Same as nails tongue too can be a fortune teller for you. So watch you tongue as well as nails.
You may not give your tongue much thought, but chances are your doctor does. “Telling a patient to stick out their tongue is a valid way to start examining someone,” says Dr. Jordan S. Josephson, attending physician at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City
White coating
When the tongue looks sort of white and pasty—in patches or in its entirety—it’s an indication that there’s probably some sort of infection present on the tongue, such as a bacterial overgrowth or an autoimmune-related inflammatory disease. One possible cause: thrush, which is an overgrowth of candida (also called yeast) bacteria. Once the infection is treated with anti-fungal drugs (either topical or oral) and the infection clears up, the tongue will return to its healthy pink shade.
Too dark
A healthy tongue should have a warm, pinkish color, so when it looks dark brown or black, you need to wonder why. And chances are, the answer will be in your diet, lifestyle or your medicine cabinet. “The filiform papillae on the top of the tongue—particularly if they’re elongated—can easily take on stains or various colors from the foods, drinks, antibiotics, lozenges, etc. that you consume,” says Sol Silverman, Jr., D.D.S., a spokesperson for the American Dental Association. A side effect of taking bismuth medications (like Pepto Bismol) is that the tongue may turn temporarily black. And drinking a lot of coffee, smoking or chewing tobacco can stain the tongue a brownish shade. The good news is that in both cases, it’s probably just stained from food or medicine, and simply brushing your tongue a few times should help it fade back to its normal shade. While the staining may not be permanent, beware that any kind of tobacco use increases your risk of oral cancer.
Getting hairy
“The top of the tongue is covered with little projections called filiform papillae,” explains Silverman. “They’re made up of keratin—the same protein that makes up hair, but they’re not really ‘hair.’” And under normal conditions, you wouldn’t even notice them. But certain conditions can cause them to elongate, giving the tongue a “hairy” appearance. Several factors could be responsible for causing the filiform papillae to grow, including a bacterial infection, taking antibiotics, or having a very dry mouth.
Sore spots
They may be small, but canker sores or mouth ulcers (which can occur anywhere in the mouth, including the tongue) can be extremely painful. “Most things that happen in the mouth are multi-factorial,” says Silverman. And these sores are no exception. Generally, those with a genetic predisposition to getting cankers will see them crop up when other factors fall into place—such as having a cold or fever, eating an excess of citrus fruits, or biting your tongue. But keep an eye on those spots. A normal canker will heal up and vanish in a week to 10 days. Something that lasts longer and doesn’t seem to be going away could be a sign of oral cancer and should be checked out by your doctor immediately.
A bumpy surface
The filiform papillae—projections on the top of the tongue, including the taste buds—normally stick up a little bit. But occasionally one will get temporarily inflamed, red, and a bit sore. As with canker sores, as long as the area returns to normal within a time span of a few days, the inflammation is most likely harmless. “But if it turns very red or white, is painful and tender, and most importantly, doesn’t go away, it could be a sign of oral cancer,” Josephson warns.
Tongue Problems: Common Causes
§ Minor infections or irritations are the most common cause of tongue soreness.
§ A viral ulcer or "canker sore" commonly appears on the tongue (or some doctors believe that viral ulcers are linked to emotional stress, fatigue, or lowered resistance.
§ Injury (biting the tongue) can cause painful sores.
§ A hangover or an allergic reaction to food or medication can cause a swollen tongue.
§ Heavy smoking will irritate the tongue and make it painful.
§ A smooth and pale tongue surface suggests nutritional (vitamin B-12) deficiencies.
§ A coated tongue may be caused by dehydration, oral sex, or antibiotic side effects (such as thrush).
§ An allergic reaction to food or medication can cause tongue swelling.
§ A "hairy" appearing tongue (hairy leukoplakia) is a complication of AIDS.
Possible causes of tongue pain:
§ Anemia
§ Cancer
§ Dentures that irritate the tongue
§ Oral herpes (ulcers)
§ Neuralgia
§ Referred pain from teeth and gums
§ Referred pain from the heart
Possible causes of tongue tremor:
§ Neurological disorder
§ Overactive thyroid
Possible causes of white tongue:
§ Local irritation
§ Smoking and alcohol use
Possible causes of smooth tongue:
§ Anemia
§ Vitamin b-12 deficiency
Possible causes of red (ranging from pink to magenta) tongue:
§ Folic acid and vitamin b-12 deficiency
§ Pellagra
§ Pernicious anemia
§ Plummer-vinson syndrome
§ Sprue
Possible causes of tongue swelling:
§ Acromegaly
§ Amyloidosis
§ Strep infection
§ Beckwith's syndrome
§ Cancer of the tongue
§ Congenital micrognathia
§ Down's syndrome
§ Hypothyroidism
§ Infection
§ Leukemia
§ Lymphangioma
§ Neurofibromatosis
§ Pellagra
§ Pernicious anemia
§ Tumor of the pituitary gland
Possible causes of a hairy tongue:
§ Antibiotic therapy
§ Bacteria, food, tobacco, coffee, or dyes in drugs and food
§ Chronic debilitating disorders
§ Habitual use of mouthwashes containing oxidizing or astringent agents.
§ Irradiation of the head and neck
Possible cause of tongue fissure (grooves in the tongue):
congenital defect (normally occurs in 10% of population)
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