Swollen tongue can have various causes, ranging in severity from 'needs attention' to 'serious'. Finding the true cause means ruling out or confirming each possibility – in other words, diagnosis.
Diagnosis is usually a complex process due to the sheer number of possible causes and related symptoms. In order to diagnose swollen tongue, we could:
Cause | Probability | Status |
---|---|---|
Food Allergies | 91% | Confirm |
Dehydration | 20% | Unlikely |
Vitamin B12 Need | 1% | Ruled out |
Mercury Toxicity | 1% | Ruled out |
During the past year, how often have you experienced a swollen or inflamed tongue?
Possible responses:
→ Not at all / don't know→ Minor swelling a few times in the past year → Frequent minor swelling / occasionally major → Frequent or constant major swelling |
Dehydration causes decreased saliva production, which can leave the tongue feeling dry and swollen.
Glossitis (inflamed tongue) is a possible sign of B12 deficiency.