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What Are Signs Of Health Issues On The Tongue?
Problems ranging from vitamin deficiencies, allergies, and a weak immune system can manifest first in the tongue — making the organ appear smooth, and red or allowing a fungal infection to appear.
Last week, NewsFinale.com revealed the hidden health issues that you should look out for in your fingernails. Now, we look at the conditions that often show symptoms in people’s tongues.
Pictured above are five conditions that can be detected on tongues, alongside their causes. A strawberry red tongue (top right) can also be caused by an infection, such as that from Strep throat, or a vitamin deficiency. A yellow tongue could also be a sign of gastritis. It is caused by a build-up of dead skin cells on the tongue, which can be triggered by a lack of saliva — as happens in gastritis patients — or not brushing often enough
White patches on the tongue may be a sign of a fungal infection, or oral thrush
White patches are a sign of a fungal infection
At some time in our life, a lot of people will get white patches on their tongues. But did you realize that it might be a fungus?
Small quantities of the yeast-like fungus Candida are present on the skin, in the mouth, throat, gut, and – for females — the vagina.
It is not dangerous and usually goes unnoticed.
However, it has the potential to start growing uncontrollably at any time, leading to a white layer on the tongue.
This occurs when drugs or antibiotics eliminate beneficial bacteria that are controlling the fungus, allowing it to spread swiftly.
It can also be caused by chronic stress weakening the immune system, which can also leave the gates open for the fungus to start growing
Dr Uchenna Akosa, a dentist at Rutgers University in New Jersey, told Shape: ‘It’s a very white coating [on the top and sides of the tongue], and underneath [the tongue] it can be red and raw.’
Other symptoms include a loss of taste and smell and pain while eating or swallowing.
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The infection is easily treated using an antifungal medication, which can be delivered in a tablet or liquid form.
People may be able to prevent it on the tongue by brushing the tongue twice a day even though it is not contagious.
According to the NHS in the UK, oral thrush is a frequent infection in infants, affecting one in seven of them. Due to their immature immune systems, infants are particularly vulnerable.
Because they have a weakened immune system and the yeast can become trapped beneath dentures, older persons who wear dentures are also more susceptible to the illness.
According to estimations from 2011, older patients in hospitals are more likely to get thrush because their immune systems are less robust.
Smooth tongue? You’re not consuming enough vitamins
A smooth tongue can be a warning sign of a vitamin deficiency
The tongue can also warn of vitamin deficiencies, such as a lack of iron and vitamin B12 — both important for making red blood cells in the body that carry oxygen to different organs.
Normally, the tongue has hundreds of tiny bumps on its surface known as papillae, with each containing several taste buds.
But when someone is deficient in vitamins these papillae start to waste away and drop off the tongue.
Dr Mark Wolff, a dentist at Penn Medicine in Pennsylvania, told Shape: ‘All of a sudden, the tongue becomes glossy and loses texture.
‘That’s a real defining moment. The tongue is an amazing location in that respect, that so many nutrient-bound conditions just pop right out on the tongue.’
Lacking vitamin B12 and iron leads to fewer red blood cells in the body.,
This means that less oxygen is carried to organs, with the lack of oxygen in the tongue leading to papillae to start to waste away.
Patients may be more prone to notice other signs of a vitamin deficiency, such as excessive weariness, chest pain, and pale skin.
Adult men should consume about 8 milligrams (mg) of iron per day, while women should consume 18mg, according to the National Institutes of Health.
For men, this can be attained by consuming seven to fourteen turkey breasts daily.
Vitamin deficiencies can be prevented in people by consuming a healthy, balanced diet.
According to estimates, 6% of Americans suffer from a vitamin B12 deficiency, while approximately 10 million Americans have an iron deficiency.
Sores on the tongue, known as canker sores, can indicate injury or stress
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Those sores on your tongue could be an injury or stress
Canker sores are small, round, painful lesions that may form on the tongue, cheeks or gums.
Dentists say the main cause of these marks — medically termed aphthous ulcers — is injury to the mouth.
This can be caused by accidentally biting down on areas in the mouth, or even by brushing areas too strongly.
But regularly getting canker sores could also be a sign of stress.
The state of mental strain can lead people to bite down on cheeks and tongues more often as they clench their teeth, meaning they have more of these sores.
Stress can cause the tongue to repeatedly press up against clenched teeth, which can result in indentations on the top or side of the tongue.
Other factors include a food allergy to foods like cheese, coffee, strawberries, or even menopausal hormone fluctuations.
These lesions are benign and typically disappear on their own, without any complications.
Medical professionals advise patients to see a doctor if they have sores that are especially large, persistent, do not heal, and make it difficult to eat or drink.
According to the Mayo Clinic, a tiny sore takes one to two weeks to heal, but larger ones can take up to six weeks.
Strawberry tongue can be caused by a food allergy, infection or vitamin deficiency
How a strawberry tongue could indicate a secret allergy
If you’ve ever suffered from a red tongue after eating a certain food, it could be a sign of a hidden allergy.
For many people with mild food allergies, their tongues become radiant red — sometimes known as ‘strawberry tongue’.
It can also become sore and swollen due to an allergy, or the sides of the mouth can start swelling as well.
Dentists say this may indicate a food allergy, particularly against certain fruits and vegetables.
The immune system malfunctions and targets substances it misidentifies as foreign invaders, resulting in the red, inflamed tongue.
Bacterial infections that result from strep throat are among the other reasons why people get “strawberry tongue.”
In these situations, the bacteria induce the red tongue, sometimes known as “scarlet fever,” by releasing poison into the tongue.
Once again, patients are likely to notice further signs of this infection, such as a fever, sore throat, and red skin rash.
A crimson tongue can also result from vitamin deficiencies, such as a lack of vitamin B-12.
Your tongue can turn yellow when dead skin cells build up on it. This is ‘harmless’ but tends to be a sign of poor oral hygiene
Yellow patches mean you’re not brushing properly… or it could be a sign of gastritis
A yellow tongue is caused by a build-up of dead skin cells on the surface of the tongue, which are then broken down by bacteria giving them the yellow hue.
Doctors say the build-up itself is normally ‘harmless’, but could be an indication of an underlying condition.
This includes gastritis, where the lining of the stomach becomes inflamed — often due to an infection.
When people suffer from gastritis they are likely to produce less saliva, meaning dead skin cells are cleared from the surface of the tongue less often.
As they build up, they can then cause a ‘yellow tongue’ to appear.
Patients are likely to also note other symptoms of gastritis, however, such as pain in the upper abdomen, nausea and vomiting. Gastritis accounts for about 2 million doctor visits a year, estimates suggest.
According to doctors, having a “yellow tongue” may also indicate that a person is not brushing their tongue frequently enough, enabling dead cells to build up.
Everyone should immediately brush their tongues after brushing their teeth twice daily. A toothbrush should be used for this.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, other factors that contribute to a yellow tongue include smoking, consuming meals with a yellow hue, chewing tobacco, and even using particular mouthwashes.
A sore throat, a fever, foul breath, and a bad taste in the mouth are some other signs of a yellow tongue.
Eight out of every 1,000 people have gastritis.
Shown above is what a healthy tongue should look like
What should a healthy tongue look like?
So, what does a healthy tongue look like in real life?
According to medical professionals, it should be pink in color, ranging from light to darker shades.
The tongue should also be covered in numerous tiny bumps that are taste buds.
A healthy tongue should be pink and covered in tiny nodules, according to Dr. Daniel Allen, who spoke to the Cleveland Clinic (papillae).
Any difference from the way your tongue usually looks or any discomfort should be taken seriously.
“Everyone should check their tongue every day as they brush their teeth and tongue,” they continue.
‘Any discolorations, lumps, sores or pain should be monitored and evaluated by a medical professional if they don’t go away within two weeks’.