I have a 15 month old daughter and I noticed red patches on her tongue a couple of months ago. I talked to her pediatrician and she thinks that she has geographic tongue and that it is nothing to worry about. I looked pictures up on the internet and that is exactly what it looks like. The doctor keeps telling me that it is absolutely benign and nothing that can be done about it. My daughter is too little to tell me if it causes any discomfort, but I have seen some people mention online that they do have discomfort.
Anyone out there have it or have children with it and can share your experience? Can you tell me if it does cause discomfort. Are there food trigger or other things that cause the flair ups?
We are vegetarian and I have read that some people think that a vitamin B deficiency could be linked to it. Anyone else find this to be true.
Thanks so much for any info or advice.
B.
My son has that, and it's never caused him a spot of trouble! You've gotta wonder where they came up with that term, though -- geographic tongue!
I have one of these tounges! I always thought everyones tounge did those weird patches of white and pink all over them, but when I got older, and a dentist mentioned this term to me, I was like ""oooh! That makes sense!". Sometimes it feels a bit "raw" and sore...especially if I am sick or have a sore throat. Not sure what the connection is there. I do know if I eat alot of citrus, mine gets that raw sensation.
Mostly its not big deal and I don't pay any attention to it. Its funky to look at sometimes, tho!
Hope your little one is the same way.
My son has a friend with a geographic tongue. I have never heard him say that it causes discomfort. but he is able to entertain his friends and family with the patterns on his tongue. I believe his tongue once displayed a map of Hawaii.
I am 41 and have a "fissure" or "geographic" tongue. Never had any discomfort, I didn't even know it was "different" until I was in High School. I am, however, very sensitive to spicy foods, such as Thai or Mexican and even buffalo wings. The dentist said it is probably because of that. I can eat whole garlic cloves raw though, without it bothering me. Nothing to worry about for your little one.
My mom and brother both have geographic tongues and neither one of them have ever had any discomfort from it.
Our 7 year old grand daughter has it and it flairs up whenever it wants to. I see no pattern or habits that cause it to be worse or better. She brushes her teeth and stuff and that does not effect it. The foods she eats do not make it better or worse.
The only thing I really notice is that food tastes differently to her at any given time. For example, she may want Mac and Cheese every night for a month then she'll take a bite and gag and puke. She won't be able to eat it again for some time. I let her eat what she wants most of the time. It is within my allowed foods so she isn't eating anything horrid.
She chooses what she wants and usually can eat it. It's like when you have fish picked out for dinner, it's on the menu, in the fridge ready to cook, and you just cannot wrap your head around eating fish for dinner and really want a juicy hamburger. Dinner just doesn't taste as good as a hamburger would. It's kind of like that but if she even puts the food she is telling me she doesn't want in her mouth I'll be cleaning up puke.
I choose worse battles to fight about. The food issue is such a minor thing. She still gets good nutrition but not the same as us every time.
My daughter who is 14 years old has had this for years. She says that it gets sore, and we have noticed that she has flare ups when she eats citrus. My mon used to get it and she also said that it was uncomfortable. The old country doctor would give her a shot of B12 and it would go away. This was many years ago. If you use toothpaste to brush your daughter's teeth, try switching to a natural (Tom's) toothpaste. My husband gets canker sores EVERY time he uses Crest, but natural toothpaste does not do this. Also, keep a food diary and record any flareups. It could very well be a food allergy or sensitivity that is triggering the geographic tongue.
My 4.5 yo has it from time to time. It doesn't seem to bother him, and looks a whole lot worse than it is. I have noticed it gets bad when he is sick, or if he has been exposed to something that he is allergic to. For instance, I noticed it recently when he started using soap at school that caused a bit of a skin reaction. Once he stopped using the soap, the rash on his hand and his geographic tongue subsided. He also has food allergies, so when he is exposed to one of those triggers, the tongue flares up. I have found that giving him vitamins does not help with the geographic tongue in the slightest. So I am more inclined to believe it happens when the immune system is under attack or reacting to something.
My two older ones have it... it was always pretty dramatic when they were younger, although now (almost 12yo and 9.5yo) its only a spot here and there and usually along the edges. Never had any problems with it, just ended up being one of those "funny" things.
My 3 year old son has it. Since he was 6 months old every time I take him to the Dr I ask about it. And they all say it's nothing. I have believed it until now that I read the other posts and see some kids are bothered by it. I never knew that. My son has never complained and eats all types of foods. I'll be more observant over the next years when it comes to foods. Thanks for your question, it helped me :)
