The next time you look at your tongue in a mirror, notice its color, texture and coating! Did you know that the appearance of your tongue can be a critical tool to determining your overall health?
A healthy tongue should be pink in color, and can reflect the health of your body’s internal organs as well as of your overall blood circulation. A pale tongue can indicate that your body lacks hemoglobin, and you could feel tired. It is a sign that you might need more iron in your diet. A red tongue can indicate both inflammation, and also excess heat in some organs. This can also be a sign of a deficiency in iron or B vitamins. And, if your tongue is purple, you might have high cholesterol or poor circulation resulting in stagnant blood in the tongue. This might be caused by diet or some medications.
The tongue’s texture should be smooth, somewhat moist and have visible taste buds. See any raised red spots? You might have some broken capillaries, and vitamin C has been known to strengthen capillaries. An ulcer on your tongue may be common and could be caused by fatigue, but you should see a doctor if it doesn’t disappear within 10 days. And sometimes allergies can cause swollen or puffy tongues.
And, of course, where would we be without talking about the coating on the tongue? A healthy tongue should be pinkish in color and have a clear, thin coating. If the coating is yellow/white you are packing around a Petri dish of bacteria! Nearly everyone does at one point during the day. This is often referred to as furry or thick tongue. This is the cause of bad breath 90% of the time. If there is no coating, your digestive system may be off kilter. Other conditions include black tongue which may be caused by an imbalance of good bacteria/mouth acidity allowing for a abnormal growth of fungi on the tongue.
So, the next time you stick your tongue out at yourself in the mirror, take note of its attributes, and remember to take care of your tongue and boost your overall health by using The Original TUNG Brush and Gel as part of your overall oral hygiene regime. Your body will thank you, as will your friends!
We’ll be back soon with more on the tongue so stay tuned!
