The Connection between Your Tongue and Your Health

You may find it interesting that your tongue can help you know a lot about your health. The outlook of your tongue can change due to different conditions in your body. It means that if you know about this connection between the tongue and health, you can know about the problem you go through by just looking into the mirror.

A healthy tongue is pink in color and its papillae look quite even throughout the surface of the tongue. However, there are many conditions which can change the way your tongue and papillae seem. In some cases, you may feel pain or numbness in your tongue.

The appearance of white patches or spots

There can be different reasons for the appearance of white patches or spots on your tongue. Some of those reasons are worth mentioning here.

• The first to mention is the yeast infection which is also known as oral thrush. Most typically, this problem occurs in infants and elder people. The reason for occurrence of this condition is usually the weaker immune system. Diabetes can also be the reason for appearance of oral thrush.
• The overgrowth of cells on your tongue can cause the appearance of white patches and lines on your tongue. This condition is known as leukoplakia. While this condition of the tongue can be a precursor to cancer in some cases, it is not itself a dangerous condition. Nevertheless, you should immediately see you dentist whenever you see this condition.
• Another condition to talk about is the Oral lichen planus. This condition results in the appearance of white lines on the tongue that appear in the form of laces. Good thing is that this condition goes away on its own.

The red tongue

The redness of tongue can be due to several conditions which may be related to oral health, overall health or both.

• The most common reason for the red tongue is the vitamin deficiency. Specific vitamins missing which can cause redness of tongue are folic acid and vitamin B-12.
• Geographic tongue is the name of condition in which the tongue develops red patches surrounded by white lines, giving an outlook of the tongue. This issue of tongue is usually harmless.
• Another condition which can result in the tongue having a red-strawberry color is the scarlet fever. This condition usually occurs due to bacterial infection in the body. Antibiotic medication can be the answer of this condition.

Black and hairy tongue

The papillae on the tongue grow during a lifetime. However, these papillae grow longer in some people. When they are overgrown, bacteria can reside in those papillae. This bacterial presence can result in back tongue which looks hairy as well. The major reasons for this condition include diabetes, antibiotic medication and/or chemotherapy.

Be careful about your tongue

Your tongue can say a lot of things about your health. This is reason that you should look at your tongue and watch out for the conditions which may be happening on your body. You can also get your tongue checked when you visit your dentist.