Do you have spots on your tongue? Don't worry, let's talk about this! (Spots on Tongue)

Have you ever looked in the mirror while brushing your teeth and noticed a strange spot on your tongue? Or have you ever felt something strange or rough on your tongue while eating? It's normal to feel a little scared and worried when you see something like this. "What is this? Is it cancer?" You may think. But in reality, most of the time, these spots on the tongue are nothing to be afraid of. However, sometimes they can be a sign of a health problem. So, today we'll talk about these spots on the tongue, what they are, what is normal, and what you should pay attention to.

First, let's see what a healthy tongue looks like.

If you look closely at everyone's tongue, you'll see that it's not completely smooth. It has small bumps on it, like bumps. We medically call these papillae . These are what help us taste, chew food, speak, and feel things like heat. There are several types of these papillae.

• Filiform Papillae: These are the most numerous on the tongue. They can be seen as small, thread-like projections on the front and middle of the tongue. They do not contain taste buds.
• Fungiform Papillae: These are mushroom-shaped papillae. They are most abundant on the tip and edges of the tongue. Each one can have three to five taste buds.
• Foliate Papillae: These are the parts of the tongue that look like rough folds on the sides and back. Each one has hundreds of taste receptors.
• Circumvallate Papillae: These are the largest type of papillae on the tongue. They are located at the very back of the tongue in a 'V' shape. They contain about 250 taste receptors.

So, these little blister-like things on your tongue are parts of your healthy tongue. They're not spots.

So, what are new spots on the tongue? Let's talk about the most common ones.

Before you panic, let's take a look at some of the most common, non-threatening spots on the tongue. Most of these will heal on their own within a few days.

Mouth sores (Canker Sores / Aphthous Ulcers)

Many of us have experienced this. These are small, white or yellow, painful sores with a red border that appear inside the mouth, sometimes on the tongue, inside the lips, and inside the cheeks. They are very painful when eating or even talking.

Lie Bumps / Transient Lingual Papillitis?

Have you ever heard the saying "Lies cause tongue blisters" when you were a child? It's actually a myth. But small, red or white bumps do appear on your tongue. This is what we call 'Lie Bumps'. This is when one or more of the papillae we talked about earlier become swollen. This can happen after eating spicy food, accidentally biting your tongue, or due to some allergies. These are very common and go away on their own in a couple of days. So there's nothing to worry about.

Geographic Tongue

This is a condition where smooth, red patches appear on the tongue. They are named because they look like countries on a world map. These red patches may have a white or light-colored border around them. Surprisingly, these patches can move from one place to another on the tongue. Although they may look a little strange, they are completely harmless . They are not contagious. They usually do not require treatment.

When should you see a doctor?

Unlike the previous ones, sometimes spots on the tongue can be a symptom of a medical condition. Therefore, we need to be a little careful about these things.

If you have a condition like this, don't try to treat it yourself. The best thing to do is to see your doctor and get advice . For example, oral thrush requires antifungal medication. Similarly, a doctor will prescribe appropriate treatment for cold sores.

Serious symptoms that require immediate attention

Now we are talking about the types of spots that can be a little more serious, signs of cancerous conditions. Don't be unnecessarily scared after reading these. But it is very important to be aware of something like this. Because if detected at an early stage, it can be treated and completely cured .

Leukoplakia

These are white spots or patches that appear inside the mouth, on the tongue, under the tongue, or inside the cheeks. The specialty of these is that they cannot be removed by scratching or wiping . The white spots of `Oral Thrush` bleed when scratched, but these do not come off like that. People with `Leukoplakia` are at increased risk of developing oral cancer. However, not everyone who develops `Leukoplakia` develops cancer. However, since this is a risky condition, it is essential to show it to a doctor immediately, and perhaps take a small piece of it for examination (`Biopsy`) to confirm.

Erythroplakia

This is when abnormal red patches appear inside the mouth. Like `Leukoplakia`, these cannot be scraped off. They may not be easily visible because of their red color. However, `Erythroplakia` is a condition that has a higher risk of becoming cancerous than `Leukoplakia` . Therefore, if you have a red patch inside the mouth that does not heal, do not ignore it.

Tongue Cancer

This is a relatively rare cancer, but it's important to be aware. Symptoms of tongue cancer may include:

• Red or white patches that do not heal.
• A wound or ulcer that does not heal for more than two to three weeks.
• An unusual swelling or lump on a part of the tongue.
• Difficulty or pain in swallowing.

When should you see a doctor?

Although most tongue spots are harmless, it is wise to seek medical advice in the following cases:

• If you have a new spot or sore on your tongue or mouth that hasn't healed in more than two weeks .
• With the spotIf there is severe pain, inflammation, or bleeding.
• If you feel difficulty swallowing food or speaking.
• If the spot on the tongue is white or red and cannot be removed by scratching (it may be `Leukoplakia` or `Erythroplakia`).
• If the rash is accompanied by other symptoms such as fever and swollen lymph nodes .

Your doctor will examine you and refer you for further tests if necessary. So if you have any doubts, it's best to see a doctor rather than stay home and panic.