According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, common tongue problems include pain, swelling or changes in the tongue's appearance. Minor infections or irritations are among the most common causes of tongue soreness. While many causes of tongue symptoms may be mild and harmless, some tongue problems are caused by potentially life-threatening diseases.
Tongue Cancer
Tongue cancer is a disease of the human tongue. According to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, the two principle types of tongue cancer are cancer of the oral tongue and cancer of the base of the tongue. Cancer of the oral tongue occurs in the front two-thirds of the tongue, while cancer of the base of the tongue occurs in the back one-third of the tongue the portion that extends into the throat. Although several types of cancer can grow in the tongue, the most common is squamous cell carcinoma; squamous cells line a person's mouth and other organs. Tongue cancer can develop for no apparent reason, but risk factors that increase the risk for tongue cancer include smoking and alcohol abuse, sexually transmitted diseases such as the human papillomavirus, or HPV, and being an African-American male.
Geographic Tongue
The NIH states that geographic tongue is a condition characterized by irregular patches on the tongue that resemble a map. The exact cause of geographic tongue is unknown, although it's believed that a vitamin B deficiency may be contributory, along with hot or spicy foods and alcohol consumption. Smokers appear to suffer lower rates of geographic tongue than nonsmokers. Tongue patterns can change very quickly, and changes typically occur when there is a loss of papillae--the small projections on the tongue's upper surface that may contain taste buds. MayoClinic.com notes that the cause of papillae loss is unknown. Geographic tongue is a benign condition that does not lead to any health problems, is not associated with cancer or infection and is typically painless.
Black Tongue
Black tongue--also known as hairy tongue--is a temporary, benign tongue condition that gives a person's tongue a dark and furry appearance. It is typically caused by an overgrowth of mouth bacteria. Although black tongue may appear shocking, it does not lead to more significant health problems, and it usually self-resolves. Along with the characteristic black, furry appearance of the tongue, other common symptoms include an altered or metallic taste in the mouth, bad breath and a gagging sensation. According to the Mayo Clinic, common causes of black tongue include fluctuations in mouth bacterial content following a course of antibiotics, poor oral care and hygiene, mouth breathing, certain medications and heavy tobacco consumption.
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