Is your child sticking out his tongue? Expect a malocclusion

Let's talk about the role of tongue dysfunction in malocclusion

The tongue is directly connected to the oropharynx, because its posterior part forms the anterior wall of the oropharynx. When a child is fed naturally, there is no dysfunction; his tongue actively works, moving from the back forward and upward, thus opening the airways. The nasal passages grow and develop correctly only if the child breathes through his nose. With frequent colds and acute respiratory viral infections, the habit of breathing through the mouth arises, the mouth opens slightly, expanding the space for the tongue. And of course, the child’s tongue begins to explore this additional space in and outside the mouth with pleasure. Thus, dysfunction of the tongue, becoming entrenched in the child’s habits, leads to the proliferation of lymphoid tissue, and therefore to adenoiditis and tonsillitis, since it is the nose that provides air filtration, and when breathing through the mouth, allergens and viruses enter directly into the oropharynx. In this case, the blood is not fully saturated with oxygen, and the child becomes drowsy and inattentive. Correct your bite or dental defect with invisible aligners Find out what it is

Macroglossia - causes of tongue enlargement and consequences of the anomaly

From time immemorial, language has served as the main indicator of human health. Any changes in its appearance and structure, the appearance of plaque and neoplasms are all direct signals that some pathological processes are occurring in the body. One of the most serious phenomena is considered to be an increase in the size of the main speaking organ. This condition is medically called macroglossia. Further in this material we will talk about what it is, why such an anomaly occurs in adults and children, what methods are used today to treat the pathology.

What is a pathological phenomenon?

Macroglossia or enlarged tongue syndrome can be regarded as an anomaly in the development of an organ or a pathological deformation of its shape due to a certain disease. The tongue becomes denser, may partially or completely increase in size and even protrude outside the mouth if it no longer fits inside. Certain changes occur in the structure of the organ, due to which its surface becomes covered with numerous folds and becomes rough. All this leads to severe discomfort, the inability to fully chew food and breathe freely.

Enlarged tongue syndrome

Causes of macroglossia

Most often, the cause of the development of anomalies is congenital pathologies. Thus, the cause of the problem in newborns may be a benign neoplasm that began to grow at the stage of intrauterine development of the fetus, or an idiopathic disease with muscular hypertrophy of the tongue. Other possible prerequisites, dental experts include, are negative influences and conditions during pregnancy, acute infections, radiation exposure, alcohol poisoning, and hereditary factors. Experts also identify a number of genetic disorders, including the formation of cysts in the oral cavity during the formation of the tongue muscles1.

Read more about childhood tongue diseases in our special article>>>

“By the way, I also had no idea about this disease until a work colleague encountered something similar. As far as I understand, something went wrong during pregnancy, and the child was diagnosed with a congenital cyst on the tongue. I had to undergo surgery, and rehabilitation was not easy. It seems like everything is fine with the baby now...”

Kim7, Izhevsk, from correspondence on the woman.ru forum

As for adult patients, in this case macroglossia can result from the following phenomena and processes:

• malfunction of the thyroid gland, hormonal disorders,
• absence of all teeth in the mouth - complete edentia,
• open bite,
• amyloidosis – a disorder of protein metabolism,
• glycogenosis – disorders of the synthesis and breakdown of glycogen,
• pellagra is one of the forms of vitamin deficiency,
• rhinoscleroma – formation of nodules on the mucous membrane of the oral cavity and nasopharynx,
• syphilis, tuberculosis,
• neoplasms of both benign and malignant nature,
• inflammatory processes accompanied by the formation of pus,
• angioedema in acute form,
• “flaccid” tongue syndrome, characteristic of neurological disorders,
• intramuscular hemorrhage,
• candidiasis (fungal infections),
• malfunctions of the hematopoietic system,
• catarrhal glossitis.

There can be many causes of the pathology.
Sometimes a severe allergic reaction can provoke the problem. Also in medical practice, there are cases when the patient’s overweight becomes a prerequisite for pathology.

Causes of tongue getting in the way

Tongue edema is a condition in which the tongue increases in size.
The entire tongue may swell, or one area - the tip, base (root of the tongue), one side - left or right. Sometimes swelling spreads to the larynx, gums, palate, lips, and taste buds on the tongue. Extensive swelling can cause difficulty breathing, eating, and speaking.

Weak and short-lived enlargement of the tongue is most often a manifestation of a common infection or minor injury. But if the swelling does not subside, this may indicate a serious health problem.

Signs of tongue swelling

Here is a list of symptoms that may accompany tongue swelling:

• difficulties chewing, swallowing, talking;
• changing its color;
• difficulty breathing in case of severe swelling;
• swollen lymph nodes under the lower jaw;
• bumps, ulcers, and irritated areas may appear on the tongue;
• pain and burning sensation in the tongue and throat;
• fever, chills and headache;
• bleeding even with slight injuries to the tongue;
• swelling of the lips, throat, gums, and taste buds on the tongue.

Causes

There are many reasons that lead to swelling of the tongue, we will list the most common ones.

Injuries

The most common cause of a swollen tongue is injury (accidental biting, burns, damage from dental instruments, recovery from oral surgery, piercing).

Tongue injuries often occur during attacks of epileptic seizures. The jaw reflexively clenches and bites it. Caregivers can damage the tongue while trying to prevent the epileptic from swallowing it.

Chewing tobacco also irritates the tongue and can cause swelling.

Allergic edema

A common cause of swelling is allergies. The tongue swells after eating allergenic foods or being stung by a bee or wasp. Other allergens are ACE inhibitor drugs used for heart diseases, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (ibuprofen, aspirin, naproxen).

With allergic urticaria, which can be caused by any allergen, there is a strong feeling of itching and the tongue becomes blistered.

Allergic edema usually develops suddenly. Often not only the tongue swells, but also the lips and gums, swelling appears on the face, and the eyelids swell.

Other symptoms of an allergic reaction are sneezing, runny nose, cough, skin rash, gastrointestinal symptoms (vomiting, stomach upset).

A serious allergic reaction, anaphylactic shock, develops very quickly. Symptoms that require immediate medical attention are swelling of the larynx, shortness of breath, rapid breathing, severe pain, severe swelling at the site of allergen injection.

Diseases

There are a number of diseases that can lead to tongue swelling.

Amyloidosis

Amyloidosis is a disorder of protein metabolism that often develops in older people. With this disease, the tongue gradually enlarges and swelling persists for a long time.

Tongue cancer

The early stage of tongue cancer is characterized by painless ulcers and bumps on this organ, as well as reddened areas or white spots on the surface of the mucous membrane. The tongue gradually increases in size.

Later stages of the disease are accompanied by pain, bleeding from the mouth, numbness in certain areas of the oral cavity, and a constantly sore throat. Problems with eating and speech quickly arise.

Tongue cancer can be successfully treated if the disease is diagnosed early enough. If you notice similar symptoms that last more than two weeks, you should consult a doctor.

Herpes virus

The symptom of herpes is not only a “cold on the lips”. With herpetic lesions of the tongue, swelling is usually accompanied by pain and the appearance of blisters on the surface of the tongue.

The blisters disappear after one to two weeks, but antiviral medications such as acyclovir can speed healing.

Fungal infection

Fungal infections of the oral cavity often occur in children, in adults after treatment with antibiotics, or when immune defenses are weakened.

With oral thrush, the tongue is covered with areas of thick white coating that are difficult to remove. Often the tongue is swollen and painful.

Fungal infections are quickly and easily treated with antifungal drugs, such as fluconazole. If thrush occurs frequently in an adult, you should check your immune status and take an HIV test.

Thyroid deficiency (hypothyroidism)

Hypothyroidism is a metabolic disorder in which the thyroid gland does not produce enough hormones. Symptoms of hypothyroidism include fatigue, depression, dry skin, weight gain, muscle weakness, joint pain, thinning hair.

Sometimes, with thyroid deficiency, swelling of the face is observed. The tongue swells and teeth marks are often visible along the edges.

Scarlet fever

Scarlet fever is a bacterial infection that most often occurs in children between the ages of five and fifteen.

Symptoms of the disease are a small red rash, sore throat, nausea, high fever, and enlarged lymph nodes in the neck. On the second to fourth day, the tongue becomes smooth, bright red and swollen.

Sometimes the tongue is initially coated with a white or yellow coating, which disappears after a few days, leaving a smooth, crimson-colored surface.

Inflammation of the tongue (glossitis)

When inflamed, the tongue increases in size, the surface becomes smooth and burgundy. There is a pale white coating.

Inflammation develops against the background of allergies, after injury. The development of glossitis can be provoked by infection, burns from hot food, alcohol abuse, insufficient saliva, smoking, and hormonal factors.

Ways to combat glossitis are good oral hygiene and a gentle diet. If the inflammation is infectious, antibiotics are prescribed.

Angioedema

Angioedema is a condition of an allergic nature, but is sometimes inherited. As a rule, the lips, mouth, throat, and tongue are involved in the process. There is no itching, skin color does not change.

The size of the swelling increases rapidly. Unlike urticaria, this type of allergic reaction affects a deeper layer of tissue.

If swelling affects the mucous membrane of the throat, suffocation and death can occur.

Other diseases that cause swelling of the tongue

Below is a list of other medical conditions that can cause tongue swelling

• Infection due to advanced caries
• Herpangina with ulcers caused by the Coxsackie virus
• Anemia caused by vitamin B12 deficiency
• Multiple myeloma
• Kawasaki syndrome
• Streptococcal infection
• Syphilis
• Problems with the pituitary gland
• Rhabdomyolysis
• Leukemia
• Neurofibromatosis type 1 or oral neurofibroma
• Sarcoma
• Inflammation of the taste buds on the tongue
• Genetic diseases such as Down syndrome or Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome

Swelling of the tongue due to dehydration

With a lack of fluid in the body (dehydration), a feeling of dryness occurs in the mouth, the tongue increases in size and becomes covered with cracks. Other symptoms of dehydration include dry and cracked lips, loose dry skin, bright yellow urine, burning when urinating.

If such symptoms appear, you should drink enough fluids. Dehydration is a serious condition that can lead to death.

Swelling under the tongue (“ball under the tongue”)

Inflammation of the salivary gland under the tongue

If swelling occurs under the tongue, this indicates a problem with the salivary glands. There are many reasons for this condition - infection, stones in the salivary glands, mumps, HIV, influenza, parainfluenza type 1 or 2, herpes, tumor, poor oral hygiene.

Swelling on one side of the tongue

Swelling of the tongue on one side

Unilateral swelling of the tongue does not indicate a specific disease; it can also be caused by a number of diseases - bacterial infection, herpes virus, tumor.

Sometimes one side of the tongue swells after an injury - a burn, a bite, or after surgery. An allergic reaction and angioedema often affects a specific area of ​​the tongue - the tip, left or right side.

Swollen tongue after piercing

Swelling of the tongue after puncture

After a piercing puncture, the tongue swells. The swelling usually subsides within a few days.

But if the piercing causes infection in the tissue of the tongue, it may remain swollen for several months or even years. Signs of a bacterial infection include redness, discharge from the tongue, bleeding, abscesses, bumps or blisters on the tongue.

Edema in children

Swelling of the tongue in children can be caused by many reasons - allergies, injury, inflammation, dehydration. If swelling occurs, you should consult a doctor.

Swelling with teeth marks around the edges

Swelling of the tongue with teeth marks

Sometimes the swollen tongue shows marks from the teeth along the edges.

This tongue occurs when there is a lack of nutrients in the body, problems with the thyroid gland, water retention in the body (due to diabetes, enlargement or inflammation of the liver).

Sometimes the condition can be caused by problems with the spleen, which is often accompanied by bloating and excess weight. If the problem is the spleen, then eating foods that are healthy for it (vegetables, herbs) can help.

Swelling of the tongue and sore throat

Swelling of the tongue in combination with a sore throat may be a sign of an allergic reaction, Quincke's edema, oral infection, mononucleosis, or oral cancer.

In an allergic reaction, a sore throat is accompanied by difficulty breathing, rash, and runny nose. Symptoms of viral mononucleosis are fever, feeling tired, enlarged and painful lymph nodes, headache.

Treatment

Treatment for tongue swelling depends on the cause of the condition.

Treatment of allergic edema

In case of allergic edema, first of all, you need to determine the allergen substance and eliminate contact with the allergen. Antihistamines and corticosteroids are used to treat allergies. In case of severe swelling, methylprednisolone, Benadryl, and adrenaline injections are used.

Treatment of infectious edema

To treat infectious swelling, you should consult a doctor. Bacterial infections are treated with antibiotics; for viral diseases, drugs are prescribed that reduce the symptoms of a viral infection.

Traumatic edema

Serious tongue injuries require medical intervention to stop the bleeding and reduce swelling. For minor injuries, you can apply a piece of ice to the tongue and use painkillers.

Treatment with home remedies

When treating edema, various home remedies that happen to be at hand can be used.

• To care for your tongue, use a soft toothbrush. Use a brush to gently clean your tongue periodically.
• A lump of sugar on the tongue can reduce swelling.
• A diluted turmeric solution (water and turmeric powder) reduces inflammation. Rinsing your mouth with a sea salt solution helps with both viral and bacterial infections.
• Another recipe is to use a mixture of mint, anise and rosemary for rinsing.
• Salt intake should be reduced as salty foods stimulate saliva production, which can cause problems if the tongue is swollen.
• Add chopped celery to your food.
• Drink small amounts of water regularly.
• Swelling can be reduced by placing a chilled spoon or ice cube on the tongue.

When to see a doctor

If swelling of the tongue has spread to the larynx, accompanied by suffocation, hemoptysis, or a feeling of constriction in the throat, you should immediately consult a doctor. You also need to undergo an examination if the swelling of the tongue does not go away for more than two weeks.

Source: https://glivec.su/2018/05/14/jazyk-meshaet-vo-rtu-prichiny/

Characteristic symptoms

In order to respond to a problem in a timely manner, you need to know what signs to recognize it. Here are the main symptoms of macroglossia:

• enlarged tongue, to the point where the organ no longer fits in the oral cavity,
• dryness of mucous membranes,
• difficulty breathing, asthma attacks,
• difficulty chewing and swallowing food,
• lumpy surface of the tongue
• enlarged taste buds
• excessive salivation,
• inability to close your mouth normally,
• formation of bleeding cracks on the back,
• diction problems,
• often an increase in temperature, the addition of common infections.

With this pathology, it is impossible to close the mouth normally.
Gradually, the patient’s condition worsens, the bite is deformed, and ulcers appear on the back of the organ. The area around the mouth becomes inflamed and irritation occurs.

How is macroglossia treated today?

The treatment method is selected taking into account the reasons that led to the increase in the size of the tongue. The doctor also takes into account all the changes that have occurred during the development of the disease. In the event that macroglossia is the result of some systemic disease, the root cause of the disease is treated first.

Drug therapy

We already said above that the problem may be the result of an infectious infection. In this case, specialists usually prescribe drug therapy aimed at eliminating the causative factor. As a rule, these are antibiotics, drugs that help normalize metabolic processes, restore the functioning of blood and lymphatic vessels, and agents that stimulate tissue regeneration. Special medications may also be prescribed to treat the surface of the tongue and oral mucosa in order to relieve swelling and inflammation.

If the cause of the pathology is an infection, then antibiotics are prescribed

Surgery

When the situation becomes more serious, surgery may be required. Typically, the surgical method is used to correct a birth defect, immediately after the birth of a child. There are several methods of such treatment:

• resection of the affected organ area,
• phlebectomy or sclerotherapy - usually performed when the cause of the disease is malfunction of the blood vessels. When performing a phlebectomy, the doctor removes damaged vessels, and in the second, he injects a special drug that stimulates the restoration of their functionality,
• blocking the lingual artery - this method is usually used when a child needs treatment at the stage of active growth. In this way, it is possible to minimize the supply of hormones, and the size of the tongue begins to return to normal,
• trimming the frenulum - the organ is raised to maximum tension, after which the frenulum is shortened to 1.5 cm. An advantage is the fact that the operation does not require sutures.

In some cases, surgical intervention is required.
The optimal treatment option is an integrated approach to treatment. The fastest and highest quality results can be achieved by combining drug therapy and surgical treatment.

Swollen tongue

Swelling of the tongue causes severe discomfort in the patient. A swollen tongue makes it difficult to talk, swallow, and sometimes even breathe.

When it swells, it increases in size, swells, and sometimes does not even fit in the mouth. This is a rather dangerous condition, since a severely swollen tongue can block the airways, and a person may simply suffocate.

We will tell you why the tongue swells, what to do in this situation and how to treat it.

articles:

Swollen after puncture

Many patients complain that their tongue is swollen after piercing. In most cases, this swelling is not pathological. The tongue was injured during the puncture process, and slight swelling is completely natural and natural.

Therefore, it is necessary to strictly adhere to the recommendations of the specialist who performed the puncture, keep the oral cavity clean, and rinse your mouth with antibacterial drugs.

However, if the swelling does not go away within 4-5 days, and purulent exudate forms at the puncture site, you should immediately consult a doctor, since various complications often arise with tongue piercing.

Normally, healing after a puncture occurs within two weeks. During this period, the tongue may swell, hurt, and the patient may experience a feeling of discomfort, burning, and soreness. In the future, all these unpleasant symptoms will disappear, and after two weeks the wound should heal without a trace, and the swelling should go away.

Swollen lips

As mentioned above, the tongue and lips most often swell at the same time due to allergies. In this case, swelling occurs rapidly, literally in a matter of minutes.

Along with a swollen tongue, the patient may experience other unpleasant symptoms, such as a runny nose, sneezing, mild cough, vomiting and abdominal pain.

If no measures are taken, then other symptoms may appear a little later - such as increased body temperature, changes in body color and sensitivity, and soreness and swelling of the tongue.

Many in this situation are lost and do not know what to do if the tongue is swollen and the patient apparently has an allergic reaction. You should not panic, you need to act quickly and clearly. You need to urgently call an ambulance, and before it arrives, give the patient an antihistamine, open the windows wide and provide access to fresh air, and avoid contact with the allergen (if known).

Swollen throat

If the tongue and throat are swollen at the same time, this condition is life-threatening for the patient. In the vast majority of cases, this condition occurs during anaphylactic shock (the most severe manifestation of allergies).

Only an experienced doctor can remove a patient from a state of anaphylactic shock, therefore, at the first signs of swelling of the tongue and throat, you should immediately call an ambulance, especially if the patient has other dangerous symptoms - such as difficulty swallowing, bluish coloration of the lips and nails, swelling of the eyes and lips, small rashes, low blood pressure, nausea, shortness of breath or choking.

What could be the consequences if treatment is not started on time?

Macroglossia is not just an aesthetic defect, but a serious pathological phenomenon that can lead to dangerous consequences. Among the possible negative developments, dental experts highlight the following phenomena:

• serious disruptions in the functioning of the lungs, frequent cases of asphyxia, which in the worst circumstances can even lead to death,
• the formation of malocclusion in children, which also negatively affects the condition of the body as a whole,
• disturbances in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, since with such a pathology it is quite difficult to chew food thoroughly,
• deformation of teeth and soft tissues of the oral cavity,
• speech dysfunction and problems with the patient’s social adaptation.

Frequent biting of the organ, the appearance of cracks and microtraumas cannot be avoided - all this causes serious inconvenience and can provoke the development of an infectious process. It is important to respond to the problem in a timely manner in order to prevent possible complications.

1. Matveev, PC Clinical system for diagnosing macroglossia, 2013.

Pronunciation defects in children

Already at 4-5 years of age, when a child’s speech should become articulate and clear, many children develop speech defects - problems with the pronunciation of certain sounds, blurred, unclear speech. And not in every case, speech defects can be immediately corrected by a speech therapist - often it is first necessary to eliminate their causes, the basis of which is often dysfunction of the tongue, dysfunction of the soft tissues of the maxillofacial area, as well as associated malocclusion. For example, very often sucking the lip or tongue causes the incisors to deviate inward or outward, which leads to an open bite and makes it difficult for the speech therapist to make hissing sounds.