Do You Have A 'Scalloped Tongue'? Here's What It Says About Your Health.

You probably don’t spend much, if any, time looking at your tongue ― but this body part can actually reveal a lot about your health.

Take its shape, for example. A scalloped tongue is when, as the name suggests, there is “scalloping or indentation of the sides of the tongue,” Dr. Neeraj Panchal, chief of oral and maxillofacial surgery at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, told HuffPost. “It typically arises from the tongue persistently pressing against the teeth.”

This condition, also known as a crenated tongue or pie crust tongue, can be seen when you stick your tongue out. Look for the presence of irregular ridges or waves along the lateral borders that “seem to imprint the shape of your teeth,” Dr.Soroush Zaghi, a Los Angeles ear, nose and throat doctor and sleep surgeon, told HuffPost.

Below, experts explain some of the potential reasons your tongue may look like this and what it might mean for you:

1. You might have a vitamin deficiency.

Being deficient in certain nutrients — especially B vitamins, such as B12, folate (B9) and riboflavin (B2) — can lead to a swollen tongue, said Zaghi, as well as other oral health issues like inflammation of the gums.

“This swelling can cause the tongue to press against the teeth, creating a scalloped appearance,” he said. “These vitamins are crucial for cell regeneration and maintaining healthy mucosal tissues in the mouth.”

2. You might be clenching or grinding your teeth.

Another potential cause of a scalloped tongue? Bad oral habits, such as teeth clenching or grinding (the medical term is bruxism). These behaviors are quite common in people who are dealing with significant stress or anxiety. Signs of teeth grinding and clenching include headaches, jaw pain, wear and tear