongue.
These are the multiple but not exclusive causes of a scalloped tongue.
Difference Between a Scalloped Tongue and a Normal Tongue
Here is how you can differentiate between your normal or scalloped tongue:
Symptoms: You can feel pain or discomfort along the tongue edges. It can be normal or severe, depending on the underlying conditions.
Appearance: The appearance gives it away. Check how pronounced the ripples on the edges of your tongue are. They can be minor (causing no discomfort) to severe(causing immense pain).
Treatment Options
There is no single treatment for scalloped tongue as the treatment is based on the diagnosis. At Peace of Mind Dental Studio, we prescribe some tests to our patients. It might include blood tests to determine the root cause accurately. The treatment follows the test results.
The available treatment options are:
Hypothyroidism: If this is the culprit, the treatment shall go through thyroid treatment. Thyroid hormones are crucial for the body, and any disruption causes severe physical issues. Once the treatment starts, you will witness differences in your body and scalloped tongue.
Dehydration: If you are healthy and have no underlying medical condition, we advise you to drink lots and lots of water. When properly hydrated, the scalloped tongue will go away gradually.
Sleep Apnea: Sleep apnea is more serious than you think. Obstructive breathing due to sleep apnea affects your sleep quality and can also result in a stroke. Thus, you need a mouthguard for this condition. It creates space for your tongue to relax without obstructing your breathing. Also, if you have bruxism, a mouthguard will help avoid it.
Genetic Disorders: Genetic disorders such as Down Syndrome or Apert Syndrome can be the culprit of an enlarged tongue. It can be treated via surgery.
Anxiety: If you have anxiety, then you must take appropriate medications prescribed by an expert to help you calm down and eliminate physical issues such as the scalloped tongue.
Take Medical Help Today!
Did you check your tongue? Do you find it difficult to identify whether the pain and discomfort is stemming from the rippled tongue? If yes, book an appointment with us today.
At Peace of Mind Studio, we offer the best available treatments to our patients. While a scalloped tongue might not be a cause for worry, it is crucial to diagnose the real problem. So, visit us at the earliest and avoid any discomfort you have.