A swollen tongue can be caused by several different things. The most common cause is food allergies. Most patients refuse to believe that they are addicted to specific foods and even when the offending foods are discovered, many patients foolishly continue to eat these foods. A food diary is extremely helpful in determining which food or foods may be the culprit. In addition to the swollen tongue, allergies can cause many oral and related tissues to swell, such at the throat, gums, soft palate and more.

          Another common cause of a swollen tongue is hypothyroidism which is a decrease in thyroid gland function.There are classic indentations and grooves along the side of the tongue which cause a grooved tongue appearance. There are actual grooves appearing on the side of the tongue. Unusually, hypothyroidism is on the rise in the United States. It causes dry skin, tiredness, lowered body temperature, muscle aches, weight gain and a lot more symptoms. Many of these patients also have a TMJ problem.

          A patient's swollen tongue can be caused by a combination of several factors. The tongue naturally grows to fill in open spaces within the mouth. Patient's who do not wear their full dentures or partial dentures often have enlarged tongues that disturb their lower dentures when worn. There will also be asymmetrical enlargement of the tongue into the area of missing teeth in people who are partially edentulous.

          Some other possible causes of a swollen tongue are tongue infections, hyperactive pituitary, Acromegaly, oral cancer, Down's syndrome, myxedema, rhabdomyoma, angioedema, and herpes stomatitis. The dentists and staff at the Atlanta Dental Group PC love their patients and of course, you are welcome to join their family of patients. Because we know that any oral change can be scary, we would be happy to see you.  The diagnosis involves a detailed medical history and a com,prehensive oral examination. A careful interview by the dentist is essential. If you would like to consult with Atlanta Dentist, Dr. Mark Allan Padolsky, please make an appointment by calling 404-874-7428. You'll be glad you called.