Table of Contents
What diseases cause tongue discoloration?
In some instances, though, a discolored or painful tongue can indicate more serious conditions, including vitamin deficiencies, AIDS, or oral cancer. For this reason, it is important to seek medical advice if you have any ongoing problems with your tongue.
What do dark patches on the tongue mean?
Taste buds are visible to the human eye; they can stand out and look like dark spots when red wine or coffee stains them. Alternatively, black spots on the tongue could signal a condition called hyperpigmentation, according to a case study published by the Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives.
How do you treat a discolored tongue?
To practice good oral health and to remove the tongue discoloration:
- Brush your tongue. Give your tongue a gentle brushing whenever you brush your teeth to remove dead cells, bacteria and food debris.
- Brush after eating.
- Floss at least once a day.
- Visit your dentist regularly.
- Maintain good nutrition.
Is it normal to have a Discoloured tongue?
Black tongue is a harmless and temporary oral condition. Despite its name, black tongue does not always cause the tongue to turn black. In fact, the primary symptom is that the tongue appears hairy with visible growths. Black tongue usually occurs due to a buildup of the protein keratin on the tongue’s surface.
Can dehydration cause tongue discoloration?
Your tongue is one place where you might develop symptoms if you’re mildly dehydrated. Some tongues develop white patches or a dry, rough surface. Along with dehydration, having a white tongue can also be a sign of many other medical conditions.
What causes tongue pigmentation?
The hyperpigmentation is due to bacteria trapped in the filiform papillae that produce porphyrins. Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, an inherited polyposis syndrome, typically presents during the first one to two years of life and is associated with hyperpigmented mucocutaneous macules.
What does my tongue say about my health?
A pink tongue is healthy and normal. A red tongue may indicate heat in the body like a fever or a hormonal imbalance. A reddish purple tongue is a sign that there may be inflammation or an infection in the body. A pale pink tongue may be a sign of a vitamin deficiency, a weak immune system or a lack of energy.
Is hyperpigmentation on tongue is harmless?
Most of the pigmentations are benign but sometimes they can be malignant.
What does sick tongue look like?
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.
What does it mean when your tongue is discolored?
Typically, a healthy tongue sheds and regenerates continuously. If that doesn’t happen, bacteria and other substances become trapped. This bacteria can cause your tongue to look brown. Several things can cause this deviation in color. Brown tongue causes include smoking, drinking a lot of coffee or tea, and poor oral hygiene.
What causes a discolored tongue?
Poor oral hygiene is one of the common problems that may cause discolored tongue.
What does a discolored tongue mean?
Tongue discoloration due to leukoplakia appears as white to gray patches on the top of the tongue and may also affect the inner cheek and gums. Hairy leukoplakia is a similar condition believed to be caused by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection which is more likely to arise in a person with a depressed immune system, like in HIV aids.
What medications turn your tongue black?
Drinking a lot of coffee or tea