“Say “Aaaaa” – Who does not know the stale taste in the morning, the whitish coated tongue? Most of the time, this is not a cause for concern. However, if the coating on the tongue becomes very strong, it could be fungal. Whether young or old, the tongue is considered the “showcase” of the digestive tract. Doctors and therapists can identify diseases based on the texture and certain coatings on the tongue.
The healthy tongue
The healthy tongue is pale red, a little moist and mobile. It has a thin whitish coating, a sign that the stomach has digested food properly. If you watch your tongue closely, you can spot the first signs of disease. But beware. “Don’t overestimate your own diagnosis,” warns physician Dr. Waltraud Pfarrer. “So remember that your own observation never replaces a trip to the doctor!”
What does which tongue coating mean?
- The tongue papillae are enlarged and reddish in color (raspberry or strawberry tongue): this indicates infectious diseases such as scarlet fever.
- An almost black tongue coating can occur as a side effect of antibiotic treatment.
- Burning, bright red and inflamed tongue: there may be a vitamin deficiency. It is also a possible indication of anemia or diabetes.
- An abnormally large tongue can occur in the wake of diseases of the thyroid gland or in a brain tumor.
- A severely swollen tongue indicates a very fast-onset and life-threatening allergy.
- Abnormal dryness of the tongue indicates salivary gland disease.
- A red tongue, coupled with other symptoms such as headache, pressure on the costal arches or cramping abdominal pain may indicate diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, liver disease or heart disease.
- Thin, smooth and narrow tongue: this may indicate anemia, intestinal disease or antibiotic treatment.
- Tongue with teeth marks or uneven coating (“map tongue“): it may indicate grinding or biting teeth at night, but usually it is without significance.
