Blog Post

What Your Tongue Can Tell You About Your Health

Dr Alex Silman • Jul 26, 2020
Do you need to go to the doctor? Stick out your tongue. The color and appearance of this muscle can tell you a lot about your health.
If you want to keep an eye on your health, stick out your tongue, and look in the mirror. Your tongue can tell you a lot about your wellbeing. People have been looking at their tongues since ancient times. Doctors and dentists may examine your tongue at each appointment. Here’s what they might spot.

Healthy and Unhealthy Tongue Colors

A healthy tongue should be moist and pink. Your taste buds can make your tongue appear textured. You may even have a pale coating on the surface of your tongue.

Other colors may point to a health condition. For example, a red tongue could be a sign of a vitamin B deficiency, scarlet fever, Kawasaki disease or eczema. Kawasaki disease can also make your tongue purple. So can heart conditions or other circulatory problems.

If your tongue is blue, you may have problems with your blood oxygenation. Kidney or lung disease can cause your tongue to look bluish. Digestive issues, eczema or peptic ulcers can make your tongue look gray.

White Patches

White patches on the tongue could indicate that you have an issue with yeast overgrowth. The body is home to various types of yeasts, bacteria and fungi. A small amount of yeast lives in your mouth at all times and doesn’t cause problems. When everything is in balance and you are in good health, the friendly microbes should balance out the harmful ones, creating a stable ecosystem.

But many factors, such as environmental toxins, medications and a diet rich in refined white carbohydrates and processed foods can throw your microbiome out of whack. When your immune system is compromised, yeast can proliferate.

Some signs that you may have a yeast, or candida, overgrowth include itchy skin, diarrhea and digestive distress. If the overgrowth is in your mouth, a condition which is known as oral thrush, you might see white patches on your tongue. You can take medications and maintain a strong hygiene regimen to treat the condition.

Oral thrush can be passed from person to person through kissing, oral sex and sharing toothbrushes or eating utensils. If you’re breastfeeding, your child could pass thrush to your nipples, causing pain and discomfort.

Bumps

There are many reasons that you might have bumps on your tongue. Sometimes, sugar and sour candy can irritate your tissues, causing painful bumps on the surface of the tongue.

Some people call these lesions lie bumps. But they don’t happen because you tell a lie. Doctors aren’t sure what causes them. However, sugary or acidic foods could be the culprit. Stress and hormones may also cause the bumps.

The correct terminology for this condition is transient lingual papillitis. These bumps may be white or red, and they can be extremely painful. They may look like pimples. You may have a few or several. Transient lingual papillitis isn’t accompanied by other symptoms and usually goes away within a few days.

If you have a sore throat, swollen glands or a fever, the bumps could be caused by a virus. In this case, the condition is called eruptive lingual papillitis. The viral version is more common in children than adults and can take two weeks to go away.

Avoiding sharp, crunchy, spicy and acidic foods can help you stay comfortable if you have lie bumps. You can also swish your mouth with saltwater to relieve the pain.

Ridges

Do you have ridges or indentations around the edge of your tongue? That means that you press your tongue against the back of your teeth. Many people do this while they sleep. You might not even notice that it’s happening.

Ridges don’t always indicate a health problem. However, if you’re pushing against your teeth, you could shift them over time, causing you to require orthodontia.

This action could also be a sign of stress or anxiety. Because stress and tension can lead to high blood pressure and other conditions, you might want to try meditation, exercise or therapy to stay calm. You can also try relaxation exercises to keep your mouth and jaw loose.

Ulcers and Sores

Canker and cold sores can cause white, painful lesions on your tongue. These are usually flat or indented. A tiny canker sore can be incredibly painful.

Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus. They don’t usually occur on the tongue, but they can affect the tissues inside the mouth. Whereas cold sores are contagious, canker sores are not.

A mouth injury could lead to a canker sore. For example, if you bite your tongue or get scratched at the dentist, the wound could develop into a canker sore. Some other canker sore causes include:
• Mouthwash or toothpaste that contains sodium lauryl sulfate
• Food sensitivities
• Allergies to oral bacteria
• Hormonal shifts
• The same bacteria that cause peptic ulcers
• Stress
• Vitamin B-12, zinc, folate or iron deficiencies

Certain diseases can also cause canker sores. Digestive disorders, such as Crohn’s disease, could be to blame. Medical conditions that impair your immune system or cause inflammation can also contribute to these painful sores.

Black, Hairy Tongue

It might be alarming to notice that your tongue looks like a hairy monster. But tobacco use, certain medications, excessive alcohol intake, a soft diet and dry mouth can cause this condition. Black, hairy tongue is harmless, but it can be unsightly. It can also cause bad breath or alter your sense of taste.

Black, hairy tongue occurs when the skin cells on your tongue don’t slough off the way that they’re supposed to. They build up and grow longer, making your tongue look and feel furry. You may even feel a tickling sensation on the roof of your mouth. Staining from coffee, yeast, bacteria, food or tobacco can cause gray, black, brown, tan, green, yellow or white discoloration.

This is not usually a sign of an underlying medical condition. However, it could indicate that you have poor oral hygiene or dry mouth.

You should check your tongue regularly for changes in its appearance. Your dentist will also examine your tongue during a routine exam for signs of problems or oral cancer. Feel free to contact us any time you have questions about your oral or dental health.
Share by: