Do you know that the colour of your tongue says a lot about your health status? This is why you should observe your tongue regularly. A healthy tongue is usually pink and covered with small nodules (papillae).
Any deviation from your tongue’s normal appearance, or any pain, should be a cause for concern. You should be bothered if your tongue falls in any of these categories;
1. If your tongue has a white coating or white spots
A white tongue, or white spots on your tongue, could be an indication of oral thrush.
This is a yeast infection that develops inside the mouth most commonly seen in infants and the elderly, especially denture wearers, or in people with weakened immune systems.
It appears as white patches that are often the consistency of cottage cheese.
It can also mean leukoplakia – a condition in which the cells in the mouth grow excessively, which leads to white patches on the tongue and inside the mouth. It can develop when the tongue has been irritated. Leukoplakia can be a precursor to cancer.
2. If your tongue is red
This could be a deficiency in Vitamins. Vitamin deficiency – “Folic acid and vitamin B-12 deficiencies may cause your tongue to take on a reddish appearance.
It can also be as a result of geographic tongue which causes a map-like pattern of reddish spots to develop on the surface of your tongue.
Another cause of scarlet fever. This is an infection that causes the tongue to have a strawberry-like (red and bumpy) appearance.
3. If your tongue is sore and bumpy
Trauma – Accidentally biting your tongue or scalding it on something straight out of the oven can result in a sore tongue until the damage heals. Smoking irritates your tongue, which can cause soreness.
Many people develop canker sores on the tongue at one time or another. Canker sores normally heal without treatment within a week or two. Moreso, a lump or sore on your tongue that doesn’t go away within two weeks could be an indication of oral cancer.
