What your Tongue says about your Health

What your Tongue says about your Health: The Phrase Watch your tongue has been generally perceived as a sign of warning to people, so as to take precautions with what they alter from their mouth, but we all neglect the Fact that our tongue states more than just that. The communication and signs our tongues gives to us goes a long way to give us a clue about certain health status of the whole body. For clues about problems in your mouth, stick out your tongue now and look in the mirror. A healthy tongue should be pink and covered with small nodules (papillae). Any deviation from this normal appearance, or any pain, may be cause for concern and a signal for more actions.

                                                       


In our article today, we will discuss why you should watch out for changes that might need to be assessed by a doctor or dentist.
                                                   
                                                                
What Tongue Color or State Symbolize

• When Tongue has white coating or spots: The message that a white tongue, or white spots on your tongue sends include:

Oral thrush: This is a yeast infection that develops inside the mouth. It appears as white patches which are often the consistency of cottage cheese. Medical experts reports this condition is mostly noticed in infants and the elderly and especially in people with weakened immune systems. However, this most likely occurs after taking antibiotics.

Leukoplakia: This is a condition in which the cells in the mouth grow excessively, and ultimately leads to white patches on the tongue and inside the mouth. We often notice this in people who uses tobacco products. Although Leukoplakia isn’t inherently dangerous by itself, however, it can be a precursor to cancer

• When the tongue is red: A red tongue could be a sign of:

Vitamin deficiency: Deficiencies in Folic acid and vitamin B-12 may lead the tongue to take on a reddish appearance.

Geographic tongue: Although this is usually harmless, but this condition causes a map-like pattern of reddish spots to develop on the surface of the tongue.

Kawasaki disease: This condition is seen mostly in children under the age of 5 and is usually accompanied by a high fever. Kawasaki syndrome is a serious condition that demands immediate medical evaluation once you notice a strawberry-like pattern on your tongue.

• When the tongue is black and hairy

This most likely occurs if you don’t practice dental hygiene because if the papillae on your tongue grows excessively long, it makes them more likely to harbor bacteria and when they grow, they becomes dark or black, and the overgrown papillae appears hair-like. This condition is not too common and is typically not serious.

• When the tongue is sore or bumpy: Whenever you discover painful bumps on your tongue, it is due to one of the following

Trauma: When you accidentally bit your tongue, it can result in a sore tongue until the damage heals.

Smoking: When you smoke, you tend to irritate your tongue which leads to sore tongue.

Canker sores: Stress is believed to be a factor for canker sores on the tongue and it normally heal without treatment within a week or two. It is also known as mouth ulcer

Lastly, Watch your tongue!
                                             
                                                  

So we will go back to the phrase and tell you to watch your tongue on a daily basis now when you brush your teeth and tongue and when we say watch your tongue, I hope you understand us fully now.