Did you know that the tongue depicts a lot about your overall health? You might be wondering why your dentist examines your tongue during your dental appointment. The color of your tongue, presence of grooves, and unusual pattern could indicate that you have a bacterial infection or a severe underlying health condition. Your dentist in Watsonville can determine your health issue by inspecting your tongue. Further, you can be guided on the right dietary lifestyle to follow.
While your teeth are vulnerable to decay, your tongue is also exposed to the same bacteria. You will likely notice bumps or groves called papillae on your tongue surface. Failure to take care of your tongue may lead to the development of dental plaque, which further spreads to cause gum disease or tooth decay. Below are some of the conditions you should know regarding the tongue and your health:
Red Tongue: A reddened tongue might indicate that you lack Vitamin B12 or Iron that aid in the growth of the tongue’s raised protrusions or have body fever.
Brown/Black/Hairy Tongue: Black hairy Tongue occurs due to overgrowth of dead skin cells, lengthening of the papillae, or stains from bacteria, food, yeast, tobacco, or other substances. Sometimes the tongue may change the color due to the intake of pigmented foods and beverages.
Purplish Tongue: It’s rare for your tongue to turn purple, unlike with other discolorations. A purplish tongue might indicate you are deficient in some nutrients like Vitamin B12. You’ll require a dental exam at our General dentistry in Watsonville, CA.
Extreme Smoothness: the tongue has hair-like structures than enhance its texture, and if the tongue is extremely smooth, you are likely to suffer from a nutritional deficiency.
Stripped Tongue: if your tongue is stripped, your immune system is likely to be affected and could be resulted from a systemic inflammatory disease.
Our dentist in Watsonville recommends you clean your tongue regularly to avoid bad breath associated with bacteria. Below are some of the conditions or issues that your tongue may encounter:
Burning mouth, and oral cancer, among other oral health diseases, are manifested by the tongue. Therefore, you must undergo dental exams for oral cancer screening, among other issues.
Below are some vital practices for your tongue’s health:
Your tongue is crucial in detecting and diagnosing oral health diseases. Our experts at Watsonville Family Dental check for changes in your tongue texture, color, or presence of patches. Tongue inflammation or sensitivity may be caused by allergies, oral cancer, or vitamin deficiencies. If your tongue is sensitive or has patches, you must seek medical attention today.