Table of contents:
- The risk of disease that can be seen from the condition of the tongue
- 1. Bright red color similar to a strawberry
- 2. Coated with white spots
- 3. Hairy black tongue
- 4. Tongue wrinkles
- 5. Spots on the tongue
Every time you see a doctor, you will definitely first be asked to open your mouth wide and stick out your tongue before further examination of the affected area. This action is done by doctors not without reason, because it turns out that the current condition of your tongue can predict the risk of certain diseases that you may never have realized. Anything?
The risk of disease that can be seen from the condition of the tongue
A healthy tongue should be pink and covered with small spots (papillae). If you notice a change in your tongue accompanied by a strange sensation on your tongue, you need to be alert.
Here are some disease risks that can be seen from the condition of your tongue:
1. Bright red color similar to a strawberry
A bright red tongue like a strawberry can indicate that you are deficient in iron or vitamin B12. This nutrient deficiency also makes the number of papillae reduced so that the surface texture of the tongue becomes smoother.
In fact, these two nutrients are needed to keep the papillae functioning to detect various flavors. A tongue that is bald because it doesn't have enough papillae will gradually experience numbness.
Deficiency of vitamin B12 and iron is most susceptible to occur in people who are vegetarians or who have stomach problems. In addition, several conditions and diseases also cause a bright red tongue, including Kawasaki disease and scarlet fever (scarlatina).
Changes in the color of the tongue to become redder can also occur as a result of eating spicy foods that are also too hot.
2. Coated with white spots
If your tongue is covered with a visible white coating, this could be a sign of a yeast infection.
If your mouth is not clean, bad bacteria and fungi can multiply and cause infection.
Yeast infections often occur in children, people with low immune systems, cancer patients undergoing therapy, and diabetes patients whose symptoms are not controlled. This condition can be treated with antibiotics.
Many white spots on the tongue can also be caused by leukoplakia and oral lichen planus. Leukoplakia often occurs in cancer patients and people who actively smoke. While oral lichen is a raised white, lace-like tissue around the tongue. The cause is not known with certainty but this condition can go away on its own.
3. Hairy black tongue
Hearing that hairy black tongue must have made you shudder. However, that does not mean the tongue is overgrown with hair like on your head.
Hairy black tongue is defined as papillae that grow longer and change color to brown or black. This can be caused by smoking, drinking coffee, not cleaning your teeth diligently, or also by a bacterial infection.
Apart from changing color, there will be other symptoms such as bad breath and an uncomfortable sensation on the tongue. Fortunately, this condition is not dangerous and can be easily treated by more diligently maintaining oral hygiene and tongue and avoiding or quitting smoking.
4. Tongue wrinkles
Every organ and part of the body will age as we get older too. Including the tongue. A tongue that looks cracked or cracked is often seen in the elderly who wear dentures.
However, this tongue condition can also indicate a yeast infection in the mouth if accompanied by symptoms such as bad breath, burning in the mouth, and pain.
5. Spots on the tongue
Sores on the tongue can indicate that you have thrush, either from a scratch when brushing your teeth or a tongue bite when chewing food.
However, do not underestimate the appearance of a sore on the tongue especially without an obvious cause and healing is difficult. It could be that the symptoms of tongue cancer are almost similar to thrush.
Another symptom of tongue cancer that you need to watch out for is a swollen tongue and difficulty swallowing. Gradually, the pain can spread to the mouth area to the neck and throat.
