Tongue Problems
The More Common Tongue Problems
While most of the tongue problems we are apt to experience are generally not serious, they can still cause pain, be unsightly, or in some instances appear downright scary. Most of the time when people have tongue problems it's because the small bumps or papillae on the surface of the tongue have either been damaged or have become irritated.
Even a tongue problem that isn't terribly significant from a medical standpoint can be a nuisance, especially if your ability to talk or to eat is affected. Damage to taste buds, even when temporary can significantly affect how things taste, and swelling of the tongue, while not necessarily dangerous unless the swelling is quite significant, is at the very least uncomfortable. Below are several of the more common tongue problems one may encounter at one point or another during a lifetime, some of which can cause the appearance of the tongue to be quite different from it's natural pink color.
Candida Or Thrush - This is a yeast infection which can occur on various parts of the body, but most typically occurs in the dark, warm and damp mouth, where yeast can flourish. We always have this type of yeast, Candida, in our body, but it is normally kept in check by the immune system and various bacterial agents. Thrush is more common among infants, though any age group can get it. Antibiotics which kill of bacteria that normally keep the yeast under control is a common cause of thrush. Candida outbreaks usually respond to medication, although in some instances the die-off of the yeast can cause discomfort, as the dying yeast cells give off toxic agents. As scary as Candida or thrush may appear, the inside of the mouth or tongue being coated with a white substance, it seldom becomes a serious condition.
Leukoplakia - Leukoplakia is another condition where the interior of the mouth and the tongue may exhibit white patches. Leukoplakia is a condition in which cells in the tongue are growing at an abnormal rate. Normally not dangerous, leukoplakia does have the potential to be a precursor to cancer, so a doctor or dentist should always be consulted to look into the problem.
Hairy Tongue - The condition called hairy tongue admittedly sounds horrible, and it is not the most attractive disorder one can have on the tongue. Hairy tongue is simply a bacterial infection in which the bacteria take on the presence of hair growing on the surface of the tongue. Hairy tongue can occur when the papillae, the small bumps on the tongue, grow too long, and in doing so become a haven for bacteria. This condition is easily treated with antibiotics, and is one of those disorders that looks far worse than it actually is.
Geographic Tongue - Geographic tongue is a strange sounding name for a strange, though usually harmless, disorder. The medical term for this malady is glossitis, and its presence is marked by reddish patches on the tongue, often enclosed within white borders, quite naturally resembling a map. Geographic tongue is a transitory condition which normally requires no treatment, but if soreness or discomfort accompanies the condition, topical medications may be prescribed.
Red Tongue - A red tongue doesn't sound particularly abnormal until you realize that a healthy tongue is supposed to be pink, not red. A red tongue, sometimes called a strawberry tongue, can result from a number of things, the most common being a deficiency in either vitamin B-12, folic acid, or both. Obviously, the treatment in this case would consist of dietary changes, or the taking of supplements until the tongue returns to its normal color.
There are other tongue problems of course, some of which can be symptoms of a disease or disorder not necessarily related to the tongue. In any event, if one experiences abnormalities in the way the tongue looks or feels, and the condition persists, it's wise to have the condition looked into.