Why is part of my tongue smooth?

Why is part of my tongue smooth?

Geographic tongue results from the loss of tiny hairlike projections (papillae) on your tongue’s surface. This papillae loss appears as smooth, red patches of varying shapes and sizes. Geographic tongue is an inflammatory but harmless condition affecting the surface of your tongue.

What does a spot on your tongue mean?

Tongue bumps are common, and there are many possible causes, including injuries, allergies, and infections. Although tongue bumps can feel strange and may cause concern, they are usually harmless. Some people with bumps on their tongue may worry about cancer, but oral cancers are relatively rare.

What does lie bumps look like?

Lie bumps will appear as red or white swollen bumps on the tongue. Some people think they look or feel like pimples. They can be painful, even when you aren’t eating or drinking. Some people experience burning, itching, or tingling sensations on their tongues.

What is papillae of tongue?

Papillae are the tiny raised protrusions on the tongue that contain taste buds. The four types of papillae are filiform, fungiform, foliate, and circumvallate. Except for the filiform, these papillae allow us to differentiate between sweet, salty, bitter, sour, and umami (or savory) flavors.

What makes your tongue look like a map?

With geographic tongue, patches on the surface of the tongue are missing papillae and appear as smooth, red “islands,” often with slightly raised borders. These patches (lesions) give the tongue a maplike, or geographic, appearance. The lesions often heal in one area and then move (migrate) to a different part of your tongue.

What causes a blotch on the top of the tongue?

Geographic tongue may appear as a blotch or spot of redness with a white border. The medical term for geographic tongue is benign migratory glossitis. Geographic tongue causes inflammation on the sides or top of the tongue and usually appears as a blotch or spot of redness surrounded by a white border.

Where are the taste buds on the tongue?

Circumvallate papillae are bigger spots that appear at the back of the tongue. They are slightly raised and are arranged in a ‘v’ pattern. A person usually has 7 to 12, with each one containing thousands of taste buds. Foliate papillae appear on the back of the tongue and at the edges.

Why do I have a white spot on my tongue?

Canker sores are very common. These small ulcers look white or yellow and can appear on the tongue, inside of the mouth, and on the lips. The cause of canker sores is not clear.