Summer BanksGlossitis and working
December 10th 2006 07:17
Glossitis and working :
Glossitis is an acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term) inflammation of the tongue. The condition may exist either as a primary disease or a symptom of another disorder.
Causes :
The causes of glossitis can be either local or systemic (affecting the entire body). Local causes include immediate irritants, such as jagged or broken teeth, badly fitting dentures, poor oral hygiene habits, biting of the tongue (such as during convulsions), and external irritants, such as alcohol, tobacco, hot or spicy foods, and even mouthwashes, toothpastes, and breath fresheners. Local infections, burns, and injuries may also produce symptoms of glossitis. Systemic causes may include certain vitamin deficiencies, anemia, syphilis, and generalized skin diseases.
Symptoms :
Symptoms of glossitis vary widely, ranging from simple redness of the tip and edges of the tongue (if the cause is pellagra, anemia, or irritation from smoking or a tooth with a rough surface) to painful ulcers and whitish patches. In the later stages of pellagra, the entire tongue may be fiery red, swollen, and ulcerated. In iron-deficiency and pernicious anemia, the tongue is pale and smooth. Painful ulcers on the tongue may indicate a number of diseases, including herpes, tuberculosis, and streptococcal infection.
White patches suggest candidiasis (a type of yeast infection), syphilis, or mouth breathing (which dries out the mucous membrane of the tongue). Very smooth and painless areas may be what is called geographic tongue, or benign (harmless) glossitis. Hairy tongue often follows antibiotic therapy, a high fever, excessive use of certain mouthwashes, or a simple reduction in saliva secretion.
Severe acute glossitis, which can result from local infection, burns, and injury, can cause tenderness, pain, and swelling sufficient to make the tongue protrude from the mouth into the back of the throat -- creating the danger of airway obstruction and even suffocation. In severe cases, the patient may not be able to chew, swallow, or speak. Steroid drug treatment usually reduces the swelling and helps relieve symptoms.
Patients may also complain of a painful burning tongue without other symptoms of inflammation. This complaint is common among postmenopausal women. Diabetes, anemia, nutritional deficiencies, and malignant conditions should all be considered as possible primary causes.
Treatment :
The patient should be reassured that redness and most lesions of the tongue are usually harmless and respond well to treatment. Ulcers and hairy tongue often recur periodically; however, if an ulcer does not respond to treatment after several weeks, a biopsy (removal of a tissue sample for examination under a microscope) may be performed.
In treating glossitis, specific causes, such as jagged teeth and ill-fitting dentures, should be corrected. Irritants, including hot or spicy foods, tobacco, alcohol, mouthwashes, and toothpastes, should be avoided if they have been identified as the source of glossitis. A bland or liquid diet, preferably cool or cold, will often have a soothing effect.
Tiny brown growths on the tongue are usually caused by contact with tobacco or certain bacteria; the treatment is to stop smoking or otherwise correct the underlying cause and also to brush the tongue with a toothbrush.
Symptomatic relief for large lesions includes rinsing the mouth with a medicated mouthwash before meals. Application of topical anesthetics, such as lidocaine and benzocaine, can also bring relief. Patients should be tested to rule out vitamin B12 deficiency, diabetes, and anemia.
Prevention :
Prevention of glossitis involves avoiding irritants, correcting nutritional and vitamin deficiencies, treating primary infections that produce glossitis, and practicing good oral hygiene.
Glossitis is an acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term) inflammation of the tongue. The condition may exist either as a primary disease or a symptom of another disorder.
Causes :
The causes of glossitis can be either local or systemic (affecting the entire body). Local causes include immediate irritants, such as jagged or broken teeth, badly fitting dentures, poor oral hygiene habits, biting of the tongue (such as during convulsions), and external irritants, such as alcohol, tobacco, hot or spicy foods, and even mouthwashes, toothpastes, and breath fresheners. Local infections, burns, and injuries may also produce symptoms of glossitis. Systemic causes may include certain vitamin deficiencies, anemia, syphilis, and generalized skin diseases.
Symptoms :
Symptoms of glossitis vary widely, ranging from simple redness of the tip and edges of the tongue (if the cause is pellagra, anemia, or irritation from smoking or a tooth with a rough surface) to painful ulcers and whitish patches. In the later stages of pellagra, the entire tongue may be fiery red, swollen, and ulcerated. In iron-deficiency and pernicious anemia, the tongue is pale and smooth. Painful ulcers on the tongue may indicate a number of diseases, including herpes, tuberculosis, and streptococcal infection.
White patches suggest candidiasis (a type of yeast infection), syphilis, or mouth breathing (which dries out the mucous membrane of the tongue). Very smooth and painless areas may be what is called geographic tongue, or benign (harmless) glossitis. Hairy tongue often follows antibiotic therapy, a high fever, excessive use of certain mouthwashes, or a simple reduction in saliva secretion.
Severe acute glossitis, which can result from local infection, burns, and injury, can cause tenderness, pain, and swelling sufficient to make the tongue protrude from the mouth into the back of the throat -- creating the danger of airway obstruction and even suffocation. In severe cases, the patient may not be able to chew, swallow, or speak. Steroid drug treatment usually reduces the swelling and helps relieve symptoms.
Patients may also complain of a painful burning tongue without other symptoms of inflammation. This complaint is common among postmenopausal women. Diabetes, anemia, nutritional deficiencies, and malignant conditions should all be considered as possible primary causes.
Treatment :
The patient should be reassured that redness and most lesions of the tongue are usually harmless and respond well to treatment. Ulcers and hairy tongue often recur periodically; however, if an ulcer does not respond to treatment after several weeks, a biopsy (removal of a tissue sample for examination under a microscope) may be performed.
In treating glossitis, specific causes, such as jagged teeth and ill-fitting dentures, should be corrected. Irritants, including hot or spicy foods, tobacco, alcohol, mouthwashes, and toothpastes, should be avoided if they have been identified as the source of glossitis. A bland or liquid diet, preferably cool or cold, will often have a soothing effect.
Tiny brown growths on the tongue are usually caused by contact with tobacco or certain bacteria; the treatment is to stop smoking or otherwise correct the underlying cause and also to brush the tongue with a toothbrush.
Symptomatic relief for large lesions includes rinsing the mouth with a medicated mouthwash before meals. Application of topical anesthetics, such as lidocaine and benzocaine, can also bring relief. Patients should be tested to rule out vitamin B12 deficiency, diabetes, and anemia.
Prevention :
Prevention of glossitis involves avoiding irritants, correcting nutritional and vitamin deficiencies, treating primary infections that produce glossitis, and practicing good oral hygiene.
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