Your tongue can surprisingly reveal a lot about your health!

Last Updated on 2016-05-18 , 2:48 pm

Say “ahhhhhhh”. How does your tongue look? Find out what it could mean.

If your tongue has Brown/Black fuzzy things…

Papilla, or small bumps on the tongue’s surface, grows there throughout our lives. They are gradually worn down by chewing or drinking. However, if they overgrow, they can trap bacteria or be discoloured by food. Some signs include bad breath or an abnormal taste. This condition is usually caused by poor dental hygiene, smoking and/or drinking dark coffee and teas. Brushing your tongue regularly can help prevent this condition.

If your tongue has cottage cheese white patches…

This can indicate a yeast infection. Our tongue normally has an amount of naturally-occurring bacteria and yeast. However, when we consume antibiotics, they can kill of the bacteria on our tongues, and the yeast takes over and overruns the tongue, giving rise to the white appearance. This type of yeast infection cannot be treated using over-the-counter medicine. Go see a doctor instead.

If you see wrinkles…

You can get wrinkles on your forehead, your cheeks… and your tongue as well! The tongue ages along with the rest of our body and fissures and cracks can appear. This is no problem of course, unless fungal infections occur within these crevices, usually due to poor dental hygiene. Signs include pain, a foul smell and even a burning sensation. So seriously, in addition to brushing your teeth, brush your tongue!

If your tongue is swollen or unusually large…

This can indicate hyperthyroidism, which means you have a deficiency in thyroid hormones. This slows down you metabolism and you may feel less energetic.

If your tongue is like red red….

In primary school, I remember I used to colour my tongues red when we had to draw faces. Apparently, that’s not the colour you would want your tongue to be. A red tongue may indicate vitamin deficiency. Time to take a look at your diet and make sure you are getting the range of vitamins, minerals and nutrients you need.

Next time you brush your teeth (which I hope isn’t more than 12 hours from now), pay some attention to your tongue as well!