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Written by Annie StuartMedically Reviewed by Alfred D. Wyatt Jr., DMD on February 02, 2025

• Characteristics of Fissured Tongue
• Conditions Associated With Fissured Tongue

2 min read

If you have fissures in your tongue, it's likely no cause for concern. In fact, certain types of grooves or cracks are considered simply a variation of a normal tongue. Sometimes called a plicated or scrotal tongue, this condition is often harmless. However, it's rarely a good idea to diagnose yourself. So, if you have any concerns, set your mind at ease by discussing this with your doctor or oral specialist.

Characteristics of Fissured Tongue

These are the characteristics of a fissured tongue:

• Cracks, grooves, or clefts appear on the top and sides of the tongue.
• These fissures only affect your tongue.
• Fissures on the tongue vary in depth, but they may be as deep as 6 millimeters.
• Grooves may connect with other grooves, separating the tongue into small lobes or sections.

Unless debris builds up in these fissures, you are unlikely to have any symptoms.

Fissures may first appear during childhood. However, fissures are more common in adults. And, just as wrinkles can deepen with age, fissures can also become more pronounced as you get older. If you have regular dental exams, your dentist has no doubt spotted the fissures on your tongue. This is how most fissures are found.

Conditions Associated With Fissured Tongue

About 2% to 5% of the U.S. population has a fissured tongue. A fissured tongue may affect men slightly more often than women.

Because a fissured tongue can cluster in families, it may be genetically inherited. Although other causes of fissured tongue are unknown, it may appear along with other conditions such as these:

• Geographic tongue, also known as benign migratory glossitis (BMG). This benign condition often shows up along with fissured tongue. It may cause no symptoms other than sensitivity to hot and spicy foods.
• Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome. This is a rare condition. It not only causes a fissured tongue but also lip or facial swelling and paralysis in the face (Bell's palsy) that may come and go.
• Down syndrome. Fissured tongue occurs in as many as 80% of children with the chromosomal disorder Down syndrome.

It is not common to need a biopsy of a fissured tongue.

If a fissured tongue causes any symptoms, your dentist may encourage you to brush your tongue. This may help remove debris that has built up in deep fissures, causing irritation.

In almost all cases, though, no treatment is needed. However, if you have symptoms or any complications of Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome, your dentist or doctor may recommend that you see a specialist.

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