Crenated tongue


Crenated tongue is a descriptive term for the appearance of the tongue when there are indentations along the lateral borders, as the result of compression of the tongue against the adjacent teeth.
The oral mucosa in the area of crenation is usually of normal color, but there may be erythema if exposed to a high degree of friction or pressure. Crenated tongue is usually asymptomatic and harmless.
It is not a disease as such, but usually results from habits where the tongue is pressed against the lingual surfaces of the dental arches, or from any cause of macroglossia, which in itself has many causes such as Down syndrome.
Where crenation is caused by parafunctional habits, there may also be associated bruxism, linea alba, or morsicatio buccarum.

Society and culture

In traditional Chinese medicine, scalloping of the tongue is said to indicate qi vacuity. In some homeopathic sources, scalloping of the tongue is said to be indicative of high blood pressure. Both claims are unsupported by evidence.