What Your Tongue Is Telling You About Your Oral Health
Subtopics: Your tongue can tell a lot about your oral and overall health. To know more, feel free to schedule a consultation with Hillsborough Smiles in Hillsborough,
Ever wondered why your doctor always asks you to stick your tongue out during a medical check-up. It is mainly because your tongue can tell a lot about your oral and overall health. It can provide your doctor and dentist symptoms and indications of various underlying issues you might be experiencing.
How to Read Your Tongue’s Color Codes
Generally, your tongue should be a shade of pink with various small papillae covering the surface of your tongue. A change in color can indicate pain, discomfort, or an underlying health issue which you might be experiencing.
White Isn’t Right
If your tongue has a cheesy or a creamy covering made from off-white spots, it can indicate a fungal infection developed post illness or usage of certain medication.
A white film with a lacy appearance can also be oral lichen planus, which can disappear on its own. Also, if you notice hard white patches which are hard to remove by scraping and brushing, it can indicate leukoplakia.
White isn’t Right When Red Flags Fly
Your tongue can turn red post consumption of spicy food or suffer from a deficiency of iron or Vitamin B3 and B12.
However, the red tongue can also indicate diseases such as Kawasaki disease or scarlet fever, which can cause high fevers. It also indicates that you might require immediate medical attention and treatment.
Black, Brown or Hairy
If you notice that the papillae on your tongue become longer due to poor oral hygiene or old age, it can trap bacteria, causing an unattractive hair-like black or brown appearance on your tongue.
Pain and Discomfort
Sometimes your tongue can experience pain and discomfort instead of discoloration. While pain can be caused due to grinding or clenching your teeth, it can also indicate dry mouth, infection, diabetes, or acid reflux, which can further result in an acidic and bitter taste in the tongue.
To know more about how the color of your tongue indicates your oral and overall health, feel free to schedule a consultation with Hillsborough Smiles in Hillsborough, New Jersey, and our team shall be happy to assist all your oral health and dental care needs.