WHAT DOES A DISCOLORED TONGUE MEAN?

Have you ever finished a hard candy and found that your tongue was still a bright color? Most people have been. But, have you ever noticed your tongue is an unusual color without food being the culprit? Did you know that the color of your tongue can actually tell you something about your oral health?

Generally, your tongue should be pink, but what if your tongue is bright red?  A bright red tongue can often mean you have a vitamin deficiency. At other times, especially if you have a fever, it could be an indicator of Scarlet Fever. If a child under five has a fever and red tongue, they could have Kawasaki syndrome. Fortunately, both Kawasaki syndrome and Scarlet Fever can be treated.

Similarly, if your tongue is white you could have a condition known as leukoplakia. While this condition is not dangerous, it can be a sign of cancer. Oral thrush, which is a yeast infection, can be the result of thrush. Luckily, this problem can be treated by just eating plain yogurt.

Finally, what does a black tongue mean? This condition—often known as black hairy tongue—happens when too much bacteria builds up on the tongue. This can be caused by several factors, such as smoking, practicing poor oral hygiene, being dehydrated, and taking certain medications. Fortunately, this problem can be remedied by practicing good oral hygiene.

Do you have more questions about what your tongue says about your health? If so, please feel free to contact us today. We are excited to hear from you.