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Geographic Tongue

How long does geographic tongue typically last? whats causes it?
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3149845 tn?1506627771
I could not find an answer about it going away.
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Avatar universal
Thank you this was very helpful! So it does eventually go away?
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3149845 tn?1506627771
Hi and sorry your going through this.
The cause of geographic tongue is unknown, and there's no way to prevent the condition.

The lesions on the tongue result from the activity of certain types of white blood cells that normally induce inflammation at the site of disease or injury. The reason for this immune system error isn't well understood.

Some people with geographic tongue have a family history of the disorder. Therefore, genetics may be a contributing factor in some cases.
Geographic tongue typically doesn't require any medical treatment. Although geographic tongue can sometimes cause tongue discomfort, it's otherwise a harmless condition.

Your doctor may prescribe medications to manage discomfort or sensitivity:

Over-the-counter pain relievers
Mouth rinses with an anesthetic
Antihistamine mouth rinses
Corticosteroid ointments or rinses
Because these treatments haven't been studied rigorously, their benefit is uncertain. Since the condition resolves on its own and has an unpredictable course, you may not be able to tell if the symptomatic treatments are actually working.
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