Medical Conditions That Affect the Tongue
According to MotherNature.com, a normal and healthy tongue is coral pink in color and is as rough as a piece of sandpaper. However, the normal tongue is also an attractor of all kinds of bacterial growth and can indicate disease manifestations of the body. If a person experiences prolonged tongue discoloration that does not go away with regular oral hygiene practices, the person should seek a medical examination by a qualified physician as soon as possible.
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White Tongue
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According to WrongDiagnosis.com, a white coating, patch or spot on the tongue can be indicative of several different internal ailments and diseases. Some of the illnesses that could be caused by a white tongue are keratosis pharyngis, white lumps present on the tonsils, candidiasis, measles, dehydration, tonsillitis or the mouth disorder leukoplakia.
Yellow Tongue
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According to Dr. Alan Carr of the Mayo Clinic, yellow tongues are generally harmless, temporary problems. Enlarged bumps, or papillae, on the tongue's surface caused by bacteria in the mouth turns tongues yellow. However, according to WrongDiagnosis.com, a yellow tongue can be an indicator that jaundice is present in the body.
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Black & Hairy Tongue
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The Mayo Clinic states that a black and hairy tongue is a brief, harmless condition that leaves a dark, bushy exhibition that is simply an overabundant bacterial overgrowth. Medical treatment is usually not necessary for a black, hairy tongue.
Sore Tongue
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Sore tongues can result from acute trauma to the tongue, such as biting the tongue, grinding the teeth or developing tongue ulcers, but can also be indicative of more serious disease lurking in the body. According to WebMD.com, some possible hidden diseases that might manifest a sore tongue are diabetes, anemia and oral cancer.
Considerations
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When a person experiences a white tongue along with other symptoms, he should see a doctor to determine the cause of the dual symptoms. According to WrongDiagnosis.com, there are many different medical conditions that affect the tongue and different areas of the body. For example, abdominal pain accompanied by a white tongue could mean that lupus or the Epstein-Barr virus is present. A child's white tongue that is accompanied by abnormal hair growth could indicate the presence of HIV or AIDS. The presence of a white tongue along with abnormally decreased urination might indicate dehydration or the development of lupus.
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