Have you ever noticed a change in the color of your tongue? A healthy, normal tongue is usually pink. It is best not to ignore color changes on the tongue because they may indicate further medical conditions.

Tongue color and health indicators

A healthy tongue color is pink. However, the color of each person's tongue may vary, ranging from light to black. A healthy, normal tongue has papillae, which are tiny bumps on the surface that are occasionally covered in a thin, whitish coating. The tongue's papillae help with speaking, tasting, chewing, and swallowing.

Even though it is located in the oral cavity, the color of your tongue might reveal your current health condition. Common tongue colors you should be aware of are:

Red

A dark red tongue may indicate vitamin B deficiency, eczema, scarlet fever, or Kawasaki disease. This syndrome may also result in a number of diseases, including strep throat. It may be a sign of geographic tongue disease (an inflammation that causes the tongue to resemble islands) when red patches with white borders appear on the tongue.

Image 1: Geographic tongue. Credit: dermnetnz

Purple

When there are problems with your heart and blood circulation, your tongue may turn bluish purple. A purple tongue may potentially be a symptom of Kawasaki disease.

Blue

A blue tongue could indicate inadequate oxygen circulation in the blood, often known as cyanosis. The conditions listed below can cause this:

• Blood Disorders
• Vascular disease
• Lack of oxygen from your lungs
• Kidney disease

Read more: Getting To Know The Anatomy And Functions Of The Tongue

Yellow

When a person smokes or chews tobacco, his or her tongue may turn yellow. However, this condition may indicate health problems such as:

• Dehydration
• Dry mouth (xerostomia)
• Psoriasis
• Consume specific vitamins
• Yellow skin (jaundice)

Grey

The tongue may become gray due to digestive problems. Some of the causes of gray tongue are:

• Gastric ulcer
• Eczema
• Geographic or geographic tongue

White

Normally, the tongue has a white coating. However, if the tongue has white spots on its surface, this may indicate medical conditions such as:

• Fungal infection
• Leukoplakia

Chocolate

A dark tongue is typically not dangerous. The food and drinks you consume, as well as the usage of tobacco, might induce this color change. But this brown discoloration could also be a sign of wounds or oral cancer on the tongue.

Image 2: Black-hair tongue. Credit: dermnetnz

Black

Bacteria and poor dental hygiene can cause the tongue to turn dark brown or black. An accumulation of keratin can also cause the tongue to seem dark and hairy, giving it a dark black appearance. A black, hairy tongue can result from a number of factors, such as:

• Poor oral hygiene
• Smoke
• Chewing tobacco
• Certain medications
• Radiation therapy

Read more: Lidah Gatal Setelah Makan Nanas? Ini Penyebabnya

When should you see a doctor?

It isn't always possible to avoid tongue discoloration, particularly if it results from another medical condition. However, by doing the following oral hygiene practices, you may lower the risk of tongue discoloration:

• Brush your teeth twice a day
• Using dental floss to clean in between teeth (flossing)
• Use a toothbrush or tongue cleaner to clean your tongue
• Stop smoking
• Drink lots of water
• Perform routine oral and dental examinations

Tongue discoloration typically resolves after a few days. If you experience changes in the color of your tongue with other symptoms such as long-term discoloration, changes in size or shape, strange lumps, thinning of the coating, and changes in moisture, you can either visit a doctor or make use of the consultation features that are available in the Ai Care application by downloading the Ai Care application from the App Store or Play Store.

Looking for more tips and tricks for health, first aid, and home remedies? Click here!