How the Color of Your Tongue Can Be the First Sign of Health Problems (2024)

Are you healthy? Just look at your tongue, and you might have the answer.

While your tongue isn’t as good as an annual checkup, it does hold some answers regarding your health. Grab a mirror and check out your tongue to see if it looks healthy or if you’ve got some issues to resolve.

Pink Tongue

If your tongue is pink, that’s a good thing. A healthy tongue normally has a pinkish hue and is covered with tiny bumps called papillae. The papillae are each covered with taste buds that appear relatively smooth and uniform.

White Tongue

If your tongue looks white or there are white spots on it, you could have a couple of different conditions.

Thrush: Oral thrush is a condition that develops in the mouth and throat. It typically looks like thick, white patches and is more common in infants and the elderly. Thrush can be brought on by a weakened immune system, wearing dentures, using asthma inhalers, or taking antibiotics. This is typically not a serious condition and can be cleared rather quickly with medication.

Leukoplakia: This condition happens when the cells in the mouth grow too quickly and form white patches. Leukoplakia is not a dangerous condition, but it can be a precursor to cancer and deserves a trip to the doctor or your dentist. People who use tobacco products are most at risk for leukoplakia.

Oral lichen planus: Oral lichen planus is a series of white, raised lines on the tongue that resemble lace. There isn’t a specific cause for this condition, but it tends to resolve itself over time and appears relatively harmless but may cause a burning sensation.

How the Color of Your Tongue Can Be the First Sign of Health Problems (1)

Red Tongue

A red tongue is a little tricky because natural red in many foods or red food dye is easily transferred to the tongue. Make sure you’re not checking your tongue after eating something red. If you do determine your tongue is unnaturally red, then the following conditions could be to blame.

Vitamin deficiency: Having a bright red tongue can be a sign of a vitamin deficiency, as it often means you’re lacking in vitamin B12. Eating more foods that contain B12 like beef, liver, chicken, shellfish, fish, eggs, and some low-fat dairy can help. If that doesn’t seem to help, a supplement is a good solution.

Geographic tongue: This is an interesting condition as it’s characterized by red patches with a white border. They can be in different places on your tongue and can appear and disappear without warning. It’s typically a harmless condition and nothing to worry about.

Scarlet fever: If you notice red and bumpy appearance on your tongue and feel as if you have a high fever, medical attention is necessary as it’s very possible you have scarlet fever. A course of antibiotics is a typical treatment.

Kawasaki disease: Another condition where a bumpy, red tongue is a key sign. Kawasaki syndrome is often seen in children under the age of five and also features a high fever. This is a very serious condition and requires immediate medical attention.

How the Color of Your Tongue Can Be the First Sign of Health Problems (2)

Black Tongue

While a black tongue can be disturbing, the condition that causes it can also make it look hairy, which can be quite frightening. The good news is that black hairy tongue is not typically dangerous.

This condition arises when excess bacteria are allowed to grow in the mouth. It’s the bacteria that looks dark or black, and the papillae tend to look hair-like. Good dental hygiene is the best way to clear up this condition. Black hairy tongue is most often associated with poor oral hygiene, smoking, diabetes, taking antibiotics, and chemotherapy.

It should be noted that black tongue can also occur if you’re taking any medication that includes bismuth.

Yellow Tongue

A yellowish tongue is often a precursor to black tongue. This is harmless, but there’s a buildup of skin cells caught in the papillae. Upping the game when it comes to oral hygiene is the best way to resolve this condition.

How the Color of Your Tongue Can Be the First Sign of Health Problems (3)

Bumpy Tongue

If your tongue looks bumpy and feels sore yet appears to retain its pink color, there are a few different conditions that could be the cause.

Trauma: Biting your tongue or burning it can lead to a bump and/or a painful spot. This is a very common situation and will heal on its own over time.

Smoking: Smoking is an irritant and can cause your tongue to react with bumps and painful spots.

Canker sores: These mouth ulcers occur for most people at least once in their lives, and quite often the cause is unknown. Typically, they resolve themselves in a week or two, but if you have a prolonged sore in your mouth, it’s best to seek medical treatment.

Oral cancer: If a canker sore or any irritation in your mouth persists for a couple of weeks or longer, it’s time to see your doctor to check for oral cancer.

Waking Up To Wellness

Your tongue isn’t quite the window to your health, but it does have a lot to say.

It’s a good idea to check your tongue out at least once a day, during your early morning or evening tooth brushing routine is a good time. If you see anything abnormal on your tongue, it could be a sign of a health condition.

Luckily, most of the conditions you will come across are relatively harmless, some clear up on their own, and some need minor medical attention and perhaps a round of antibiotics. But your tongue health is nothing to take lightly.

Oral cancer is often first noticed by an irregular patch on your tongue or in your mouth that doesn’t go away. In the early stages, mouth cancer is often noticeable upon inspection but not painful. Like most cancer, early detection is key to prompt treatment and full remission. If you think you might have oral cancer, it’s best to see your doctor right away so you can be proactive about treatment.

How the Color of Your Tongue Can Be the First Sign of Health Problems (2024)

FAQs

How the Color of Your Tongue Can Be the First Sign of Health Problems? ›

Changes in tongue color can indicate an underlying health issue, such as an infection. For example, a blue tongue can indicate a lack of oxygen in the blood or eczema. Medical conditions can also affect the shape and texture of the tongue.

What color tongue indicates disease? ›

But a tongue that's yellow, green or black could mean you have a buildup of bacteria. To fix this issue, try improving your oral hygiene: Brush and floss your teeth daily, and don't forget to clean your tongue.

What is the unhealthy sign of tongue? ›

When a tongue is unhealthy. One of the first noticeable symptoms of an unhealthy tongue is a significant change in color from the normal pink shade you're used to seeing. Other signs of concern can include pain when eating, drinking, and swallowing, as well as new lumps and bumps.

What color is your tongue with liver problems? ›

If you have jaundice, a yellow chemical compound called bilirubin builds up in your blood. It can cause yellow skin (including the skin on your tongue) and a yellowing of the whites of your eyes. This buildup may indicate liver damage or dysfunction.

What color is your tongue when you have heart disease? ›

Researchers found that participants with CHF had different microbes on their tongue coating than people who did not. Additionally, people with CHF had tongues that were redder than pink in color and that had a coating that was more yellow than white.

What color is a tongue stroke? ›

"The colour, shape and thickness of the tongue can reveal a litany of health conditions," he says. "Typically, people with diabetes have a yellow tongue; cancer patients a purple tongue with a thick greasy coating; and acute stroke patients present with an unusually shaped red tongue.

What does an unhealthy tongue look like? ›

Common Signs of an Unhealthy Tongue

Yellow Tongue. A yellowish hue on the tongue can signify a buildup of bacteria or food particles. It may also indicate digestive issues or liver problems. If you notice a yellow coating on your tongue, consult a healthcare professional to identify the underlying cause.

What does a stress tongue look like? ›

Signs of your body undergoing excessive stress can show up on your tongue as unusual redness, sores, and ulcers. Also, if it appears to have marks around the edges, that could signify consistently biting it as a reaction to stress.

When should I worry about my tongue? ›

In some instances, though, a discolored or painful tongue can indicate more serious conditions, including vitamin deficiencies, AIDS, or oral cancer. For this reason, it is important to seek medical advice if you have any ongoing problems with your tongue.

What does a bacterial tongue look like? ›

A white tongue involves having a thick white film coating your tongue. The coating can cover your entire tongue's surface, the back part only or it might appear in patches. A white tongue can look alarming, but it's usually just a sign of trapped bacteria, debris (like food and sugar) or dead cells on your tongue.

What color is your tongue with kidney problems? ›

Blue tongue may be indicative of poor oxygen circulation in the blood. This may be attributed to lung problems or kidney disease. Yellow. Your tongue may have a yellow appearance if you smoke or use chewing tobacco.

What color is your tongue if you have a B12 deficiency? ›

Glossitis is a medical term that refers to an inflamed, red, and painful tongue. It can be caused by a B12 deficiency ( 24 ). In people with this deficiency, glossitis can appear alongside stomatitis, which is characterized by sores and inflammation in the mouth ( 25 ).

What color tongue says about gut health? ›

Sluggish digestion appears as a thick tongue coat. A yellow tongue coating indicates a “heat” condition in the digestive tract, whereas a thick white coating indicates “cold”. A thick coating in the centre of the tongue is a common sign of an overloaded digestive system.

What color is a dehydrated tongue? ›

When your body does not have enough water, it can lead to headaches, fatigue, weight gain, and of course, dry mouth. Severe dehydration can even lead to kidney failure. When someone is dehydrated, the tongue appears dry and typically has a white or white-to-yellowish coating.

Can your tongue show signs of illness? ›

What's on My Tongue? Bumps, patches, and spots in your mouth can be harmless. But sometimes, they can give clues to what's going on with your overall health. Infections, stress, medication issues, and even aging can make their marks on your tongue.

What color is your tongue when you have high cholesterol? ›

Signs of cholesterol in tongue

The tongue can also be affected by high cholesterol. A condition called hairy tongue can occur when the small bumps on the surface of the tongue (papillae) become enlarged and discoloured. "These changes can make the tongue appear hairy, and can vary in colour from white to black.

What does a cancerous tongue look like? ›

Oral Tongue Cancer

A lump on the side of the tongue that touches the teeth. The lump often looks like an ulcer and is grayish-pink to red. The lump bleeds easily if bitten or touched.

What color should your tongue not be? ›

A dark or bright tongue, white patches, and other causes for concern. Some tongue colors and appearances are signs of health issues. Check with your doctor if you notice any of the following: A brown or black tongue signals a condition called "black hairy tongue." This occurs when papillae get too long.

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