That's when things get weird. In contrast to the hairy look, the tongue also can be too smooth. That usually happens because of a nutrition deficiency. The small papillae don't fall off, Dr. Collins explains. Rather, the inflamed tongue tissue swells and engulfs them.
Sores can also show up on the tongue.
They can be benign, like canker sores, or be caused by a bite. Or they can be a bit more serious, perhaps a fever blister. Sores on the sides of the tongue are of more significant concern. While they could be any of the above, they also could be oral cancer and need to be checked out by a doctor, Dr. Collins says. And if the papillae are missing altogether in places, a person may have what is known as geographic tongue.