macroglossia

Macroglossia is the medical term for an unusually large tongue. Severe enlargement of the tongue can cause cosmetic and functional difficulties in speaking, eating, swallowing and sleeping. Macroglossia is uncommon, and usually occurs in children. There are many causes. Treatment depends upon the exact cause.

==Signs and symptoms== thumb|Macroglossia with prognathism and open resting mouth position thumb|Severe macroglossia Although it may be asymptomatic, symptoms usually are more likely to be present and more severe with larger tongue enlargements. Signs and symptoms include: Dyspnea – difficult, noisy breathing, obstructive sleep apnea or airway obstruction Dysphagia – difficulty swallowing and eating Dysphonia – disrupted speech, possibly manifest as lisping Sialorrhea – drooling Angular cheilitis – sores at the corners of the mouth Crenated tongue – indentations on the lateral borders of the tongue caused by pressure from teeth ("pie crust tongue") Open bite malocclusion – a type of malocclusion of the teeth Mandibular prognathism – enlarged mandible Mouth breathing Orthodontic abnormalities – including diastema and tooth spacing