What Your Tongue Tells You About Your Overall Health

Your tongue can tell a lot about your overall health. White or red spots, bumps, or patches in your tongue can be harmless, but may indicate an underlying health problem. Also, aging, stress, infections, and certain medications can leave spots and bumps on your tongue.

Read on to find out what your tongue tells about your overall health.

1. White Patches

Fungal infection or thrush can cause white patches on your tongue. White patches often occur due to the use of certain medications or after an illness. It indicates that your immune system is attacking your mouth’s tissues. It can be a sign of leukoplakia if white patches cannot be scraped away.

Symptoms of White Patches

• Swelling
• Sore tongue
• Loss of taste

Treatment of White Patches

In most cases, the white tongue does not require any treatment and will disappear on its own. Otherwise, your dentist may recommend antibiotics, steroids, or antifungal medications depending on the cause of your white tongue.

Related Article: Tongue Problems: Soreness, Discoloration, and Bumps

2. Hairy Tongue

Hairy tongue is a temporary condition that gives a black or brown furry appearance to your tongue. The hairs on your tongue are proteins that turn small bumps into longer strands, where food and bacteria accumulate. Hairy tongue can disappear by brushing or scraping your tongue. If you cannot scrape those hairs, it may be a sign of oral hairy leukoplakia.

Symptoms of Hairy Tongue

• Gagging or tickling sensation
• Bad breath
• Burning sensation
• Abnormal taste

Treatment of Hairy Tongue

Your dentist will first recommend a few lifestyle changes or home remedies to treat hairy tongue, which may include:

• Brushing and flossing twice a day
• Quit smoking
• Avoid drinking alcohol
• Eating a balanced diet
• Drinking plenty of water

If these do not work, they will recommend:

• Over-the-counter antiseptic mouthwash
• Antifungal medications
• Surgical treatment to trim the filiform papillae (FP)

3. Black Tongue

Your tongue can look black if you have dead skin cell buildup on your tongue, or if you take an antacid with bismuth.  For some people, it stains the tongue and causes black spots when it mixes with saliva. However, it will go away if you stop taking the medicine.

Symptoms of Black Tongue

• Furry appearance of the tongue
• Metallic taste in your mouth
• Bad breath

Treatment of Black Tongue

Practice good oral hygiene, drink plenty of water, eat a low-sugar diet, and stop using tobacco products. Visit your dentist if your symptoms persist. They will prescribe antibacterial or antifungal medications to treat the black tongue.

4. Bright Red Tongue

Red or strawberry tongue occurs if your tongue is bumpy or swollen. It can be a sign of Kawasaki disease, a rare illness that inflames blood vessels throughout your body. Your tongue may be white for a few days before turning red. Lack of vitamin B3 can also cause a red tongue.

Symptoms of Bright Red Tongue

• Difficulty swallowing or chewing
• Painful tongue
• Irritation on your tongue

Treatment of Bright Red Tongue

Depending on the cause of the red tongue, your dentist will prescribe intravenous steroids, over-the-counter medications, or antibiotics.

5. Burning Feeling

If you always feel a burning or scalding sensation on your tongue, this may indicate a problem in the tongue nerves. Health problems such as acid reflux, dry mouth, infections, and diabetes may contribute to this condition. For some people, toothpaste, candy or mouthwash may cause a burning feeling.

Symptoms of Burning Feeling

• Pain
• Swelling
• Red tongue
• Blisters
• Numbness
• Abnormal taste

Treatment of Burning Feeling

Your dentist will recommend a basic treatment plan to treat the burning tongue, which includes:

• Rinsing the area with cool water for a few minutes
• Suck on ice chips to soothe the pain
• Avoid hot or warm liquids and acidic foods
• Pain relief medications
• Place honey or a few grains of sugar on the tongue to relieve the pain

If these do not work, your dentist will recommend over-the-counter medications.

Related Article: Effective Tricks to Make Your Child's Loose Tooth Fall Out Naturally

6. Smooth Tongue

This condition occurs if you do not have any small bumps on the top of your tongue. Certain medications, infections, celiac disease, and lack of nutrients like vitamin B, iron, and folic acid can cause this condition. You can also get a geographic tongue if you have smooth patches next to the bumpy ones. The smooth tongue can also be linked with lichen planus or psoriasis.

Symptoms of Smooth Tongue

• Swelling
• Tenderness or pain in the tongue
• Loss of papillae on the tongue’s surface
• Discoloration
• Difficulty speaking, swallowing, or eating
• Treatment of Smooth Tongue

Brushing and flossing twice or thrice a day can help to get rid of the symptoms associated with the smooth tongue. Your dentist may prescribe antibiotics or other topical medications to reduce the symptoms.

7. Bumps

Small and painful bumps on the tongue are common. However, you may also get a single painful bump at the tip of your tongue known as lie bumps, which can occur if your tongue is irritated. Viral infections, allergies, and injuries can also cause little bumps at the sides and tip. Bumps or lumps under your tongue can also be linked to oral cancer, so consult your dentist accordingly.

Symptoms of Tongue Bumps

• Pain or irritation on the tongue
• Swelling
• Itchy tongue

Treatment of Tongue Bumps

A few home remedies can help to improve the condition, which includes:

• Avoiding spicy and acidic foods
• Drinking plenty of water
• Gargling with warm saltwater
• Rinsing with baking soda

Visit your dentist if your condition does not improve. They will prescribe antifungal or antiviral medications.

Related Article: 7 Tips to Painlessly Pull a Loose Tooth

8. Soreness

Some medications or infections can cause a sore tongue. Canker sores, thrush, and lichen planus can cause pain. A painful tongue can be a sign of cancer.

Symptoms of Soreness

• Loss of taste
• Sore throat
• Swollen tongue
• Dry mouth
• Dehydration

Treatment of Soreness

To treat soreness, your dentist may prescribe:

1. Steroids
2. Vitamin Supplements
3. Antimicrobial mouthwash
4. Antibiotics
5. Medications to increase saliva production
6. Antifungal medications

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9. Macroglossia

Macroglossia is a medical term used to refer to a tongue that is larger than normal. An enlarged tongue can be linked with hyperthyroidism, allergies, or infections.  Cancers or trauma can also cause macroglossia.

Symptoms of Macroglossia

• Teeth may protrude or become misaligned as a result of a large tongue
• The tongue may extend past the mouth
• Difficulty eating and speaking
• Snoring or high-pitched breathing

Treatment of Macroglossia

The treatment varies depending on the cause and severity of the condition. In more severe cases, surgical reduction of the tongue may be necessary.

Related Article: How Is Bad Breath Linked to Your Wisdom Teeth?

10. Fissured Tongue

Deep cracks or grooves can form on the top surface of your tongue as you age. This condition can be linked to Sjogren’s syndrome, Down syndrome, and psoriasis.

Symptoms of Fissured Tongue

• Shallow or deep cracks on the tongue
• Sometimes, the cracks extend to the tongue’s edges
• Irritation

Treatment of Fissured Tongue

No specific medication or therapy is required to treat a fissured tongue. The dentist will encourage patients with the fissured tongue to brush and floss twice a day to remove food, bacteria, and other debris.

11. Mouth Cancer

Mouth cancer can occur on the lips, gums, tongue, and roof of the mouth. Discoloration, bumps, and patches on your tongue are harmless. However, if you have lumps on your tongue, sores that don’t heal, and tongue pain, then see your doctor or dentist to know if these are linked to cancer.

Symptoms of Mouth Cancer

• Sores that do not heal
• Lumps
• Tongue pain
• Difficulty swallowing or chewing

Treatment of Mouth Cancer

Treatment for mouth cancer varies depending on the location and extent of your cancer and your overall health condition. Your doctor may recommend surgery to remove the tumor or may reconstruct your mouth.

Related Article: Oral Cancer Awareness Month: How You Can Reduce the Risk

It’s good practice to check your tongue every day when you brush. If you see any discoloration, lumps, bumps, or sores on your tongue, call us right away for professional treatment. Our dentists in West Des Moines will recommend the best treatments for your tongue problem.