The tongue is directly connected to the brain and organs by important nerves. That is why modern tongue diagnostics recognize early on what is missing in our body and what diseases are behind it.
Our tongue is not only a sensory organ that allows us to taste food, but also a map of our body. If your doctor sees changes in color or shape, these can be indications of diseases in organs such as the heart, intestines, stomach, liver, lungs or kidneys.
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This is what a healthy tongue looks like
A healthy tongue is pale pink to light red in color , slightly moist , and has a smooth surface . The edges of the tongue are also pale reddish. Certain medications, oral hygiene products or cigarettes, as well as some foods such as coffee, tea, spices such as curry or berries can affect tongue color.
The following changes can indicate various diseases:
Wrinkles and furrows on the tongue
Small, mostly symmetrical transverse furrows branch off from a median line. This is often accompanied by hypersensitivity to acidic, hot or spicy foods. Often occurs as a symptom of an incipient vitamin B deficiency .
swollen tongue
It lies in the mouth like a fluffed pillow, has expanded so much that the teeth sometimes leave imprints on the edge. The thyroid no longer works at full speed and produces too few hormones.
Black hair tongue
The taste buds (med.: papillae) turn yellowish, brown or blackish along the middle line of the tongue. The phenomenon is known as lingua nigra (black tongue). Medicines are often to blame: e.g. antibiotics, psychotropic drugs, acid blockers for the stomach, cortisone, antifungal agents, neuroleptics.
Whitish coating on the tongue
Normally there is no “fur” on the tongue, because it automatically peels off when eating or during oral hygiene. However, if strong whitish deposits often appear as symptoms, something may not be right. A white coating in the front third indicates gastric catarrh, in the middle it indicates inflammation of the mucous membranes, and in the rear third it indicates intestinal problems .
Red edges of the tongue
The edges of the tongue appear slightly rolled up, are red in color, a little swollen. There is also abdominal pain and uncomfortable pressure on the costal arches. This can be due to liver dysfunction.
Tortuous veins
The blood vessels on the underside of the tongue are particularly thick, squirming and meandering. Sometimes the veins of the tongue (med.: Venae apicis linguae), which lie just under the skin, also have longer and sac-like enlargements. The heart is not pumping as hard as it should. The blood accumulates in the venous system of the body.
Lead-gray, smooth tongue
Instead of being delicate, the surface looks unnaturally smooth pink and slightly rough, and is covered with a greyish, tough coating. There is a suspicion of iron deficiency or certain forms of anemia.
Map pattern on tongue
The coatings cover the entire tongue unevenly: large patches, smooth and light pink in color. Occasionally you will feel a slight burning sensation on your tongue. The cause is usually a hormonal imbalance.
