The 5 Most Common Problems Attacking the Tongue

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Unwittingly, the condition of the tongue can reflect the health of your body. Most of the problems on the tongue, such as bitten goods when eating or tongue burning when eating spicy, no problem and easily treated. However, some other tongue problems may be associated with more serious illnesses.

The most common tongue problems, and how to overcome them

1. White tongue

White tongue is usually caused by poorly maintained mouth and tooth hygiene, which occurs when the papilla is swollen and eventually swells. Bacterial infection can lead to slippery white plaque on the tongue.

In addition, white tongue can be caused by leukoplakia and lichen planus. Leukoplakia is a white spot in the mouth that is generally harmless, but can indicate the symptoms of mouth cancer when causing the tongue pain and accompanied by the appearance of white patches in the mouth, gums, and tongue. Meanwhile, lichen planus is an autoimmune disease that causes chronic inflammation of the skin.

White tongue problems can be handled by maintaining better oral hygiene, avoiding smoking, drinking excessive alcohol, and maintaining a healthy and balanced diet to meet the nutritional needs.

2. Red tongue

The normal tongue is generally pink. Eating light-colored foods, such as red, blue, or purple, can cause the tongue to change color.

Even so, you need to check with your doctor if your tongue is reddened and visible with white borders shaped like a collection of islands on a map on the upper surface of the tongue and on the sides. This is a sign of the geographical tongue. Usually this condition can heal itself without any treatment, but consult a doctor if persisted for more than 2 weeks.

Other causes of red tongue are vitamin B12 deficiency, dengue fever symptoms, and Kawasaki's disease that usually affects children under the age of five.

Handling of the red tongue will depend on the cause of each. Generally, the symptoms of red tongue pain can be treated with pain medication such as ibuprofen and naproxen sodium or mouthwash containing corticosteroids. You also need additional vitamin intake, either from the source of food or vitamin supplements, to meet the needs of the body.

Consult further with your doctor for more details.

3. Black tongue

The black tongue, though disturbing appearance, is actually harmless. The cause is a papilla (small nodules on the surface of the tongue) that grow elongated so that more easily dihinggapi bacteria. This developing bacteria then causes the tongue to turn black.

In addition, black tongue can be caused by side effects of drugs, dry mouth, smoking habits, poor oral and dental hygiene, to the side effects of chemotherapy.

The problem of black tongue usually does not require special treatment because it can return to normal like the color of the tongue in general. But you can speed up the healing by changing the healthier diet; quit smoking; and do not forget to always maintain oral hygiene, including routine brushing or rubbing the tongue.

4. Tongue swelling

Certain food allergic reactions can cause tongue swelling. So does the side effects of certain drugs, such as ACE inhibitors for hypertension and painkillers such as aspirin, aleve, and advil. In addition, oral herpes infection can also cause inflammation of the tongue so swollen. Eating or drinking something hot can cause the tongue to blister and eventually swell.

Tongues are swollen because the food / hot drinks can usually heal itself. You just need to avoid eating and drinking hot until the tongue healed again.

To deal with other conditions you can check with your doctor to be followed up with appropriate treatment.

5. Tongue is difficult to move

The problem of tongue movement is often caused by nerve damage. For example after a stroke or in recovery after surgery.

The tongue that is difficult to move strongly affects the ability to swallow food and talk. Treatments that can be done for this condition with physical therapy to help restore the work of the nerves on the tongue.

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