What your TONGUE says about you, according to science

It’s the muscle we use every day for speaking, swallowing and tasting.

But our tongue could also be an important indicator of our health and provide clues about what’s going on within our body, experts say.

Different colours, textures, coatings and shapes of the tongue can indicate different conditions.

And keeping track of the muscular organ could help us detect issues we may otherwise be oblivious to.

‘A healthy tongue is pink in colour with a slightly rough surface,’ Sarah Ramage, clinical director at Bupa, said.

‘What gives it this texture are the tiny bumps on top, called papillae.’

Any shift from this may signal an issue or a sign that you need to work on your oral health.

So, have you noticed any of these changes?

RED OR WHITE PATCHES

Abnormal looking patches, lumps or spots could be a sign of mouth cancer, Ms Ramage warned.

Red patches could signal a condition called erythroplakia and white or grey patches may be leukoplakia, which could lead to cancer if untreated.

Your dentist will look out for these when you go for a check-up, she said, and refer you to a GP or specialist if they have any concerns.

‘Mouth cancer rates have increased by almost 60 per cent in the last decade, so it’s important to be aware of any changes,’ she added.

WHITE SPOTS (LESIONS) 

Creamy white spots or lesions on the tongue could indicate a fungal infection, such as oral thrush.

While it’s usually harmless it may spread to other parts of your mouth if left untreated, causing an unpleasant taste or pain or difficulty eating and drinking.

RED, PURPLE OR PALE

Dr Leslie Anthony is a dentist who runs her own practice in Montana.

‘A red tongue may indicate heat in the body like a fever or a hormonal imbalance,’ she said. ‘A reddish purple tongue is a sign that there may be inflammation or an infection in the body.

‘Meanwhile a pale pink tongue may be a sign of a vitamin deficiency, a weak immune system or a lack of energy.’

COATING

A thick coating reflects poor intestinal health or digestive issues, Dr Anthony explained.

A yellowish coating indicates there may be an infection in the body, while a grey or blackish coating suggests a long-term digestive disorder or that ‘something may be very wrong with your body’s health’.

And a thick white coating means there may be poor circulation to the extremities or possibly a yeast infection.

SHAPE

‘If the tongue is puffy with scalloped edges or indented teeth marks it may indicate malabsorption of nutrients,’ she added.

Meanwhile, a very thin tongue may be a sign of dehydration.

A BLOTCHY ‘GEOGRAPHIC’ TONGUE

A map-like pattern on the tongue’s surface – with normal patches and smooth red patches – occurs when the ‘old’ surface of the tongue replaces itself and the top layer doesn’t come off properly.

It can leave a red, sore area like a scratch, but is normally harmless.

The experts said it is good practice to look at young tongue in the mirror and notice the colours, textures, bumps and coating.

It is best to inspect your tongue before brushing your teeth, they added.

HOW TO CLEAN YOUR TONGUE

Experts recommend brushing your tongue regularly to help prevent a build-up of bacteria. 

Tongue brushing is simple enough to do using the bristles of your toothbrush.

‘The tongue harbours bacteria and food debris trapped under a thin layer of mucus,’ Colgate’s website reads. 

‘Remove this odour-causing build-up by using a small dab of toothpaste and carefully brushing the top of the tongue. 

‘Start by reaching to the back of the tongue, and then work forwards towards the opening of the mouth. Brush the entire top surface of the tongue using gentle pressure, and then rinse your mouth with mouthwash or water.’

For those wanting a more thorough cleaning, a tongue scraper gently peels the thin mucus-based layer of debris from the tongue.