Do you remember when you were little and all you wanted to do was lick everything? We bet you also remember being told “No!” in return. We wanted to take a moment and give some time to your tongue and its health — the often overlooked body part that gives us the ability to taste and swallow our food.
Did you know? Your Georgetown dentist can look at your tongue and get insightful clues as to what’s happening with both your oral and overall health? Let’s learn more!
What Your Oral Health is Telling You
As recommended by the American Dental Association, it’s not a bad idea to invest in a tongue scraper. Remember to always brush your tongue when you’re doing the same to your teeth. There are different things that can happen to your tongue that might be a sign that there’s another issue.
- White Coating – Generally, your tongue should just be a nice shade of pink. However, sometimes it can take on a white appearance. This is caused by oral thrush or a yeast overgrowth that can occur inside your mouth.
- White Patches – If you experience irritation and white patches on your tongue, it’s best to see your dentist in Georgetown because it could be a health condition called Leukoplakia. Smoking and tobacco use can cause this which can also lead to oral cancer.
- Overly Red – Is your tongue more of a red shade than it should be? It might be a symptom of Kawasaki disease, most commonly associated with a folic acid or B-12 deficiency in your body.
- Tenderness – Sometimes our tongues become tender or sore. This could be the result of a food allergy or a developing canker sore. Most of the time this issue will resolve itself, but if it persists for you, then you know it’s time to call us.
Don’t take your tongues health for granted! It has a big job to do each day and will only benefit from your daily care. Just remember to give it a good cleaning whenever you’re brushing your teeth each day. If you have any questions about your oral health or need to schedule an appointment at our conveniently located dental office in Georgetown, please never hesitate to reach out.