The tongue is a special organ by which you can find out if there are any diseases in the body. Any changes in the gastrointestinal tract can be detected in the early stages. Stick your tongue out at your reflection in the mirror and look at it carefully.
Language as an indicator of the he alth of the body
The tongue has a unique property: each area on its surface corresponds to a specific organ. Thanks to this feature, you can monitor the state of the body and identify the disease almost at the time of its occurrence.
The language is usually divided into three conditional parts.
- Tip (front). Here is the projection of the lungs on both sides, between them is the zone of the heart.
- Middle of the tongue (middle part). This area is a "reflection" of the stomach and pancreas, and on the right and left - the spleen and liver, respectively.
- Basic part (back). This part projects the kidneys (on the sides) and the intestines - between the kidneys.
If the appearance of any part of the tongue has changed - it has acquired a different color, it has been overlaid, the papillae have changed color orform - you can quickly determine which of the organs has failed. The tongue without pathologies in the body has a pure pink color. First of all, a change in shade indicates the disease. Of course, this is not always an accurate indicator, since some diseases can occur without changing the color of the tongue.
If you have a coated tongue, the causes of plaque can be identified by its color:
- Red - indicates ischemia, fever, infectious disease, pneumonia.
- Dark red - severe and even life-threatening forms of infectious, kidney diseases, pneumonia.
- Pale - anemia, emaciation.
- Yellow - excess bile, liver pathology.
- Bluish - cardiovascular disease.
- Dark purple - angina pectoris, ischemia, cerebrovascular or blood clotting disorders, heart failure.
Also, the tongue may look varnished, while there is no plaque on it - this happens with stomach cancer, chronic colitis, and intestinal disorders. Bright red papillae on the sides indicate liver pathology: on the right - the functions of the left lobe are impaired, on the left - the right lobe. The same formations on the front of the tongue indicate problems with the pelvic organs. But perhaps the most important role in the diagnosis of diseases in this part of the body is played by plaque, which forms on it for various reasons.
White coating on the tongue
You can often find that the tongue has been coated with a white coating that is formed by oral bacteria. Their largest accumulation occurs on the basalparts where the tongue does not come into contact with the teeth, so it cannot be brushed by the teeth while talking or eating. White plaque may be the norm - morning formations in a he althy person are common. In this case, the plaque is thin, transparent, odorless and has no foreign tint. At the same time, it is easy to remove it when brushing your teeth with a toothbrush. Therefore, cleansing the tongue should become a familiar part of oral hygiene. It's nice to add a light massage to this. It activates the areas of the tongue, thereby sending signals to the relevant organs and having a powerful preventive effect.
If the plaque does not disappear after using the brush, then you should pay attention to your he alth. Most likely, this is a sign of a developing disease, the symptoms of which are absent or almost invisible. Show your tongue to the doctor - he will quickly determine the localization of the problem. The overlaid organ will be the first bell and will show the localization of the problem. If at least something from this list does not look like it should be, you need to listen to your body. Perhaps there are already some complaints that you simply did not pay attention to until now.
Causes of white plaque on the tongue
It would be useful to know in which diseases the tongue is lined. If there is a white coating, and teeth marks remain on the edges of the tongue, this means that the body has stopped absorbing the nutrients that it should receive with food. A spot at the root indicates toxins, toxins in the large intestine. If the plaque is located throughout the tongue, but unevenly, then in the bodythere is a fungal infection, dysbacteriosis, and there may be stomatitis in the oral cavity. In this case, the appearance of ulcers is likely. When constipated, the tongue is usually covered with a continuous thick layer of white coating. It looks similar in infectious diseases with increased intoxication and high (up to 40 degrees) temperature.
When the stomach or intestines is affected, the tongue is covered with white coating and cracks in the basal part. Special attention should be paid to this, since it is likely that, although there are no other complaints yet, gastritis or stomach ulcers, enterocolitis, and duodenal disease develop. In diseases of the respiratory system, the formation appears in the upper part of the tongue along the edges. White plaque along the edges of the basal part informs about impaired renal function. In this case, it is necessary to take a urine test as soon as possible to determine the problem. However, it is worth noting that plaque in this case may appear earlier than a laboratory study shows any deviations from the norm. This is an early diagnosis: you can observe the coated tongue. Symptoms of the disease appear somewhat later.
White plaque in a child
No less carefully than the state of one's own language, it is necessary to monitor the plaque in the child's language. It is necessary to examine the oral cavity in a timely manner, including the tongue, especially in young children and infants who cannot yet clearly identify their he alth complaints. In older children, parents should supervise the brushing process. And at the same time, examine the larynx so as not to misssignal for the development of the disease. The tongue of children, including newborns, has a pale pink color. The plaque practically does not appear, and if it does, it disappears after the morning toilet and eating. If this does not happen, then a coating on the tongue should be a cause for concern, especially in the case of infants.
Little children taste everything they come across. Therefore, they are especially susceptible to infections that, when they enter the body through the mouth, cause diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. It is especially worth worrying if the child has a lined tongue and the following symptoms are additionally observed:
- he is short of height or weight;
- he has a poor appetite, but a big craving for sweets;
- he complains of pain in the navel;
- common nausea and vomiting;
- he has an unstable stool, that is, diarrhea and constipation alternate.
In this case, there is no time to determine which area of the tongue is covered with plaque. You should immediately consult a doctor, undergo an examination, including for parasitic infections and stomatitis. The latter ailment is a common disease in children, especially infants. Plaque with stomatitis is heterogeneous, white, with grains, there may be ulcers on the mucosa. The reason to see a doctor are also complaints of pain and burning in the mouth. Younger children do not eat well or refuse to eat at all, crying, experiencing anxiety.
In addition, you need to carefully monitor the plaque on the tongue if the baby often catches a cold and is prone to complications of the bronchopulmonary system. In thatIn this case, plaque will appear on the front of the tongue on both sides. Formations at the root indicate that the child has a problem with the large intestine. If the plaque is located in the middle, then this indicates a violation of the functions of the upper intestine. If the tongue is covered with a thick layer of white plaque, the child has a viral disease. By its quantity, you can determine the degree of the course of the disease. If the plaque starts to disappear, then the baby will recover soon.
Physiological plaque
In addition to white, other colors may appear on the tongue. Each of them is a symptom of a disease. In this case, first of all, it is necessary to exclude the staining of the tongue with food dyes and physiological factors. Some types of food change the color of the organ, but not for long. This shouldn't be cause for concern. Physiological discoloration is observed after meals, as well as in the morning. For example, yellow staining of plaque occurs both due to eating coloring foods, and as a result of smoking, poor oral hygiene, dehydration, and taking certain medications.
Foods that can add yellowness include drinks containing caffeine (coffee, black tea), artificial colors in foods, as well as their natural counterparts found in orange and bright yellow fruits, berries, vegetables and spices. When stained with products, it disappears after cleaning. If this does not happen, then the reason is not the products.
Yellow plaque when smoking most often appears in the morning. In this case, cleaning does not remove, but only reduces it.brightness. Poor cleaning of the oral cavity leads to the multiplication of bacteria, from whose remnants of vital activity plaque is formed. If the tongue is not cleaned, it becomes denser. Only the tip remains pink, which is cleaned on the teeth. Dehydration occurs with intoxication, high fever and intestinal infection.
When raised, the tongue is covered with a white coating, when infected - yellow-brown. Dehydration is accompanied by diarrhea and vomiting. In this case, the tongue is covered not only with plaque, but also with cracks. They sometimes even bleed. When reacting to antibiotics and hormones, as well as some other drugs, the plaque acquires a yellow-green tint. It is worth noting that the drugs themselves do not stain the tongue. This happens as a result of the effect of the drug on the liver, which works in an enhanced mode, releasing toxins into the bloodstream.
Other plaque colors
If the color change is not related to food and physiological causes and persists for more than five days, this indicates the pathological nature of the origin of plaque. In this case, you must promptly contact the appropriate doctor. Brown, raspberry, green and any other shade of plaque indicates that the body lacks minerals and vitamins. It also speaks of the likelihood of a serious illness - diabetes, tuberculosis, heart disease, and even typhoid fever, cholera, or Crohn's disease.
Usually white color is typical for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. But when the tongue is coated with a yellowish coating, you should pay attention to the liver. Such formations speak ofthat there is an inflammatory process in the gallbladder or stones are formed, the outflow of bile is disturbed. In addition, there is a possibility of liver damage from viral hepatitis.
Dark and yellow-brown coating on the tongue informs about liver diseases and chronic cholecystitis. If it is formed on the middle part, then the accumulation of toxins is likely in the stomach, small intestine and duodenum; in the back - harmful substances are localized in the large intestine. Gray-yellow plaque is formed in chronic diseases of the stomach, intestines, acidity and dehydration. A change in color to gray is characteristic of an exacerbation of the disease or the transition to a chronic stage. If the plaque turns black, it means that the disease has passed into a critical stage.
Icteric uvula in children
Yellow plaque in children appears for the same reasons as in adults. But we should not forget about domestic reasons. After all, a child can color his tongue due to his age. For example, felt-tip pens, paints and pencils. In this case, the tongue may turn out not only yellow, but also any other, even unimaginable, color.
In infants, the tongue may turn yellow after weaning. Such a reaction is often given by pumpkin and carrots. But it doesn't last long. Candy, soda, chewing gum can also temporarily change the color of the plaque. Attentive attention to the nutrition of the child and oral hygiene from the earliest days will help get rid of this unpleasant phenomenon.
But if allthese reasons are excluded, it is necessary to monitor the general condition of the baby. Perhaps there are changes in behavior, well-being.
Causes of yellow tongue in a child:
- Hemolysis of newborns. A rather complex condition characterized by an enlarged liver, yellowness of the integument and a high concentration of bilirubin in the blood.
- Biliary dyskinesia. In this case, the child will be whiny and irritable, periodically complaining of abdominal pain, nausea, lack of appetite.
- Dehydration. Children easily pick up infections, including vomiting, diarrhea.
- Stomatitis. Although plaque is white in stomatitis, it can turn yellow if the oral cavity is not properly cared for.
- Parasitic infestations. The tongue may turn yellow when infected with worms, which often happens in childhood.
But even assuming a diagnosis, self-treatment of a child should never be done. If you suspect a particular disease, you need to see a doctor to be examined and get qualified help.
Pattern structure
An important role is also played by the structure of plaque and its density. So, curdled formations mean that the mucosa is affected by a fungal infection. A yellow coating on a wet, glossy tongue speaks of chronic colitis and pathologies of the gallbladder. If it is dry, there is a violation of the secretory function of the stomach. A thin and soft uniform coating indicates the onset of influenza or SARS. In this case, problems with the gastrointestinal tract are possible. Sometimes this reactiontriggered by food and medications. Dense and thick plaque is formed in severe infections and chronic pathologies of the liver and gallbladder.
Treatment of plaque on the tongue
White plaque does not always require special treatment. Before resorting, for example, to medicines, you need to understand why the tongue is lined. If the reason is tea, coffee, other foods or smoking, then you should give them up. And the plaque disappears on its own. It is also necessary to monitor oral hygiene. Brushing your teeth and tongue at least twice a day helps to cope with plaque and prevents its formation. The tongue can be cleaned with a special device. These are often equipped with toothbrushes, but there are also special scrapers for the tongue. In addition, you can remove excess with a teaspoon or a piece of gauze. You need to clean the tongue from the basal part to the tip. In this case, you can use toothpaste. Especially good is the remedy with antibacterial substances in the composition. You should also rinse your mouth after every meal and use dental floss.
But if quitting coffee or smoking didn't help, hygiene is maintained, but plaque still forms, you should seek help from a doctor. He will determine the cause and prescribe treatment.
Folk remedies for plaque treatment
White plaque is successfully eliminated by decoctions of various plants. Traditional medicine advises the use of chamomile, St. John's wort, yarrow, oak bark, sage. You can rinse your mouth with vegetable oil. A spoonful of liquid should be sucked for about 10-15 minutes, then spit out. During this time, the oil becomes white. If its shade has not changed, then the procedure was carried out incorrectly. It needs to be repeated. The language after that becomes noticeably cleaner. After completing the procedure, rinse your mouth thoroughly with water.
Yellow plaque is removed if you periodically chew propolis or dissolve a teaspoon of honey in your mouth in the morning. Rinsing with a decoction of chamomile, oregano, lime blossom, and sage also helps. A good prevention of plaque is solid vegetables and fruits. They give a load on the teeth and mechanically clean the tongue. In addition, you need to monitor the condition of the liver and gastrointestinal tract. It is recommended to take a decoction of flax seeds for gastritis and ulcers, and to maintain liver function, arrange fasting days and drink plenty of clean water. However, these remedies do not eliminate the cause of plaque, but only temporarily eliminate it and disinfect the oral cavity. If, after rinsing, you still have a yellow or white tongue, medical treatment is necessary.
Conclusions
So, a plaque of abnormal color and texture that doesn't go away for more than five days should be cause for concern. Physiological formations associated with bad habits and colored foods are removed by regular oral hygiene. The darker and denser the plaque, the more difficult it is to clean and the more serious the problem. Therefore, the sooner you see a doctor if you have a coated tongue, the sooner you will find the problem and get rid of it faster.
Don't ignore the signs of illness. They are always givencoated tongue, especially in children. don't overlook this sign. If you see that your tongue is overlaid, the plaque is not removed mechanically, it has a pronounced color and has changed its structure, be sure to undergo an examination in order to make a diagnosis and not start the disease.
