What could be the cause of a tongue laceration with the tongue sticking out?

A tongue laceration with the tongue protruding could indicate a previous injury or laceration that did not heal properly. When a laceration occurs, the tissue may scab or form granulation tissue. If the tongue is habitually extended or traumatized (such as from habits like biting), it can be a sign that the area has not recovered adequately, leading to a presentation where a previous laceration is evident upon visual inspection.

Granular cell tumor, while possible in an oral setting, generally presents as a mass rather than a laceration. Injury from food indeed can cause acute lacerations, but in this scenario, the emphasis on a "previous laceration" makes option B more fitting. On the other hand, while infections can occur in the oral cavity and can potentially cause tissue issues, they would typically present with other symptoms such as swelling or pus, rather than just an isolated protrusion of the tongue due to a past injury.