What it Means: As we age, our tongues do too! A cracked or wrinkled appearance to your tongue is generally nothing to worry about. It's very important to maintain good hygiene and brush your tongue to avoid infections in the wrinkles.
The tongue plays a key role in the generation of pressures for transporting liquids and foods through the mouth in swallowing. Recent studies suggest that there is an age-related decline in tongue strength in healthy adults.
Indications of an unhealthy tongue include different coloration besides pink, spots or patches (such as white, brown, or black spots), open sores, etc. These symptoms can indicate diseases such as oral thrush, cancer, vitamin deficiency, scarlet fever, and more.
A red tongue may indicate heat in the body like a fever or a hormonal imbalance. A reddish purple tongue is a sign that there may be inflammation or an infection in the body. A pale pink tongue may be a sign of a vitamin deficiency, a weak immune system or a lack of energy.
A healthy (or normal) tongue is pink and covered with small bumps known as papillae. The shade of pink can vary (provided it's not red), and the bumps should cover a good majority of the upper surface. These bumps are also on the underside of a tongue, but maybe less easy to spot.
Complete or partial loss of taste. Change in your tongue color (white, yellow, dark red, purple, brown or black). Change in your tongue's texture (smooth, covered in raised patches or hair-like growths). Pain, soreness or a burning sensation throughout your tongue or in certain parts.
Deficiencies in B6 or B12 may lead to a swollen, sore or yellow tongue, along with teeth indentations and fissures on the surface of the tongue. Iron: An iron deficiency can lead to a swollen tongue and painful sores in the mouth. The tongue will also appear pale and smooth due to the lack of haemoglobin in the blood.
Anxiety has also been linked to tongue swelling and scalloped tongue, which is a condition that causes waves or ripples along the sides of the tongue.
In traditional medicine, purple/blue-ish tongue color indicates blood stasis [30] which is usually associated with stress and is consistent with our findings.
Rarely, yellow tongue may be a sign of jaundice, a yellowing of the eyes and skin, which sometimes indicates liver or gallbladder problems. Self-care is usually all that's needed to treat yellow tongue, unless it's related to another medical condition. Medical treatment for yellow tongue usually isn't necessary.
It can cause yellow skin (including the skin on your tongue) and a yellowing of the whites of your eyes. This buildup may indicate liver damage or dysfunction.
Tongue color changes
The tongue's papillae (tiny, rounded projections) may become discolored if a person smokes or chews tobacco, eats certain foods or vitamins, or has colored bacteria growing on the tongue.
See a doctor about changes in tongue color, shape, or size that last longer than a few days. Also, any changes to the coating of the tongue can indicate infection and may require treatment. In addition, it may be a good idea to receive medical attention when there are extreme changes in the mouth's moisture levels.
The tongue's color and surface may change as the result of injury, poor oral hygiene, disease, or other factors. Some or most of the tongue may be involved. Many of the changes occur without producing pain or discomfort.
“Normal tongues are pale red with a pale white coating. Heart failure patients have a redder tongue with a yellow coating and the appearance changes as the disease becomes more advanced.”
A healthy tongue is pink in color. If your tongue color is white, yellow, orange, red, black, purple, gray, green or blue, it could mean you have an underlying health condition. If you have tongue discoloration that doesn't go away, tell your healthcare provider. They can help determine the best course of action.
When your body does not have enough water, it can lead to headaches, fatigue, weight gain, and of course, dry mouth. Severe dehydration can even lead to kidney failure. When someone is dehydrated, the tongue appears dry and typically has a white or white-to-yellowish coating.
Oral anxiety isn't being stressed, anxious, or depressed about your oral health. Instead, oral anxiety is the effects these mental health problems end up having on your oral health. This is especially true if you struggle with depression.
A scalloped tongue can occur when the body is not getting enough of certain vitamins, such as vitamin B, iron, niacin, and riboflavin. Smoking. Smoking does not only increase inflammation in the body, but also increases the risk of dehydration.
This can be caused by an imbalance of good bacteria in the gut, nutritional deficiencies and stress. Whether or not your white tongue is a sign of a serious health concern, it's pointing out that something isn't right.
Studies have found that vitamin D deficiency can lead to burning mouth syndrome, which is a painful condition that leads to a burning, scalding, or tingling feeling in the mouth, especially on the tongue.
Key points about vitamin B12 deficiency anemia
Symptoms include weak muscles, numbness, trouble walking, nausea, weight loss, irritability, fatigue, and increased heart rate. Treatment may include vitamin B12 supplements. It is also important to eat a well-balanced diet.