Tongue Discoloration

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 which get filled up with plaque and food consumed. This small muscular organ helps us taste, swallow and talk, but during this process it encounters various kinds substances that enter the mouth. This results in exposure to more irritation as compared to the rest of the oral cavity. Since we need our tongue constantly, any problem to this muscular organ can spearhead a lot of discomfort. We normally have bacteria on our tongue, however, if their balance in our mouth tips, conditions of tongue discoloration or formation of white, curd-like coatings on the tongue can occur.

Oral Thrush
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.

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

Oral Lichen Planus
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.

Vitamin deficiencies
Deficiencies of vitamin B 12 and folic acid can conduce to a reddish appearance on the tongue. Pernicious anemia caused by a deficiency of vitamin B 12 makes the tongue look pale and discolored.

Kawasaki Syndrome and Scarlet Fever
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 strawberry tongue condition.

Benign Migratory Glossitis
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.

Excessive Growth of Papillae
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 vitamin B12 deficiency, then take some vitamin B12 supplements or shots to raise its levels in the body. Moreover, keeping away from chewing tobacco and smoking also helps keep tongue discoloration conditions at bay. Make sure before taking any step to treat the discoloration, you consult your dentist.