If the eyes are the windows to the soul, then consider the tongue a sort of check-engine light for the body. The tongue's appearance gives doctors an idea about certain aspects of your health, and its color is an important clue.
What should your tongue look like?
The tongue should have a rounded, symmetrical shape. It's generally light pink, though it may have a little purple or brown pigmentation in African, Asian, and Mediterranean populations. It can also have a hint of white coating.
"The coating comes from a tough protein called keratin, which helps keep your tongue from being scratched when you eat," says Dr. Tien Jiang, a prosthodontist in the Department of Oral Health Policy and Epidemiology at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine.
Up close, you might be able to see that your tongue is covered in tiny bumps (papillae) that serve several purposes:
- They sense temperature and touch.
- They contain taste buds that enable you to detect if food is sweet, salty, sour, bitter, or savory.
- They create friction to help you form a little ball of food (bolus) that you can swallow.
Can diet affect tongue color?
Yes. Sometimes diet may be partly to blame for a shift away from your usual tongue tone. That's because the papillae can absorb the colors and residues of foods and drinks you consume. For example, that blue popsicle or candy you ate as a kid probably turned your tongue an exciting shade of azure. Coffee, tea, and many types of foods, such as curried dishes with lots of yellow turmeric, can also leave their marks.
Discoloration is usually just temporary, however. Drinking plenty of water and maintaining good oral hygiene will wash away food and dyes that cling to the tongue.
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. These tiny bumps don't usually get much chance to grow because they are shed regularly with all the activity in your mouth. If they do grow, they can trap bacteria and a mix of food colors, leading to the brown or black tinge. Risk factors include taking antibiotics or antihistamines, smoking, dry mouth, drinking excessive amounts of coffee or black tea, or poor oral hygiene.
- Thick white patches or white sores on the tongue probably mean you have an overgrowth of yeast in the mouth (thrush). Thrush can be triggered by conditions such as diabetes or HIV, side effects of antibiotics or cancer treatment, wearing dentures, smoking, dry mouth, or using steroid inhalers. In rare cases, white patches or sores are symptoms of oral cancer.
- If your tongue has painful red or yellow sores, you might be dealing with canker sores (irritated tissues), thrush (which can sometimes appear as red patches), or (in rare cases) oral cancer.
- A bright red tongue can indicate that you have a vitamin B12 deficiency or an infection called scarlet fever — a Streptococcus bacteria infection in the throat (strep throat) accompanied by a red body rash. If you have bright red patches that don't hurt and seem to migrate from one place on the tongue to another, you might have a harmless, incurable condition called "geographic tongue."
Should you brush your tongue or use a tongue scraper?
Good oral hygiene requires that you floss your teeth at least once a day and brush them at least twice a day. Take a few seconds to use the brush on your tongue.
"Stick out your tongue and swipe your toothbrush from the back of your tongue to the front: one swipe down the middle, one swipe down the left side, and one swipe down the right side. That helps remove bacteria and debris that collect in papillae," Dr. Jiang says.
Some people swear by using a tongue scraper to clean the tongue. Dr. Jiang isn't a fan, but doesn't have a problem with someone using the tool, which is pulled forward on the tongue in a similar fashion to brushing the tongue. "The data about tongue scraper effectiveness are mixed," she says. "It just comes down to what you're willing to do daily to keep your tongue, teeth, mouth, and gums as healthy as possible."
Worried about your tongue? What to do
If you're worried about anything wrong with your tongue — especially if you also have a fever, a very sore throat, sores that won't go away, or other new symptoms — call your primary care doctor or dentist.
Your doctor or dentist can
- assess your condition
- prescribe or suggest treatments to relieve discomfort, such as medicated mouthwashes or warm-water rinses
- urge you to stay hydrated and step up your oral hygiene.
If necessary, your doctor can refer you to a specialist for further evaluation.
FAQs
The tongue should have a rounded, symmetrical shape. It's generally light pink, though it may have a little purple or brown pigmentation in African, Asian, and Mediterranean populations. It can also have a hint of white coating.
What color is an unhealthy tongue? ›
A healthy tongue is pink in color. If your tongue color is white, yellow, orange, red, black, purple, gray, green or blue, it could mean you have an underlying health condition. If you have tongue discoloration that doesn't go away, tell your healthcare provider. They can help determine the best course of action.
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 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 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 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 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 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 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.
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.
The tongue can also turn red and bumpy, which may indicate a vitamin B deficiency or scarlet fever. Alternately, these changes can occur as part of an allergic reaction to a drug or food. A red, bumpy tongue can also indicate glossitis — inflammation of the tongue. In rare cases, it is another sign of Kawasaki disease.
What Colour is anemia tongue? ›
What Is Anemia Tongue? Also referred to as glossitis, this condition causes the tongue to become inflamed and is characterized by several things when your iron levels are low. The tongue's appearance can morph into multiple shades of red and swell slightly in size.
What diseases change the color of your tongue? ›
The tongue can also turn red and bumpy, which may indicate a vitamin B deficiency or scarlet fever. Alternately, these changes can occur as part of an allergic reaction to a drug or food. A red, bumpy tongue can also indicate glossitis — inflammation of the tongue. In rare cases, it is another sign of Kawasaki disease.
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 color is bacteria on tongue? ›
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.
Can your tongue show signs of illness? ›
Medical conditions, including diabetes and anemia, can have a sore tongue as a symptom. Infection. Certain bacterial, viral, or fungal infections can also cause tongue pain.
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 does a bacterial tongue look like? ›
Bacterial overgrowth on the tongue most commonly causes it. Your tongue may look dark yellow, brown, or black. Also, the papillae may multiply, giving off the “hairy” appearance.
What does a diseased tongue look like? ›
Healthy tongues are uniformly pink and covered in tiny bumps. Diseased tongues may be dark red, white, yellow or even black. They may be covered in fuzzy growths instead of bumpy. They may appear smooth instead of bumpy.
