What Your Tongue Says About Your Health

Just like your eyes, gums or teeth, and skin, your tongue can say a lot about your health. Many people don’t realize that a couple of diseases or health deficiencies can be manifested with symptoms that show up on your tongue. What may seem like a harmless spot may already be a symptom for a serious health condition. Although not everything you see on your tongue immediately indicates something worrisome, it’s important to know that your tongue may indicate an underlying disease. Some of the health conditions that the tongue can signal include vitamin deficiencies, diabetes, scarlet fever and more.

Here are some of the things your tongue says about your health.

  1. Strawberry Red Tongue

Having strawberry-red tongue or a red-beefy tongue can mean vitamin deficiency. If you are a vegetarian or does not eat a lot of meat, Vitamin B12 Deficiency might be the cause of this sign. It will be better to visit a physician and ask for vitamin supplements. This vitamin deficiency can also be present to people who lacks gastrointestinal enzymes which can be checked and given action by a physician.

  1. White Patches

This type of discoloration in the tongue or gums can be of oral hygiene issue. It is best to brush often for a few days to determine if it disappears through proper oral hygiene. If it doesn’t, it might be candida or oral thrush. People, who are on antibiotics, have Diabetes, on chemotherapy, using steroidal based drugs or are immune-compromised are usually affected by candida. It is best to seek professional help to aid this problem.

  1. Black and Hairy

The human tongue naturally has papillae and improper oral hygiene can cause bacteria to harbor in the papillae, creating black and hairy tongue. It can also be present if your immune system is weak. It is best to practice good hygiene and to visit a physician.

  1. Bald Tongue

Increased sensation when eating hot or cold foods and pain or burning sensations in the tongue can be present if you have a bald tongue. A bald tongue is when the papillae of the tongue shed. Bald tongue is also known as atrophic glossitis which is an inflammatory condition. There can be many causes to this condition, including vitamin deficiency, oral yeast infection and among other. It is best to consult your physician for better diagnosis and treatment.

  1. Wrinkles

The tongue can also show sign of aging, such as wrinkles and crevices in the tongue. Infection can occur between these crevices and thus, must be prevented. You must practice good oral hygiene and increase your oral fluid intake. If an infection thus occur, it is best to see your physician for the best solution.

  1. Sore or Bumpy

If you feel pain and an unusual lump in your tongue, it could mean trauma or oral cancer. This could also be cause by smoking. Accidentally biting or putting something too hot in your mouth can result in a sore tongue that may. It may heal in a couple of days. Unusual bumps can be cause by oral cancer or cancer sore, which must be checked by a physician.

  1. Painless White Patches

Painless white patches can be caused by an irritation in the mouth. This is caused by an excess growth of cells. Usually found in smokers and have a little chance of developing into cancer. If you don’t smoke, this can be caused by abrasions done by the teeth and is better to be left alone. If the patches don’t disappear in a week or two, it is best to visit a physician.

  1. Burning Sensation

If your tongue feels painful but does not look sore or inflamed and is normal, this might just be a reaction to the current toothpaste you are using. It might be wise to change brands of toothpaste. Also, this might be caused by hormonal changes, commonly to woman on the point of menopause. If burning sensation continues, visit a physician for proper diagnosis and treatment.

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