Treatment
Treatment is sometimes unnecessary and will usually go away but may affect another area of the tongue. While there is no known cure or commonly prescribed treatment for geographic tongue, there are several ways to suppress the condition, including avoiding foods that exacerbate the problem. Some individuals report relief from chewing mint leaves or sucking on a mint candy or gum during a flareup. Some people in the UK who have sensitivity to certain fruits, e.g., strawberries, tomatoes, pineapple etc., have been prescribed zinc supplements by health professionals, which has resulted in a dramatic reduction in the incidence of the condition. Some people affected by geographic tongue also report that taking vitamin B supplements causes the condition to go away temporarily. Steroid ointment may be applied topically for symptomatic patients. Triamcinolone Acetonide Dental Paste USP,0.1% can be applied to affected area at bedtime, and symptoms will cease by morning. Burning may also be reduced by taking antihistamines. The condition is usually asymptomatic and insignificant; persistent pain is rare. For some sufferers, Zinc lozenges can be used. Marked improvement should be evident after two days, relatively normal health in four days of treatment. Varying in the severity, doctors and dentists may prescribe anesthetic mouth rinses, pain relievers or zinc supplements.
Geographic tongue is not contagious.
Read more about this topic: Geographic Tongue
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