Many people may not know that the tongue is actually an organ – a muscular organ – and is the primary organ of taste. It’s covered in taste buds, is kept moist by saliva, and also serves as a natural means of cleaning the teeth. It helps us speak, taste, and swallow, and looks a certain way when it’s healthy. When it looks “off”, it could be an indicator of health issues in the body.
So what should your tongue look like?
According to Harvard Medical School, the tongue should have a rounded, symmetrical shape. It’s generally light pink, though it may have a little purple or brown pigmentation in African, Asian, and Mediterranean populations. It can also have a hint of white coating.
“The coating comes from a tough protein called keratin, which helps keep your tongue from being scratched when you eat,” says Dr. Tien Jiang, a prosthodontist in the Department of Oral Health Policy and Epidemiology at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine.*
What can cause tongue discoloration?
Your tongue can be discolored due to some things in your diet. Brightly colored candy or popsicles you ate as a child turned your tongue different colors, and coffee, tea, and certain foods – such as those containing turmeric – can also affect your tongue color. That’s temporary though, and easily remedied with good oral hygiene. But some discolorations are a result of health issues in the body. Knowing what they indicate can tell you if you should be concerned.
- If your tongue is a dark brown or black color, that is a condition called “hairy tongue”, and it can be brought on by smoking, dry mouth, antibiotics and antihistamines, consuming large quantities of coffee or black tea, and poor oral hygiene.
- A tongue with white patches or white sores usually mean an overgrowth of yeast – thrush. It can happen as a result of antibiotics or cancer treatments, smoking, dry mouth, denture use, HIV or diabetes, etc. Although rare, it can also be a sign of oral cancer.
- Red or yellow sores which are painful are usually canker sores. In rare cases they can also be a sign of cancer.
- If your tongue is bright red, it could be a symptom of vitamin B12 deficiency or an infection called scarlet fever, which is strep accompanied by a red body rash. However, red patches on the tongue that are painless and tend to move around the tongue might indicate a condition called “geographic tongue”, a harmless condition.
One of the most important things you can do to help keep your tongue and your whole mouth happy is to make sure and brush your tongue when you brush and floss every day. The tongue can harbor bacteria that affects your oral and overall health, so it’s vital to keep it clean.
“Stick out your tongue and swipe your toothbrush from the back of your tongue to the front: one swipe down the middle, one swipe down the left side, and one swipe down the right side. That helps remove bacteria and debris that collect in papillae,” Dr. Jiang says.
What to do if you see problems
If you are concerned about the appearance of your tongue, especially if you have any other symptoms, such as fever, sores that won’t go away, or a very sore throat, it’s time to call your dentist. They can assess the problem, offer treatments you may need, and refer you to a specialist if you need further evaluation. If you are concerned about your tongue, call to schedule today!
*Read more at Harvard Health Publishing.
