Drugs that can cause a yellow tongue include certain antibiotics (like tetracyclines/doxycycline), bismuth-containing meds (for upset stomach), some antipsychotics, chemotherapy drugs, and even some prescription mouthwashes (chlorhexidine), often due to bacteria buildup, reduced saliva, or staining; however, smoking, poor hygiene, certain foods, and underlying conditions like jaundice are also common culprits, so see a doctor if it persists.
Certain medications can also cause your tongue to change color. Any medicine that contains bismuth, in particular, may cause yellow discoloration. According to the Cleveland Clinic, bismuth is an ingredient in medications that treat diarrhea, upset stomach, heartburn, acid indigestion, and nausea.
Most commonly this occurs when your papillae become enlarged and bacteria in your mouth produce colored pigments. Also, the longer-than-normal papillae can easily trap cells that have shed, which become stained by tobacco, food or other substances. Mouth breathing or dry mouth may also be linked to yellow tongue.
Most often, yellow tongue is an early sign of a disorder known as black hairy tongue. Rarely, yellow tongue may be a sign of jaundice, a yellowing of the eyes and skin, which sometimes indicates liver or gallbladder problems.
Yellow Tongue and the Role of Bacteria
This environment fosters bacterial activity that may produce pigments responsible for the yellow coloration. Poor oral hygiene is a common culprit, as is dry mouth, smoking, or excessive alcohol consumption.
Yellow tongue could be a result of smoking, poor oral hygiene or other causes. But it could also indicate an underlying health condition, such as autoimmune disorders.
Symptoms. The main symptom of burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is pain in the mouth that feels like burning, scalding, or tingling. Or, the pain may happen with a feeling of numbness, which comes and goes. Other symptoms include dry mouth or altered taste in the mouth.
Symptoms of acute liver failure may include:
For instance, studies have identified common occurrences of red dots, purple tongues [13], teeth marks, and yellow coatings [14] in the tongues of patients with liver diseases. These characteristics are crucial indicators of liver health.
A liver that is working poorly cannot get rid of bilirubin, a substance that produces a yellowing of the eyes and skin called jaundice. Too much alcohol and some medicines can also lead to jaundice.
In conclusion, yellow tongue coating was associated with the higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus and also tended to be associated with that of prediabetes among Japanese non-smoking men and women.
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.
Medical treatment for yellow tongue usually isn't necessary. If tongue discoloration bothers you, try gently brushing your tongue with a solution that is 1 part hydrogen peroxide and 5 parts water once a day. Rinse your mouth with water afterward several times.
Gastric conditions and infections
Several studies have confirmed that a yellow, thickened tongue coating is associated with chronic cases of gastritis or inflammation of the stomach lining, especially when caused by the bacteria Helicobacter pylori.
Smokers tongue, also known as smokers keratosis tongue, manifests as a white, yellow, or hairy coating on the tongue due to the effects of smoking. This condition is linked to changes in the oral microbiome, which can lead to various health complications.
The coating on the tongue
Thick white coating: This indicates dampness-cold phlegm. Thick yellow coating: This indicates dampness-heat phlegm. No coating: This indicates the deficiency of yin (阴). One may experience night sweats.
Tongue warning signs include changes in color (white patches for thrush/leukoplakia, pale for anemia, purple for poor circulation, bright red for infections/deficiencies), texture (smooth for glossitis/B12 lack, bumpy for infections/stress, black hairy for buildup), or presence of sores/lumps (ulcers, oral cancer signs if persistent), with signs like swelling, pain, or persistent changes signaling potential dehydration, allergies, vitamin issues, or serious infections/cancers that need a doctor's attention, especially if with other symptoms like breathing issues or difficulty swallowing.
Orange urine can be a sign of a problem with the liver or bile duct, mainly if you also have light-colored stools. Dehydration also can make your urine look orange.
Symptoms
Drugs. Medications commonly implicated in causing fatty liver include corticosteroids, antidepressant and antipsychotic medications and, most commonly, tamoxifen.
As the liver becomes more severely damaged, more obvious and serious symptoms can develop, such as: yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes (jaundice) swelling in the legs, ankles and feet caused by a build-up of fluid (oedema)
The main symptoms of Sjögren's disease are: Dry mouth. Your tongue and your throat will feel dry and chewing and swallowing may be difficult or painful. Dry eyes. Your eyes may burn or itch or feel as if you have a piece of sand in your eye.
A: There are many oral inflammatory conditions that may cause burning in the mouth such as lichen planus, geographic tongue and yeast infections (especially if you wear dentures) (see PATIENT INFORMTION SHEETS – Oral Yeast Infections, Oral Lichen Planus, Geographic Tongue).
This term is often used in memes or games played on social media. BMS: What does BMS mean? stands for "Breaks My Scale." This is used when rating somebody. A girl may send her friend a message stating that a cute boy BMS. Bae is the term for significant other or someone a teen has a crush on.