Body parts such as eyes, nails, and tongues are connected. Changes in the nails and tongue can point out a lack of nutrients or health conditions. Proper observation can help you understand these changes. People often disregard the nails and tongue. Small parts of the tongue are linked to the liver, heart, and brain. There are many types of germs, bacteria are present in the mouth. So, taking care of oral hygiene is important to get rid of the harmful virus.
What Color Is Your Tongue Supposed to Be?
Tongue color in originality is pink, covered with small nodules. A little color change can affect your health. Let us look at some of the color changes that might be related to your health.
Red Tongue:
The red color can be a sign of oral problems or nutrient deficiency.
Vitamin deficiency: Deficiency of vitamin B and folic acid may cause the redness of the tongue. To determine the levels of vitamin blood, a test had to be done. A dietician recommends an intake of vitamins.
Geographic tongue: This is a harmless condition that can be caused because of various factors. The factors may be diabetes, allergies, stress, and other factors. The location can change over time and have white patches around it.
Scarlet fever: It causes the appearance of the tongue to be red and bumpy. This is a bacterial infection. In case of high fever along with a red tongue, you need to see a doctor immediately. In case left untreated can lead to serious problems.
Kawasaki disease: This is a common disease found among infants and kids. The appearance will look red accompanied by a high fever. We often see children under the age of 5 with this condition. The condition needs an immediate medical situation.
White Patches:
The white patches or coating can be a sign of serious health issues or medical conditions.
An overgrowth of the fungus and other yeast diseases is present in the mouth and is completely harmless. Oral thrush is the collection of cottage cheese in the mouth of an infant or elder. We often see this in people with weaker immune systems. In case of the weakening of the immune system, the fungus spreads, making the tongue look whiter.
Leukoplakia: In this condition, the cells in the mouth grow excessively. It can irritate the tongue because of leukoplakia. We often see the case in people eating tobacco. Mild condition is treated automatically. In severe conditions, this might be a sign of oral cancer or any other condition. If the condition is getting worse, a good doctor is advised.
Oral lichen planus: We observe the network of raised white lines similar to the lace. An immunological response causes this condition affecting the mucous membrane of the tongue. We see white spots and open pores.
Black and hairy looking
Like your hairs, the papillae on your tongue grow throughout your lifetime. Nearly 5% of the cases have observed the growth of hair-making places for bacteria. The condition is not serious and not common. People with diabetes, antibiotics, or receiving chemotherapy may develop a black, hairy tongue. Unknowingly biting your tongue or blistering it with something boiling. If your tongue looks bumpy or blistered, consult a doctor.
Trauma: Accidentally biting your tongue or scalding an item out of the oven can cause a sore tongue. Grinding of the teeth can also damage the sides of the teeth and irritate the side of the tongue.
Smoking: Smoking blackens the lip but can irritate your tongue. Smoke can cause soreness in the tongue.
Our tongue is probably one of the least talked about parts of the body when it comes to health People develop sores on the tongue often. The cause is unknown, but stress seems to be the major reason. It usually takes a week or two for automatic healing.
Oral cancer: The sore on the tongue which takes longer than two weeks to heal can show oral cancer. Sometimes the cancer is often associated with pain, but it is unnecessary.
Cancer might take many days to develop. To learn about how to stop cancer in the early stages, read: Cancer Prevention Tips: How to prevent cancer from growing.