The following points highlight the two major nutritional disorders of mouth. The nutritional disorders are: 1. Nutritional Glossitis 2. Parotid Gland Enlargement.
Nutritional Disorder # 1. Nutritional Glossitis:
a. Deficiencies of nicotinic acid, riboflavin, Vitamin B12, folic acid and iron may all give rise to glossitis.
b. It is a feature of pellagra, sprue and the various types of nutritional anemia.
c. The tongue seems to be particularly susceptible to metabolic disorder to all kinds.
d. If the deficiency is partial and extends over months or years, chronic atrophic glossitis is more often seen.
e. In acute glossitis the tongue is swollen, sometimes to such an extent that it is continually pressed against the lower jaw and well-marked dental impressions are visible.
f. The papillae are usually very prominent.
g. The colour of the tongue is characteristically red, but in some cases it may have a purplish blue.
h. The mucous membrane sometimes desquamates in pitches leaving areas of red raw surface.
i. Deep irregular Assuring is common and shallow ulcers may occur, especially on the sides or tips.
j. The tongue may be extremely painful, so much so that fear of pain may prevent the patient from eating.
k. In chronic atrophic glossitis, the tongue is small, with an atrophic mucous membrane and small or absent papillae so that its surface appears smooth, moist and abnormally clean. Fine Assuring may be present. It is usually not painful.
Nutritional Disorder # 2. Parotid Gland Enlargement:
a. The condition may be confused with mumps. Histological examination of the swollen gland shows hypertrophy of the acini. In the final state, fibrosis develops with cystic dilatation of the ducts—a parotid cirrhosis.
b. The parotid glands are sometimes enlarged temporarily during the re-feeding of people who have been severely undernourished.