What does the color of the flooring mean?

A discoloration of the tongue should always be noticed and examined in detail, because sometimes serious diseases of the body can hide behind it. Depending on the color and texture of the coating of the tongue, these are distinguished from each other. While a light coating could be a sign of a fungal infection, gastritis, iron deficiency or even the precursor of cancer (leukoplakia), a dark coating is often a side effect of smoking or various drugs.

Very often the “black hair tongue“, a discoloration after taking antibiotics, can be observed, as well as a brown coloration of the tongue coating after several weeks of using a mouthwash with the ingredient chlorhexidine. Sometimes liver diseases are also behind yellowish coating of the tongue. If the tongue turns a fiery red color, i.e. it is more heavily pigmented than normal, scarlet fever, vitamin B12 deficiency or even inflammation of the tongue may be present.

Other diseases are syphilis, immune deficiency or metal poisoning. There are also many possible causes for yellow tongue coating, ranging from harmless to dangerous. This can be caused by a lack of oral hygiene, poor nutrition and smoking.

But also a disturbed organ function, for example of the stomach or liver, causes this plaque. An inflammation of the mucous membrane of the stomach (gastritis) should be excluded as well as a disturbance of the intestinal musculature. Also a portal vein congestion (blockage of the vessels that supply the liver with nutrients) or a liver disease can be behind it.

In jaundice (icterus), not only the mucous membranes but also the eyes turn yellow. The color is caused by a deposit of bilirubin in the tissues. This substance is contained in the red blood cells and is produced as a breakdown product when a disproportionate number of red blood cells are destroyed.

In a healthy person this is not a problem. However, if the drainage via the liver is disturbed, the bilirubin cannot be excreted and settles in the tissues. This results in the yellow coloration typical for liver patients.

Since this can be caused by very serious diseases, a doctor should be consulted if the yellow coating on the tongue does not disappear on its own. This is a coating on the tongue with a variety of causes. The color ranges from light to dark, dirty white.It is formed during the day by dead cells, food and bacteria and is usually removed by eating and good oral hygiene.

However, if the entire oral cavity, including the gums and cheeks, is also occupied, it can be a fungal colonization of the oral cavity. One speaks of “oral thrush”, the coating can be wiped off with a cotton swab, while the tissue underneath is easily inflammatory reddened and starts to bleed when touched. However, if the coating on the tongue is firm and is possibly on the edge or on the base of the tongue, one speaks of leukoplakia.

In this case, the body produces more corneocytes as the uppermost layer of the mucous membrane, which have a white appearance. This should definitely be clarified by a physician, as it is possibly a preliminary stage of cancer. This can then be removed before the condition worsens.

However, internal diseases such as inflammation of the stomach lining and problems of the pancreas also manifest themselves in a white coating on the tongue. If the tongue appears paler than usual, but without any specific coating, iron deficiency anemia may be the cause. While brown coating of the tongue can be caused by various foods, there are also various internal diseases that need to be clarified in this symptom.

The consumption of chocolate or smoking are typical causes for brown coating. But also an intestinal disease is within the range of the possible. If the tongue also swells up, a kidney disease should also be considered as a cause for the coating.

Mouthwashes containing chlorhexidine also discolor the tongue brownish when used over a long period or permanently. However, this discoloration is reversible and disappears by itself when the rinse is stopped. This type of discoloration is extremely characteristic and is also recognized by the fact that the teeth are also more prone to discoloration.

If the tongue discolors very dark or even black, caution is advised. This is often a side effect caused by a very long antibiotic treatment. This medication changes the structure of the papillae of the tongue, which makes them look like “hairy”.

Therefore, this disease is also called “black hair tongue”. Sometimes, however, more serious diseases of a very weakened immune system are also associated with the hair tongue. This can be the case with infectious diseases like HIV.

If there is a greenish coating on the back of the tongue, a disease of the bile ducts or the gall bladder should be excluded. Since these diseases can have serious consequences for the body if not treated, a medical clarification is absolutely necessary. Much more harmless is an inflammation of the throat.

Here too, a greenish coating forms from time to time, but this disappears as the disease heals. Taking medication can significantly reduce the duration of the disease. Sometimes it happens that the tongue is mainly covered very far back, at the transition to the throat.

This coating on the tongue often causes unpleasant bad breath, as it is very difficult to remove. With the usual aids, it can happen that the proximity to the uvula causes a choking sensation and then makes you vomit. Therefore, especially the household remedies mentioned above are very helpful.

A natural rinse with salt water rubs off the coating in the rear third of the tongue very well by gargling, without triggering a gagging sensation. The good news, however, is that in most cases the coating on the back of the tongue is extremely harmless. In most cases, it is triggered by an inflammation of the throat or tonsils. In such cases, the cause of the disease must be eliminated in order to get rid of the coating on the tongue.