Scalloped Tongue Causes and Treatment Optinos

A scalloped tongue is one of the most common medical conditions that can occur in your mouth. While, in most cases, it is not a severe problem, it can indicate some underlying condition, leaving many people wondering what a scalloped tongue means and in need of a proper diagnosis.

In this article, you will find out the following:

• 🤔 What causes a scalloped tongue
• 👩‍⚕️ When to seek medical attention
• ✍🏻 How to prevent the development of scalloped tongue
• ✔️ What are the best approaches to treating scalloped tongue
• 🧘🏻‍♀️The importance of a balanced diet

What is Scalloped Tongue?

A scalloped tongue is a condition where the edges of the tongue look indented or grooved. The grooves in the tongue are usually symmetrical and parallel to the teeth. Experts do not consider scalloped tongue a major health problem, but it can cause difficulty when talking and eating.

Even though there is nothing to worry about in most cases, it can still be a sign of some underlying medical conditions, potentially leading to further problems that can affect your dental health.

This condition is known under many names, including the following:

• Lingua indentata
• Pie crust tongue
• Crenated tongue
• Crenulated tongue
• Wavy tongue
• Rippled tongue

Determine What Causes Scalloped Tongue

You can create scalloped edges and get a scalloped tongue as a result of pressing the tongue against your teeth, which can be caused by various factors, such as:

1. Inherited Conditions or Congenital Abnormalities

Inherited conditions or congenital abnormalities are problems present at birth and inherited from previous generations. Genetic disorders can cause problems in different parts of the body, including a scalloped tongue.

• Down Syndrome – People with Down syndrome usually have a scalloped tongue due to their smaller oral cavity and bigger tongue.
• Congenital Hypothyroidism – It is a disorder where the levels of thyroid hormones are low, causing many symptoms. One of them can lead to tongue swelling and developing wavy or rippled edges of the tongue.
• Apert Syndrome – This genetic disorder can also cause scalloped edges on the tongue. Individuals with Apert syndrome have unusual development of their skull and face, leading to different abnormalities, such as a smaller oral cavity and an enlarged tongue.

2. Thyroid-related Issues

As mentioned, a dysfunctional thyroid gland can cause many medical conditions, including a scalloped tongue. As its role is to regulate the metabolism, if not functioning properly, the tongue can change shape, looking larger and indented.

3. Protein Build-up Disorders

Another factor that can cause a case of scalloped tongue is a protein build-up disorder, such as amyloidosis. This is a rare condition where a protein called amyloid builds up in the major organ’s tissue. The protein build-up can also occur in the tongue tissue, causing an inflammation that results in a scalloped tongue.

4. Insufficient Hydration

Lack of water can lead to swelling of the soft tissues in our body. Insufficient hydration can also be the reason why the tongue becomes dry or swollen, making it appear groovy or rippled on the edges.

5. Psychological Factors

It may come as a surprise, but various psychological factors, such as anxiety, depression, or stress, can cause a scalloped tongue due to teeth grinding. Bruxism, for example, is the most common side effect of stress reflected on the tongue’s appearance. When constantly clenching and grinding your teeth, the tongue starts to build up a layer of keratin tissue that is easily irritated.

6. Habitual Oral Behaviors

Our habitual oral behaviors, like tongue thrusting, can cause indents. According to many experts in the field, bad oral habits are one of the major causes of the scalloped tongue. You may not be aware you have these habits, but keep in mind to be cautious so you don’t risk complications. With proper treatment and exercise, you can easily stop the habitual chain.

7. Jaw Joint Disorders

A temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) is one of many jaw joint disorders that can also lead to a scalloped tongue. The joint that connects the lower jaw to the skull becomes inflamed or even damaged in certain cases.

This condition makes the tongue work harder to hold the lower jaw in a proper position, which creates pressure. The result will be you grinding your teeth and developing a scalloped tongue. Click here to learn more about the temporomandibular joint disorder and mewing.

8. Breathing Difficulties During Sleep

Breathing difficulties during your sleep is a serious matter that can also cause changes in your tongue’s appearance. Sleep apnea is a condition that occurs during your sleep when the airway is slightly or completely blocked, leading to snoring and even slower breathing.

Having a sleep disorder can contribute to placing your tongue against your teeth, causing scalloping. Fortunately, you can alleviate breathing disorders during sleep with mewing.

9. Nutritional Deficiencies 

It may sound unbelievable, but developing a scalloped tongue can be caused by nutritional deficiencies. When the body lacks certain vitamins and minerals, a tongue can become enlarged and scalloped. Check if you lack vitamin B, niacin, iron, and riboflavin.

The Role of Mewing in Scalloped Tongue

The mewing technique is a widely popular reconstructing exercise that requires pressing the tongue against the roof of your mouth. The benefits are countless for maintaining proper facial development and preventing conditions like a scalloped tongue.

Mewing helps to develop correct tongue placement habit, and the concept behind this technique is based on constantly practicing specifically designed exercises to maintain a correct tongue posture.

That being said, the most popular app for this matter, the Mewing.coach, has helped thousands of people around the globe. This application is perfectly designed and easy to navigate, giving you a tailored plan and custom-made guide on tongue exercises for your problem.

This app has everything you need to learn about mewing and how to execute the given exercises properly.

Recognizing the Need for Medical Consultation

Even though a scalloped tongue generally doesn’t lead to any major complications, this condition can still cause oral symptoms such as:

• Pain
• Tenderness or soreness
• Inflamed or swollen tongue
• Slight redness
• Bad breath
• Changes in taste
• Sore throat
• Mouth pain or discomfort

If you experience any of the mentioned symptoms, it’s recommended to book an appointment with a medical professional. A scalloped tongue can indicate an underlying medical condition, and timely diagnosis and intervention are crucial for successful treatment.

Early diagnosis will improve the effectiveness of the given treatment and prevent further progression of the symptoms.

For example, suppose you have a medical history of sleep disorders, like sleep apnea or nocturnal intermittent hypoxia, besides having a scalloped tongue. In that case, you may also experience gasping for breath in your sleep, loud snoring, and excessive daytime sleepiness.

Therapeutic Approaches for Scalloped Tongue

Therapeutic approaches for the scalloped tongue can differ depending on the underlying cause of the problem.

Besides the limitless number of health benefits of mewing, here we have selected the most beneficial treatment approaches for getting rid of the scalloped tongue.

• Treatment of Inherited Conditions  – Managing inherited conditions that cause scalloped tongue can help prevent any further progression, making it more bearable for the individual to live with. Since inherited conditions don’t require any specific treatment, the idea is to manage the symptoms. Depending on the genetic condition, patients can get a different treatment – from taking corticosteroids, having orthodontic treatments, or even surgery.
• Manage Thyroid-Related Conditions – You can cure a thyroid disorder through medication and dietary changes to support the proper function of the thyroid glands and the thyroid hormones. A dysfunctional thyroid gland should be taken seriously and managed under a doctor’s supervision.
• Dietary Protein Interventions – Protein build-up disorders can also be the underlying cause of scalloped tongue. You can treat conditions like amyloidosis with anti-inflammatory medications or stem cell transplantation. Also, depending on the condition, beneficial dietary interventions may be done under the supervision of a doctor, which can help you with this issue.
• Proper hydration – Proper hydration habits can increase your overall oral health. Drinking enough water per day can help alleviate the symptoms and boost your overall health.
• Address Psychological Issues – Coping with psychological factors like stress and anxiety is challenging and can lead to habitual oral behaviors like grinding teeth or clenching your jaw. In most cases, wearing a bite splint or mouth guard is recommended, and so is working on reducing the stress level.
• Develop Healthy Oral Behaviors – Adopting better oral habits through different techniques and relaxation exercises can also help reduce the symptoms. Clenching the jaw or grinding the teeth can be significantly reduced by using dental appliances, having dental treatments, and practicing jaw exercises.
•  Jaw Joints Disorders Therapy – Treating TMJ disorder can be done through medication, exercises, physical therapy, or surgery. Dentists can sometimes recommend myofunctional therapy for better muscle motions related to chewing and swallowing.
• Treat Sleep Apnea – Jaw clenching and teeth grinding during sleep can lead to unconscious pressure on the tongue. The treatments for obstructive sleep apnea are usually custom-made sleep appliances called mandibular advancement devices. These devices help to properly position your lower jaw, preventing teeth clenching.
• Reverse Nutritional Deficiencies – Nutritional deficiency is a common problem, mostly because of our busy and unhealthy lifestyle. After running simple blood tests, the doctor will suggest changing your diet and prescribing the proper amount of supplements like vitamin B, iron, riboflavin, etc.

At-Home Solutions and Preventive Strategies

In addition to the previously mentioned approaches, very effective at-home remedies can also help with this condition.

• Utilize hot and cold therapy – Simply apply a cold or warm compress to your tongue. Use a towel or ice pack. Applying a hot or cold compress can help you reduce inflammation.
• Employ dental appliances – Employing dental appliances such as night mouth guards can be useful in preventing jaw clenching and teeth grinding. Ask your dentist to make you one, or you can purchase them over the counter.
• Maintain hydration – Staying hydrated is definitely something you shouldn’t neglect. Drink enough water to prevent dehydration-related scalloped tongue and other problems.
• Implement stress-reduction methods – Any stress factor can contribute to issues in your general health. With this in mind, developing a scalloped tongue due to stress and anxiety can be cured or prevented. Try implementing stress-reduction techniques like meditation, yoga, and breathing exercises and following the instruction of the Mewing.coach app.

Long-term Implications of Scalloped Tongue

Having a condition like a scalloped tongue may also be the cause of some long-term implications.

Potential Impact on Oral Health

Maintaining proper dental health is extremely important to prevent the development of this condition. Scalloped tongues lead to many oral problems like dental caries and gum disease.

Indentations or scallops formed on the person’s tongue can be a perfect base where bacteria and food particles can “hide” and lead to tooth decay and plaque build-up. Also, a scalloped tongue can be the cause of developing malocclusion and bite problems.

Connection to Overall Well-being

Every organ in our body plays a huge role in our general health condition. The proper function of our tongue is important when speaking, swallowing, and tasting. A tongue scalloping can negatively impact our overall well-being, leading to issues such as discomfort, pain, and inflammation.

Importance of Regular Dental Check-ups and Monitoring

It’s highly important to do regular dental check-ups and be cautious of your dental health to prevent potential complications. At a dental exam, the dentist will examine not only your teeth and gums but also your tongue and its condition. If you are diagnosed with a scalloped tongue, the dentist will give you proper medication and guide you on maintaining oral hygiene.

How to Fix Scalloped Tongue

A proper tongue posture is crucial for maintaining optimal oral health and preventing the development of a scalloped tongue. With proper help from a doctor, you can check the cause of having an enlarged tongue with scalloped edges and what is the underlying medical condition.

It’s completely normal to be concerned if you notice changes in your tongue. Know that it’s not a serious condition in most cases, and you can make mewing your daily habit to see great results.