What does your tongue reveal about your health?

Your tongue can help diagnose general health issues just by looking at it. It’s shape, colour, texture, bumps, and indents can tell you more about your health than you would expect, let’s just say… your tongue is kind of a road map to what is going on in your body.

Tongue Colour

A healthy tongue: pink in colour with a light white coat on it, medium thickness with no cracks, ulcers or teeth marks.

A bright red tongue: A red tongue normally indicates a lack of nutrients in the body, normally Vitamin B and Iron. In children, a strawberry/raspberry coloured tongue can be the early signs of Scarlett fever or Kawasaki disease.

A pale tongue:  You are probabley lacking Haemoglobin, the iron-containing protein found in red blood cells.  A pale tongue can also suggest bacteria, dead cells, and debris are wedged into your papillae. In some cases, a white tongue may be a sign of anemia or oral thrush (yeast infection).

Purple or bluish tongue: This can mean that fluid and blood are not circulating properly.  A purple tongue is common in people who suffer from high cholesterol, heart problems, and chronic bronchitis.

Black and hairy tongues: This is caused by an overgrowth of papillae trapping bacteria and other debris. While this is normally harmless and short lived, it is normally found in individuals with poor oral hygiene, or who excessively use tobacco, antibiotics or stomach medications (Pepto-Bismol).

A bright red tongue tip can indicate psychological stress.

Tongue Texture

When you run your finger on your tongue, it should feel a bit hairy.

A smooth tongue: Could be a nutritional deficiency. Map like patches can be a sign of a vitamin B deficiency or an irritation brought on by alcohol or some foods.

A wrinkled tongue:  While harmless, grooves in your tongue may cause irritation when eating spicy foods, and can prevent your tongue from steering clear of bacteria.

Sores and bumps on your tongue:  Bumps on your tongue can be an apthous ulcer (canker sore), or even an allergic reaction to food or medication. However, lesions that appear thick with a hard surface (often found on the side of the tongue) could be a sign of Leukoplakia. Leukoplakia is common in people with weakened immune systems caused by HIV or the Epstein- Barr virus. Sores and bumps can also be a sign of cancer. These kinds of sores should be examined by a doctor right away!

Dry tongue:  This could be caused by the swelling of your salivary glands which in turn result in a lack of saliva production.  A dry, furry tongue indicates too much mucous in your system. Keep an eye out for a constant dry tongue; this can be a sign of Sjorgren’s syndrome, a debilitating immunological disorder.

Tongue Coating

A tongue’s coating can reveal a healthy or unhealthy digestive system. A healthy digestive system would reveal a thin whitish tongue coating, yet an overburdened system would result in a thicker coating of the tongue.

Dehydration will cause a shiny, red, wet tongue, and when there is no coating of the tongue, this could be a sign of exhaustion in the body.