Common tongue diseases and problems include canker sores, thrush, oral lichen planus, and tongue trauma. Other problems or conditions that can impact the tongue include tongue cancer, transient lingual papillitis, geographic tongue, vitamin B12 deficiency, Sjögren's syndrome, neuralgia, and allergic reactions.
That may sound strange, but your tongue can tell a lot about your health. For example, a black and hairy looking tongue can signal poor oral hygiene, or diabetes. If your tongue is bright red like a strawberry, it could signal a deficiency in folic acid, vitamin B12, or iron.
Though most sore tongues aren't anything to worry about, you should consult a doctor if you have a lump or sore on your tongue that doesn't go away within a week or two. Many oral cancers don't hurt in the early stages, so don't assume a lack of pain means nothing is wrong.
Common Bacterial and Viral Mouth Infections
White Tongue – A condition where the lingual papillae on the tongue swell up and trap bacteria and food debris. Oral Thrush – A fungal infection affecting the tongue and throat. Coxsackie Virus – Most common in children, this mouth virus can cause painful blisters.
An unhealthy tongue. If your tongue is a different colour than pink, or has large patches of white, brown, black, or another colour, this might indicate a specific health issue. Similarly, if you have large bumps or no bumps at all, you may also want to speak to a doctor.
The symptoms of tongue cancer might include: a red or white patch on the tongue that won't go away. a sore throat that doesn't go away. a sore spot (ulcer) or lump on the tongue that doesn't go away.
Signs of your body undergoing excessive stress can show up on your tongue as unusual redness, sores, and ulcers. Also, if your tongue appears to have marks around the edges, that could signify consistently biting your tongue as a reaction to stress.
Anxiety can cause tingling or numbness in your tongue as well as other changes in your mouth. You may need to talk with a health professional if you have these signs. Anxiety may cause you to experience mental, emotional, and physical symptoms. This may include a tingling feeling, numbness, or swelling in your tongue.
Make an appointment with your doctor or dentist if: You're concerned about changes in your tongue. Your tongue hurts. Your white tongue persists for longer than a few weeks.
The majority of tongue problems aren't serious and most can be resolved quickly. In some instances, though, a discolored or painful tongue can indicate more serious conditions, including vitamin deficiencies, AIDS, or oral cancer.
We rely on our tongues to taste, talk, and eat. A healthy tongue is pink and covered with small papillae. Minor injuries from eating hot food like pizza or biting your tongue should heal within a couple of weeks. If you notice pain, discomfort, or any changes in appearance or function talk to your dentist or physician.
Tongue thickness measured by ultrasonography, correlates significantly with the severity of liver disease, as assessed by CTP and MELD scores. The patients with a CTP score ≥ 10 have significantly reduced tongue thickness as compared to normal individuals and those with less severe liver disease and CTP scores of 5-9.
When someone is dehydrated, the tongue appears dry and typically has a white or white-to-yellowish coating. In some cases, the tongue can appear patchy or splotchy. If your tongue commonly sticks to the roof of your mouth, you are dehydrated!
But did you also know, the tongue can also provide insight in a person's overall wellness. Your tongue changes color when your body is sick, low on vitamins, or dehydrated. When looking into your mouth, your dentist can quickly check for any health issues just by checking the color of your tongue.
An allergic reaction to a food you've eaten or a chemical or drug you've been exposed to can make your tongue swell, itch, and tingle. Food allergies happen when your immune system gets confused and thinks that a common food is harmful. The most common foods to trigger allergies are: eggs.
Oral anxiety is the stress effects on oral health. Stress or anxiety can impact your oral health; when you are stressed, your immune system is compromised, and while the cause of canker sores is not proven, there is some correlation or higher likelihood between lowered immune and those nasty painful canker sores.
White tongue is the result of an overgrowth and swelling of the fingerlike projections (papillae) on the surface of your tongue. The appearance of a white coating is caused by debris, bacteria and dead cells getting lodged between the enlarged and sometimes inflamed papillae.
Hairy leukoplakia causes fuzzy, white patches that resemble folds or ridges, usually on the sides of your tongue. It's often mistaken for oral thrush, an infection marked by creamy white patches that can be wiped away, which is also common in people with a weakened immune system.
How common is tongue cancer? Tongue cancer is relatively rare, representing nearly 1 percent of newly diagnosed cancer cases in the United States, according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI). However, it's one of the more frequently diagnosed forms of head and neck cancers.
Oral melanomas may present as flat, painless, dark brown or black discolored macules or nodules, sometimes with erythema or ulceration. As the disease progresses, bony erosion is common.
A black and hairy tongue may look concerning, but it's usually harmless. 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.
Creamy white lesions on your tongue, inner cheeks, and sometimes on the roof of your mouth, gums and tonsils. Slightly raised lesions with a cottage cheese-like appearance. Redness, burning or soreness that may be severe enough to cause difficulty eating or swallowing.
Oral epithelial dysplasia cannot be seen by the naked eye but is often found within a patch on the lining (epithelium) of the mouth. The patch may be anywhere in the mouth and can be white, red, or a mixture of red and white. The patch may be any size, from a couple of millimetres to several centimetres.