Lora Cook, RDH
Your Tongue Says a lot About Your Health
Look into the mirror, stick out your tongue. What does it look like? What is the color, the texture, what do you think it is saying about you? Here are some examples of what you might see and what it means.
WHITE PATCHES:
This may be a sign of a overgrowth of candida or yeast in your mouth. You may have also heard this condition called thrush. This condition is very treatable with prescription from your dentist for a anti fungal mouth wash from the pharmacy.
BLACK AND HAIRY:
This can have several different causes; poor oral hygiene, bacteria overgrowth, or yeast growth. This may look alarming it does not cause any health problems and is usually painless. This condition will usually resolved without treatment.
RED AND WHITE SPOTS:
These are usually areas where your taste buds have worn down. This is very common and no need to treat.
WEBBED OR STRIPED LOOK:
This is a chronic auto immune disease that effects the mucus membrane in your mouth.
RED TONGUE:
This may simply indicate a fever or strep throat. However chronic redness in tongue may indicate a deficiency in certain vital nutrients such as; folic acid, B12, or iron. This is a photo of a individual with B12 deficiency; smooth, beefy, red tongue.
RIDGES:
This is a result of the tongue pressing into teeth, usually while you are sleeping. This may be a tell tale sign that you tend to clinch and grind your teeth in your sleep, usually stress induced.
This ridges will go away, the treatment for clinch and grinding is a custom night guard.
Another potential cause of these ridges is if your tongue becomes slightly enlarged or swollen. This may be a indication of thyroid problems.
Want to learn more? Visit us at
http://www.shalimarfamilydentistry.com
http://www.northstapleydentalcare.com
http://www.alamedadentalaz.com
http://www.dentistingilbert.com
Sources:
http://www.skinsight.com/adult/oralCandidiasisThrush.htm
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/do-your-taste-buds-change-as-you-get-older.html
http://www.aaom.com/oral-lichen-planus
http://stanfordmedicine25.stanford.edu/the25/tongue.html
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