Medical Conditions - Geographic Tongue

Geographic tongue is a condition that causes harmless tongue patches which resemble smooth red islands. This condition results from the loss of tiny hair-like projections (papillae) on the tongue's surface. The papillae loss appears as smooth red patches of various shapes and sizes. This condition does not require any medical treatment. However, the doctor might recommend over-the-counter pain relievers, mouth rinses with anesthetics, and antihistamine mouth rinses to reduce discomfort.