Tag: Rough tongue

Roughness is often a perceived symptom, but nutritional deficiencies like vitamin B12 and iron actually cause atrophic glossitis, which results in a surprisingly smooth, sore, and sometimes red tongue due to lost papillae. Understanding what vitamin deficiency causes rough tongue is often about correcting this common misconception.

According to the National Institutes of Health, deficiencies in nutrients like B12, iron, and folate are commonly associated with oral health issues, including changes to the tongue's appearance. This raises the question: is rough tongue a symptom of vitamin deficiency, or is the reality more nuanced?.

Statistics show that up to 20.3% of patients experiencing atrophic glossitis—a common cause of changes in tongue texture—have deficiencies in iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid. Understanding what deficiency causes rough tongue is the first step toward identifying the root cause of this uncomfortable symptom and improving your overall health.