Tongue Discoloration

Tongue discoloration is caused mainly due to poor oral hygiene. Moreover, certain other factors such as smoking, chewing tobacco, and medical conditions like oral thrush etc., conduce to this condition.

A healthy tongue is coral pink, moist, and quite smooth with grooves and fine hair-like projections called papillae. The tongue is known to be an incubator of all kinds of fungus and bacteria, which collect in the grooves and get filled up with plaque over a period of time.

While consuming food, the tongue encounters various substances, which tend to have different effects on it. While the bacteria in our oral cavity balances out different levels, an imbalance can result in the formation of white, curd-like coatings. Let's take a look at a few conditions that cause tongue discoloration.

Oral thrush is a yeast infection developing in the oral cavity. It involves the formation of white patches that bear semblance to a coating of cottage cheese on the tongue.

This condition is mostly observed in people with low immunity like children, the elderly, people with lung diseases, asthma, etc. It usually occurs after intake of antibiotics, which tend to kill the good bacteria in the mouth.

People using tobacco products are often found to be affected by this condition, wherein the cells of the tongue grow excessively, leading to the formation of white patches on the tongue and mouth. Constant irritation of the tongue leads to leukoplakia.

In this condition, a network of white lines are formed on the tongue, giving a lace-like appearance. Oral lichen planus is also an aftereffect of chewing tobacco and poor oral hygiene.

Deficiencies of vitamin B12 and folic acid can conduce to a reddish appearance on the tongue. Pernicious anemia caused by a deficiency of vitamin B12 makes the tongue look pale and discolored.

Kawasaki syndrome is a disease affecting the blood vessels of the body. Observed in children below the age of five, this syndrome results in redness of the tongue. Thus, this tongue condition is known as strawberry tongue. Moreover, a streptococcal infection (scarlet fever) can also lead to this condition.

In this condition, the tongue develops reddish patches in the pattern of a map, with white borders surrounding them. Moreover, their location also shifts as time proceeds.

People on antibiotics, chemotherapy, or those that maintain poor oral hygiene can get affected by a condition called black hairy tongue.

The papillae in the tongue, which normally measure only a millimeter or two, sprout excessively to form a hairy appearance. These hair-like outgrowths become white, green, red, or black colored depending on the food ingested and particular bacterium involved.

If at all you observe any discoloration on the tongue, you should quickly take your toothbrush and brush your tongue. Even after brushing if the discoloration stays put, then consult your dentist. If you are on antibiotics, have your doctor change the prescription.

If the discoloration has been caused by a vitamin B12 deficiency, then take some vitamin B12 supplements or shots to raise its levels in the body. Moreover, keep away from chewing tobacco and cigarettes. Make sure that before you take any steps to treat the discoloration, you consult your dentist.

Disclaimer: This story is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.