Diseases And Disorders of The Tongue.

Overview: The tongue is a powerful muscle involved in the critical functions of speaking, chewing and swallowing. Taste buds cover the upper surface of the tongue. A variety of diseases and disorders can affect the tongue including infections, injuries, chronic irritation, abnormal tissue growth and congenital conditions. Many tongue disorders are short-lived; others may cause long-term difficulties, requiring ongoing medical management. Leukoplakia Leukoplakia is a painless grey or white patch on the tongue that develops in response to chronic irritation. These patches can also develop on the inner cheek regions of the mouth. Cigarette or pipe smoking and use of chewing tobacco increase the risk for development of leukoplakia. Irritation caused by poorly fitting dentures or rough spots on the teeth can also lead to leukoplakia. The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center reports that approximately one-quarter of leukoplakia patches are cancerous or precancerous. A variant of this disorder known as hairy leukoplakia is caused by the Epstein-Barr virus, and mostly commonly occurs in people with a weakened immune system. You Might Also Like What Are the Reasons for a Black Tongue? Mouth & Tongue Diseases Small White Bumps on the Tip of the Tongue Tongue Symptoms of Vitamin Deficiencies Causes of Tongue Discoloration Bumps on Tongue in a V-Shape Large, White Bumps on the Tongue Can Losing Weight Naturally Shrink the Size of My Tongue? Can Certain Foods Cause Geographic Tongue? How to Stop a Bleeding Tongue How to Get Rid of White Bumps on the Side of Your Tongue Black Tongue Symptoms A Whitish Tongue With Bumps on the Back The Effects of Lou Gehrig's Disease What Causes a White Coated Tongue in Kids? How to Correct Lingual Posture Macroglossia Macroglossia describes abnormal tongue enlargement. This condition can cause misalignment of the teeth and speech difficulties. Macroglossia often occurs with certain congenital or inherited conditions, including Down syndrome, Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome, acromegaly, congenital hypothyroidism and primary amyloidosis. Macroglossia can also occur due to tongue swelling or abnormal tissue growth caused by a variety of disorders including multiple myeloma, sarcoidosis, tongue tumors and certain infections.