The Sun City Dentist Talks About Tongue Health, PART 3

This four-part article series talks about the various ailments and conditions that can cause tongue problems, from unsightly discoloration to uncomfortable bumps and ridges.

Welcome to the third installment of our four-part article series on the various illness and conditions that can lead to tongue problems. In our previous two articles, we spoke to Sun City dentists about the possible causes of red or “strawberry” tongue and white tongue. Now, let’s move on to something that sounds particularly terrible and unpleasant… black hairy tongue.

What are the Causes of Black Hairy Tongue?

In spite of how awful it must sound to have your usually pink tongue turn into something that resembles a live tarantula, black hairy tongue isn’t usually all that serious or dangerous, although it is linked with particularly nasty breath.

“Your tongue is covered with little bumps called papillae or taste buds,” Sun City dentist explains. “These continue to grow throughout the course of your lifetime, which is a good thing because your daily activities and eating cause them to become warn down. When this isn’t the case, they can be allowed to simply grow and grow, offering bacteria excellent shelter from your oral hygiene efforts. The accumulation of bacteria in and between taste buds that have grown particularly long can lead to the development of black hairy tongue. The “hairy” part comes from the appearance of long taste buds, which stand up out of a sea of blackish bacteria.”

Not very pleasant, is it?

The good news is that black hairy tongue is totally preventable, since it is linked with the accumulation of oral bacteria in a forest of abnormally long papillae, which, in any case, isn’t very common. It also tends to be restricted to people who aren’t good about keeping up a high standard of oral hygiene. Other risk factors include diabetes, chemotherapy and people who are taking antibiotic medication.

What you can do to Prevent Black Hairy Tongue

“The most common cause of black hairy tongue is bad oral hygiene,” says the cosmetic dentist in Arizona. “Therefore it stands to reason that upping your efforts at home will restore your tongue to its normally pink color. When you brush your teeth, make sure you include your tongue in this routine. This will discourage the growth of excessively long papillae and help to eliminate the colonies of bacteria that have taken up residence within them.

“You should also floss daily and even use an ADA-approved anti-bacterial mouth rinse. Even if you present with this condition as a result of the above-mentioned risk factors, an increase in your oral hygiene measures should help to prevent this symptom. Also, you should really seek the attention of a qualified Sun City dentist who will provide you with the appropriate diagnosis, treatment and home care advice. Black hairy tongue is wholly unpleasant and you’ll want to eliminate this condition as fast as possible.”

Stay Tuned for Part 4

To read more about the various conditions and illnesses that can affect your tongue, stay tuned for the final installment of this four-part article series! Next time, we’ll be looking at the problems that can cause a sore and/or bumpy tongue.

The Cosmetic Dentist in Arizona Talks About Tongue Health, PART 2

This four-part article series talks about the various ailments and conditions that can cause tongue problems, from unsightly discoloration to uncomfortable bumps and ridges.

Welcome to the second installment of our four-part article series on tongue problems! Now, we’ve all had tongue ulcers at some stage during our lives – usually caused by accidentally biting down on it – and so we all know just how hard it can be to forget it when we do have something sore or uncomfortable on our tongue. This is because we use our tongues all the time. It’s an essential group of muscles!

“Unfortunately, there is quite an impressive variety of conditions and illnesses that can affect tongue health,” explain cosmetic dentists in Arizona. “Thankfully, most of them are not serious at all and can either be treated promptly or will disappear on their own. Having said this, problems such as discoloration, textural abnormalities and growths can be indicative of far more serious ailments, including oral cancer, HIV/AIDS and vitamin deficiencies. If you notice persistent problems with your tongue, it is of vital importance that you seek professional attention.”

In our previous article post, we spoke to Sun City dental professionals about the various causes of red or “strawberry” tongue. In this article, we shall move our attention to white tongue, a condition marked by the development of white spots or a white coating.

What Can Cause White Tongue?

• Oral Lichen Planus: This condition results in the formation of a lace-like mapwork of white lines on the surface of the tongue. While the exact cause of oral lichen planus is uncertain, it often disappears on its own with the help of certain lifestyle changes. Try to avoid smoking and foods and beverages that contain irritants, such as alcohol, chili and acid. “Also, be better about brushing and flossing regularly and thoroughly,” advises the cosmetic dentist in Arizona.

• Oral Thrush: Thrush is an oral yeast infection that most commonly affects the elderly, infants or people with a compromised immune system. If your tongue and possibly mouth is covered in whitish patches that can be likened to cottage cheese, you may have thrush or candidiasis. Other risk factors for this condition include lung disease, diabetes and asthmatics on steroid inhalers. “Medications are available for the treatment of thrush,” says the cosmetic dentist in Arizona. “Also, if you’re on antibiotics for an infection and develop thrush, eating plain yogurt can help restore the balance of natural oral fauna.”

• Leukoplakia: Leukoplakia is characterized by the excessive growth of cells in the soft tissues of the mouth. This results in the appearance of white, rough patches on the inner cheeks, tongue and palate. “This condition can simply be caused by exposure to an irritant, such as smoking, but it isn’t by itself dangerous,” say Sun City dental professionals. “Having said that, leukoplakia can herald oral cancer, so it’s best to have yourself assessed before you assume it will simply go away.”

Stay Tuned for Part 3

To read more about the various conditions and illnesses that can affect your tongue, stay tuned for part 3 of this four-part article series! Next time, we’ll be looking at the problems that can cause a grizzly black hairy tongue.

Sun City Dental Professionals Talk About Tongue Health, PART 1

This four-part article series talks about the various ailments and conditions that can cause tongue problems, from unsightly discoloration to uncomfortable bumps and ridges.

Whether you are aware of it or not, you use your tongue almost all the time. It is an essential organ for communication, taste and digestion. Because it is integrally involved in these activities, the various conditions and ailments that can affect it can cause acute discomfort and frustration. In order to better understand the importance of the tongue, we spoke to some Sun City dental professionals about some of the common and perhaps not so common problems that can affect this major muscle.

About The Tongue

The tongue is made up of a number of interconnected muscles, rather than just one large one. These muscles work together to provide you with the incredible control and dexterity is has in helping you eat, speak, swallow and even pull silly faces. Your tongue is covered with a blanket of tiny nodules referred to as papillae (taste buds) and when it is healthy, it should be pink right to the back of the mouth.

There are four over-arching tongue problems that one might develop and our panel of Sun City dental professionals will be discussing them in detail throughout this four-part article series:

• “Strawberry” Tongue or Red Tongue
• White Tongue
• Black Hairy Tongue
• Sore and Bumpy Tongue

Let’s begin with the first…

Sun City Dental Advice: What Can Cause “Strawberry” or Red Tongue?

“A healthy tongue is a nice pink color,” say Sun City dental professionals. “But, there are a number of reasons it can become red and inflamed and for the papillae or taste buds to become swollen. This is why it is sometimes referred to as Strawberry tongue.”

Some of the causes of red tongue include:

• Scarlet Fever: An infectious disease characterized by fever, a sore throat and a red rash, hence the name. It can also cause the tongue to turn an angry shade of red. Scarlet fever typically affects young children between the age of 4 and 8 and is spread via inhalation. While there is no cure for this sickness, it can be treated successfully with antibiotics.

• Geographic Tongue: This uncomfortable condition causes the development of a network of red and, at times, white-bordered spots on the tongue. Also known as benign migratory glossitis, this condition is named after the fact that these spots develop in a pattern that looks somewhat map-like and can also shift positions.“Geographic tongue is typically harmless, although it can be uncomfortable and aesthetically unpleasing,” say Sun City dental professionals. “However, if the red bumps persist for more than two weeks, you should book an appointment with your dentist to make sure that you do indeed have this condition and not something more serious. Discomfort can be treated with topical anesthetic gels.”

• Kawasaki Syndrome: A condition that affects the blood vessels in the body and especially targets children younger than 5 years of age. It can cause fever, strawberry tongue and red, swollen feet and hands during the more severe phase of illness.

• Vitamin Deficiencies: “If your diet is short of vitamin B-12 or folic acid, your tongue may appear redder than normal,” say Sun City dentists.

Stay Tuned for Part 2

To read more about the various conditions and illnesses that can affect your tongue, stay tuned for part 2 of this four-part article series! Next time, we’ll be looking at the problems that can cause white tongue.