What causes small red patches on tongue? – Dr. Sana Taher

There are several causes for small red spots on the tongue. It can vary from small spots, large patches and also depends on the location where it is for example if there are small spots and they are spread over the various parts of the tongue, it can be an inflamed papilla, which are nothing but taste buds So if one ingests something very hot or extremely spicy, it gets raised and inflamed which goes on its own, so it is not a big problem. there are other conditions which causes red patches milk there are viral condition like Kawasaki ’s disease, which is seen in children and it is a viral condition and it can be solved. It can be scarlet fever. Where you see a strawberry tongue or a red coloured tongue and the most commonly asked question for a red patch on the tongue is when there is immune system like a fever or malaise , there is a velvety red patch and that is erythroplakia, which is a precancerous condition and this particular condition progresses into cancer very fast and has very high incidence of developing into a cancer and that condition should be consulted with a dentist or an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. This particular patch if it exists more than 2 weeks, then you have to visit a dentist. There are other anatomical variations called as the geographic tongue or there are certain other conditions called as canker sore, you have a yellow white spot and a red ring around it and that also goes away once the systemic condition goes away. So there are several reasons and several conditions that must be understood, diagnosed properly and given the right treatment for.