Tingling sensation in the tongue: A full guide Geographic tongue, also called benign migratory glossitis, is a harmless condition that makes the surface of your tongue look patchy, almost like a map. The exact cause isn't fully known, but genetics, 5 Minute Tongue Exercises for Speech and Swallowing 2 Trigeminal Neuralgia and Tongue Pain Geographic tongue, also called benign migratory glossitis, is a harmless condition that makes the surface of your tongue look patchy, almost like a map. The exact cause isn't fully known, but genetics, The Full Ask: