A 27-year-old female asked:
if you have geographic tongue is it usually permanent or always there for life?
2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in

Dr. Tal Dagan answered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 24 years experience
geographic tongue: Although normally symptomatic, sometimes accompanied by burning, geographic tongue is a common condition believed to be inflammatory without a clear cause. It can disappear over time but it is impossible to predict when that will happen. It is not a precursor to cancer and is not dangerous.
4888 viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Sandra Eleczko answered
Dentistry 36 years experience
Can be: Geographic tongue can come. And go for the rest of your life. This is a harmless condition so do not worry about it.
4888 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions or offer you advice, prescriptions, and more. Get help now:
Similar questions
CA
A 22-year-old male asked:
What is geographic tongue and what causes it?
3 doctor answers • 7 doctors weighed in

Dr. Peter Kurzweil answered
Internal Medicine 50 years experience
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.
6336 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
How can you know if geographic tongue?
1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in

Dr. Peter Kurzweil answered
Internal Medicine 50 years experience
Not necessarily: Geographic tongue is when the tongue appears like a MAP with darker and lighter area, areas where the papillae or crypts (mountain and valleys) vary. Most of the time, it is normal, get a general checkup including baseline blood testing, particularly, a cbc.
5854 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
If you are healthy but get a geographic tongue, does that mean you will get sick?
1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in

Dr. Peter Kurzweil answered
Internal Medicine 50 years experience
Not necessarily: Geographic tongue is when the tongue appears like a MAP with darker and lighter area, areas where the papillae or crypts (mountain and valleys) vary. Most of the time, it is normal, get a general checkup including baseline blood testing, particularly, a cbc.
5854 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:
Geographic tongue. What makes it come, and then what makes it go away?
1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in

Dr. Peter Kurzweil answered
Internal Medicine 50 years experience
Not necessarily: Geographic tongue is when the tongue appears like a MAP with darker and lighter area, areas where the papillae or crypts (mountain and valleys) vary. Most of the time, it is normal, get a general checkup including baseline blood testing, particularly, a cbc.
5854 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 27-year-old female asked:
If you develop the condition geographic tongue, is it usually permanent meaning the patches will pretty much always be there for life?
2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in

Dr. Pavel Conovalciuc answered
Family Medicine 23 years experience
No: If the identifiable reason for it has been found and corrected, you have a chance to cure it.
4892 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions or offer you advice, prescriptions, and more. Get help now:
Last updated Jan 30, 2014
People also asked
Connect with a U.S. board-certified doctor by text or video anytime, anywhere.
24/7 visits
$15 per month
Disclaimer:
Content on HealthTap (including answers) should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and interactions on HealthTap do not create a doctor-patient relationship. Never disregard or delay professional medical advice in person because of anything on HealthTap. Call your doctor or 911 if you think you may have a medical emergency.