What Your Tongue Can Tell You About Your Health

You probably already know that our tongue plays an important role in how we detect taste, but there are also other things that it can show. The state of our tongue can be a big indication of our health condition. Several factors such as changes in texture, changes in color or presence of blemishes or sores can be signs that your tongue is trying to tell you that you might need some help.

Here are some things that your tongue can be telling you and are pointing to your health:

 

1.Textural Changes

Naturally, your tongue shouldn’t be smooth. If you feel that your tongue is smooth, it may be because of glossitis. This is a condition when your tongue is inflamed so the papillae on the tongue are lost. The smoothness generally is caused by deficiencies of B vitamins and iron. Therefore, in this case you should better take care of your nutrition.

 

2. Blemishes and Sores

 

Canker Sores:
Canker sores are shallow, tiny ulcers that may appear on the underside of the tongue and in your mouth. According to some research it seems that stress may be a reason for their appearance. They are usually harmless, but they cause problems with chewing your food well.
 
Bumps:
If you have bumps on your tongue, this could be a sign of an allergic reaction or infection.

 

3. Color Changes:

 

Changes in your tongue color may be an indication of more or less serious problems.
 
White: White colored tongue is usually telling you that you are dehydrated and that debris is trapped inside your papillae. You can solve this condition by cleaning and brushing your tongue regularly. For those who smoke this problem is worse.

Black: Your tongue may get black color as a result of debris and bacteria building up on its surface. It is often caused by taking oral antibiotics or an abuse of tobacco. It can be removed with careful cleaning and brushing.

Red: This is caused by a deficiency of vitamin B12. Also, scarlet fever and Kawasaki disease have red tongue symptoms.

Brown: This is one of the rare discoloring effects, and it may be a sign of one form of skin cancer-melanoma.

Yellow: Dehydration, smoking, fevers can often result with a yellow tongue. In some extreme cases, this may be a sign of liver illness.

Your tongue is not only responsible for your taste, but it can show you some signs that something else is going on in your body. That’s why you need to take care of your tongue as all the other part of your body.

Whenever you wash your teeth, take a look of your tongue and make sure to remove all the possible bacteria or sugars that might be stuck between your papillae.

Source(s):
healthylifestylezone.com