Tongue Cracks: Symptoms And Causes - Healthline

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Nutrition

Tongue Cracks

Medically reviewed by Meera Patel, PA-C — Written by Scott Frothingham — Updated on July 12, 2024

What it is
Symptoms and pictures
Causes and risk factors
Diagnosis
Treatment and prevention
Complications
FAQ
Takeaway

A fissured tongue isn’t usually serious. However, extra oral care may be required to remove debris. If cracks hurt or develop sores, they may be caused by another health condition that requires medical attention.

Do you see cracks when you look in the mirror and stick out your tongue?

You could be one of the 10% to 20% of the people worldwide with a fissured tongue. Read on to learn more about this condition and what causes it.

What is a fissured tongue?

A fissured tongue is a benign (noncancerous) condition. It’s recognized by one or more deep or shallow cracks — called grooves, furrows, or fissures — on the top surface of your tongue. A fissured tongue is also called:

cracked tongue
lingua plicata
scrotal tongue

What are the symptoms of a fissured tongue?

The symptoms of a fissured tongue are cracks on the top surface of the tongue. Sometimes, they extend to the tongue’s edges. The depth and size of the cracks or fissures vary. They may or may not be connected.

Debris can sometimes get trapped in deep grooves. As such, people with tongue cracks are encouraged to brush the top surface of their tongue to remove debris. This will also help prevent irritation or infection.

What causes cracks on the tongue?

Doctors don’t know why tongue cracks form. It’s believed to be hereditary. Sometimes, a fissured tongue is seen alongside:

Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome
orofacial granulomatosis
genetic conditions like Pierre Robin syndrome or Down syndrome
geographic tongue
anemia
autoimmune disorders like pustular psoriasis
diabetes

Certain other risk factors may make it more likely for you to develop a fissured tongue. That said, the research on some of these risk factors is inconsistent. This includes:

being an older adult
wearing dentures
having allergies
taking certain medications such as heart medications, topical steroids, or antibiotics
being female
drinking alcohol
having additional medical conditions affecting the heart or the lungs, such as high blood pressure or asthma

Diagnosis

Your doctor will diagnose a fissured tongue based on a visual inspection during a clinical examination. It isn’t usually necessary to do a test like a biopsy because the condition is clearly visible.

During the exam, you will be asked to extend your tongue outward so your doctor can see the fissures clearly.

Determining the underlying cause depends on whether or not you’re experiencing any other symptoms or signs. Depending on what the doctor suspects, they may send you for additional testing.

Treatment and prevention

A fissured tongue by itself is harmless and doesn’t require treatment. Depending on how much it troubles you, you may be advised to maintain good oral hygiene and clean your tongue. This may be enough to reduce the severity and prevent it from recurring.

If the trigger is environmental, you may be advised on how to isolate it to reduce your exposure. Some possible triggers include smoking or spicy or acidic foods.

However, you may need medical treatment if you’re experiencing other symptoms and are later diagnosed with an underlying cause.

Complications

Unless it’s triggered by an underlying disease that isn’t treated in a timely manner, you’re not likely to experience serious complications from a fissured tongue.

That said, over time, food can accumulate in the cracks. This can lead to dental problems such as bad breath (halitosis) and swelling of the tongue (glossitis).

Frequently asked questions

Does a fissured tongue go away?

Sometimes, the fissures can go away on their own, but this depends on the underlying cause.

What vitamin deficiency causes a fissured tongue?

Vitamin B deficiency may be associated with a fissured tongue.

Can dehydration cause a cracked tongue?

Dehydration isn’t a direct cause of a fissured tongue. However, it can dry out your mouth, potentially making your tongue more prone to cracks.

Takeaway

If your tongue has cracks, you might have a fissured tongue. It’s not a health risk, but consider brushing your tongue to ensure debris doesn’t get stuck in the cracks.

Discuss your symptoms with your doctor if your tongue is painful or has lesions alongside tongue cracks. They can help you find treatment to get relief.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Avhad G, et al. (2014). Lingua plicata.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4144241/
Ashok N, et al. (2019). The gruesome grooves: fissured tongue – a case report.https://www.arcjournals.org/pdfs/ajds/v4-i1/5.pdf
Bakshi SS, et al. (2019). Fissured tongue.https://www.ccjm.org/content/86/11/714
Bhat VS, et al. (2016). Fissured tongue to worry or not to worry?https://www.alliedacademies.org/articles/fissured-tongue-to-worry-or-not-to-worry-5982.html
Dry mouth. (2024).https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/health-info/dry-mouth
Feil ND, et al. (2016). Frequency of fissured tongue (lingua plicata) as a function of age.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27808348/
González-Álvarez L, et al. (2021). Risk factors associated with tongue lesions: a propensity score-matched case-control study.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8719789/
McDonald RE, et al. (2011). Acquired and developmental disturbances of the teeth and associated oral structures. McDonald and Avery dentistry for the child and adolescent (ninth edition).https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/fissured-tongue
Nisa L, et al. (2012). Lingua plicata.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3291698
Pauly G, et al. (2018). Diffuse fissured tongue: the incidental icelands - a case report.https://www.avensonline.org/fulltextarticles/JOBY-2377-987X-05-0034.htm

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Medically reviewed by Meera Patel, PA-C — Written by Scott Frothingham — Updated on July 12, 2024

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