Fissured Tongue

What is a fissured tongue?

A fissured tongue is a harmless condition that involves having furrows or grooves on the surface of your tongue. Most tongues are flat and smooth, except for tiny bumps on the surface called papillae. There usually aren’t grooves or fissures.

A tongue that looks different from the norm (or a change in your tongue’s appearance) can signal a problem. But this isn’t the case with a fissured tongue. Your tongue may look different, but it’s just a healthy variation of what counts as normal. It doesn’t mean you have a condition that requires treatment.

Other names for a fissured tongue are lingua plicata, furrowed tongue or scrotal tongue.

How common are tongue fissures?

It’s tough to say for sure. Depending on the research, anywhere from 2% to 20% of people worldwide have tongue fissures. In the United States, the numbers are closer to 2% to 5%. It can be difficult to track how common tongue fissures are because there aren’t universal guidelines for diagnosis. Also, studies of populations in certain geographic regions show higher instances of tongue fissures than in other regions.

Tongue fissures are slightly more common in men and people assigned male at birth and people older than 50. Researchers aren’t sure why. But it’s possible that the age of diagnosis relates to the aging process; a person may develop deepening grooves with age.

What are the signs and symptoms of a fissured tongue?

Fissured tongues come in all varieties. The grooves may be as shallow as 2 millimeters or as deep as 6 millimeters. The fissures may make your tongue appear cracked or wrinkly.

When you look at your tongue in the mirror, you may see:

• A single, prominent groove that makes a vertical line down the middle of your tongue, with smaller grooves radiating (spreading out) from it (most common).
• Grooves that crisscross or connect, dividing your tongue into what looks like segments or tiny “islands.”
• Multiple random grooves on the top of your tongue that don’t connect.

A fissured tongue doesn’t usually cause symptoms unless food or bacteria get trapped in a groove. When this happens, you can develop:

• Bad breath (halitosis).
• A swollen and inflamed tongue (glossitis).
• Discomfort or a burning feeling in your mouth.

But you can develop these symptoms even without fissures. Keeping the grooves free of bacteria by practicing good oral hygiene can keep you symptom-free.

What causes a fissured tongue?

Experts don’t know what causes a fissured tongue. It’s possible that genetics come into play, as tongue fissures can run in families. This may explain why people in some regions are more likely to have tongue fissures than people in other regions.

Still, more research is needed to know for sure.

Conditions associated with tongue fissures

Experts do know that people with specific conditions are more likely to have tongue fissures. A fissured tongue is commonly associated with:

• Geographic tongue.
• Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome.
• Down syndrome.
• Sjögren’s syndrome.
• Chronic granulomatous disease.
• Psoriasis.

But having fissures on your tongue isn’t a warning sign of a condition or health issue. It’s not a sign that you’re missing key nutrients or have a vitamin deficiency. Think of fissures as a harmless characteristic that just happens to occur more frequently alongside certain conditions.

How is a fissured tongue diagnosed?

Healthcare providers can tell you have fissures just by looking. Your dentist may notice them during a routine dental cleaning.

How is a fissured tongue treated?

You won’t need treatment unless food or bacteria get stuck inside a groove. This can lead to inflammation or an infection that your healthcare provider can treat.

But fissures alone aren’t a problem. As long as you take good care of your teeth, gums and tongue, you won’t need to see a provider.

Can a fissured tongue go away?

Fissures on your tongue don’t go away. But the good news is that there’s no reason to get rid of them. Your tongue may look a little different from other people’s tongues if you have fissures. But having a different tongue isn’t the same as having a diseased tongue. You can keep it healthy with good oral hygiene.

How do I take care of myself?

If you have tongue fissures, you may need to take extra care to keep the grooves free of food and bacteria. In addition to brushing your teeth (and tongue) twice daily and flossing, you may also need to:

• Rinse daily with a mouthwash.
• Use a tongue scraper.
• Use special tongue-cleansing formulas or devices.

Your dental provider can advise you on steps you need to take daily to keep your tongue clean.

Is a fissured tongue cancerous?

No. Tongue fissures are benign. They’re not a sign of any disease, including cancer. It’s just a less common version of a normal tongue. Having a fissured tongue is as harmless as having an outie (instead of an innie) for a belly button.