Your dentist’s best advice about problem tongues

You probably don’t think about the health of your tongue until something goes wrong. But when it does, it can cause a lot of disruption to your life. Your tongue allows you to taste your food, swallow, and helps you to talk, which is why tongue problems can be so frustrating and uncomfortable. A healthy tongue is pink and covered with small nodules called papillae. When and if this changes, you’ll probably need to make a visit to your after hours dentist to get it checked out.

White Tongue

If your tongue changes from pink to white, then it can be a sign of some serious and not so serious problems. However, as with any noticeable change in your body, it’s important that you get your white tongue checked out by your dentist as soon as possible. Your dentist will be able to identify what’s happening and suggest treatment options.

Some of the conditions that can cause a white tongue are:

Oral thrust

This is a yeast infection that causes white patches on the tongue, gums and inner cheeks. It can be caused by certain medications and is most common in infants, the elderly, and in people with compromised immune systems. This form of white tongue isn’t life threatening, and it can be cleared up using medications or by eating live yoghurt to rebalance the bacteria in your mouth.

Leukoplakia

This is a condition that causes excessive cell growth inside the mouth. It isn’t dangerous on its own, but it can be a precursor to cancer, so you need to get it checked out by your dentist.

Oral lichen planus

This is a mysterious condition with no known cause, but it usually goes away on its own. It often causes a raised network of lacy white lines over the tongue. If you have this condition, make sure your oral health is good by avoiding toxins like alcohol and tobacco and practice good oral hygiene. This will help the condition clear up faster.

Red Tongue

Your tongue should be pink, not red. If this changes, it may be because of the following conditions:

Geographic tongue

This causes patterns of red spots that can have a white border around them over the tongue. This condition is usually harmless, but you should have it checked with your dentist if the patches linger for more than 2 weeks.

Scarlet fever

Scarlet fever can cause your tongue to go red, so if you have a temperature then see your doctor for antibiotics.

Vitamin deficiencies

If you’re deficient in vitamin B-12 or folic acid it can cause your tongue to turn red.

Kawasaki disease

This usually affects children under the age of five and can cause a red tongue. If caught early the disease is easily treatable, so make sure you take your child to the doctor if you suspect they have this illness. It also causes a high fever and redness and swelling in the hands and feet.

A Hairy Black Tongue

This may look a little scary, but it’s usually harmless. If your tongue looks black and hairy it means that the papillae have become too long. It most often occurs in people who have poor oral hygiene habits, are on chemotherapy or antibiotics, or suffer from diabetes. So, if you experience this issue, try to improve your oral hygiene and talk to your doctor about your options.

Sore Tongue

Sometimes, the problem with your tongue isn’t that specific. It may just be sore or have small bumps in it that hurt when you eat. These types of problems are extremely common and most of the time they’ll go away on their own. However, if the mouth pain lingers, make an appointment with your dentist to get the problem checked. They’ll be able to give you peace of mind and tell you what’s happening to your tongue and how to fix it.

Some things that can cause tongue soreness are:

Canker sores, which are often caused by stress.
Smoking, which can irritate the surface of your tongue.
Trauma or injuries such as biting or scalding your tongue on food.
Burning tongue syndrome, which occurs in postmenopausal women and causes a burning sensation.
Inflamed or irritated papillae.
Diabetes can cause tongue soreness.
Oral cancer, which causes lumps on the tongue that are often painless.

If you’re concerned about tongue lumps or soreness, visit your dentist to get it checked out. There’s no shame in being wrong, and it’s far better than worrying about it or neglecting a growth that could turn into something very dangerous.