Every person has a tongue, but it’s one of those things that most of us take for granted! As children we explored the world with our tongues, trying to put everything in our mouths and sticking our tongues out at our siblings and parents just to see their reaction.
The tongue is more than just a random body part, though, and it has an important role in our sense of taste and swallowing. Your tongue can give your dentist a sneak-peek into both your oral health and general health. You may be shocked at what your tongue can reveal about your health. Get ready to say, “Ahhhhh!”
- White Coating on Tongue – Your tongue should have a lovely shade of pink. If your tongue has a white coating, you may have oral thrush, an infection in the mouth caused by yeast overgrowth. Of course, it could just be whitish from not brushing your tongue every time you brush your teeth. You’re good to go if the white brushes away.
- White Patches on Tongue – Leukoplakia can occur when the tongue has been irritated, typically as a result of smoking or tobacco usage. Every doctor will urge you to quit smoking, but it is ultimately your decision.If you notice white patches, make an appointment with your dentist to be safe and rule out oral cancer.
- Overly Red Tongue – While an overly red tongue can be a sign of Kawasaki disease, it is more often caused by a vitamin deficit, such as folic acid or B-12. Adding a vitamin supplement to your morning smoothie might be the answer.
- Irregular Red Bumpy Patches – Benign migratory glossitis, also known as geographic tongue, is an inflammatory disease that generally manifests on the top and sides of the tongue. Affected tongues exhibit a distinct, red area that is surrounded by an irregular white border and, more typically, includes a wide zone of varying sizes that are encircled in part by an irregular white border.
- Tender, Sore Tongue -If one particular area or all over your tongue is excessively sensitive, you could have a food allergy or be developing a canker sore. Don’t worry about it unless it doesn’t go away for a while. After that, the dentist must be contacted for a professional opinion!
- Hairy Tongue – Sounds strange, but Small bumps on your tongue can sometimes be caused by a protein accumulation, which can trap food and give the impression of strands of hair on your tongue. Usually, a good brushing or tongue scraping could take care of it, but if it doesn’t, a trip to the dentist is in order.
Your dentist is the first line of defense against serious and benign health concerns. So, stick out your tongue at the dentist’s and be ready for a comprehensive oral checkup. You never know what your tongue might be telling you about your health!
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