Have you ever wondered why a physician examines the tongue of a patient during a clinical examination? This is because the varied tongue color can reveal a person’s health and the severity of a disease, allowing for an accurate assessment of their condition. Let’s discover what your tongue has to say about your body’s health.
- White tongue: A white coating or patches on the tongue may indicate a serious health problem or a hygiene problem, such as:
- Oral candidiasis: Oral thrush or other yeast infections are caused by an overgrowth of the fungus Candida albicans. C. Albicans is a bacteria that is constantly present in the mouth and is completely harmless. However, if your immune system is compromised or bacterial growth is disrupted, the fungus can spread out of control, resulting in a white or patchy tongue.
- Leukoplakia: Leukoplakia is a condition that typically affects the mucosal tissues of the mouth, manifesting as thick, white or greyish patches. While mild leukoplakia is not life-threatening and usually resolves on its own, advanced stages of this condition may be indicative of oral cancer or another serious illness.
- Oral lichen planus: This condition affects the mouth’s mucosal membrane. This condition is characterized by swollen tissues, white spots, and open sores.
- A red tongue may indicate a nutrient deficiency or oral health problem, such as:
Vitamin B-12 deficiency
- Benign migratory glossitis: This condition is a common symptom of a variety of allergies, nutritional deficiencies, diabetes, or stress.
- Scarlet fever: A bacterial infection that causes the tongue to appear red and bumpy. To emphasize, if left untreated, scarlet fever can progress to more serious conditions affecting the heart, kidneys, and other organs.
- Kawasaki disease: This common disease in infants and children causes the tongue to appear red, along with other symptoms such as a high fever, blood vessel inflammation, and so on.
About the Author:
Germie Alderite is a Registered Medical Technologist in the Philippines. She is currently studying Doctor of Medicine in the said country. Germie worked in an Adventist Wellness Center for a year before entering Medical School. She believes that many transgress the laws of health through ignorance, thus, people need instruction. They need to be impressed with the importance of making their knowledge a guide of life. Physician has many opportunities both of imparting a knowledge of health principles and of showing the importance of putting them into practice.
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