Can stress cause geographic tongue? i developed this after a very stressful year.

Geographic tongue: The cause of geographic tongue is unknown. There shouldn't be any other symptoms like pain or hypersensitivity. If you have any other symptoms, see a dentist.

No: Geographic tongue has not been linked to any particular stressor.

Cause unknown: The cause of geographic tongue is unknown but it is a totally harmless condition and does not need treatment. It can come and go over time. If you are having pain, swelling this is not geographic tongue and you should see a dentist.

Come and go, but...: Tongue is known to have many variations with pigmenting, size, appearance, & not always due to disease.Other causes of tongue that looks patchy include: lichen planus (responds to steroids), white sponge nevus (familial, benign, permanent), smoker's leukoplakia (2% risk of cancer, needs biopsy), hairy leukoplakia (due to epsteinbarr virus), warts (due to papillomavirus), "thrush" (rx antifungals).