What is geographic tongue and what causes it?

Tongue looks mappish: Geographic tongue is one which has smooth red patches, whose forms can change regularly and appears as a map; the smooth areas lack the usual papillae (projections on surface of tongue). Benign condition, but can be uncomfortable. Causes include vitamin b deficiencies, hot or spicy foods, and alcohol, or unknown. If patches are white, or problem becomes severe, see dentist or oral surgeon.

Lesions on tongue: Geographic tongue is a marvelous, descriptive name for one of the most common medical conditions of the tongue. It looks like several large, red, slightly depressed, unusually smooth patches on the surface of the tongue. Often the red areas are bordered with distinct white bands. The sharp borders of these irregularly shaped lesions give the surface of the tongue the appearance of a map.

Benign: It is a benign tongue condition. Inflammatory in nature.