The tongue is primarily made up of muscles. Some of these muscles control its shape, while others manage its movement. It is covered with specialized membranes that contain numerous tiny bumps—papillae—that are linked to our taste receptors.
But the tongue does more than just distinguish the taste and texture of food; it also aids in swallowing. Its appearance can provide important information about our health. This was elaborated on by Dan Baumgardt, a senior lecturer at the School of Physiology, Pharmacology, and Neuroscience at the University of Bristol in the UK.
Colorful Tongues
The tongue can take on the most unexpected colors. For instance, it can turn bright red. This inflamed and swollen tongue is sometimes referred to as a “strawberry tongue,” as its papillae resemble the seeds of a strawberry.
However, the tongue doesn’t immediately change to this color. It typically starts with a white coating. Once that coating fades, the tongue becomes bright red. This should be taken seriously, as such a color can indicate conditions like scarlet fever, caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pyogenes. This contagious illness is treated with antibiotics.
A strawberry tongue can also be a sign of Kawasaki disease, a potentially serious inflammatory condition that most commonly affects children. A doctor can help diagnose it.
Additionally, a bright red tongue can occur due to toxic shock syndrome—a rare, life-threatening condition. This arises from bacteria entering the body through the skin and releasing harmful toxins. Symptoms of the illness include high fever, muscle aches, and a distinctive rash resembling sandpaper, as reported by Science Alert.
The tongue can also suddenly turn white or even black (!). A white color may indicate oral thrush—oral candidiasis. This condition most often affects infants and elderly individuals who wear dentures. It can be relatively easily treated with medication. Meanwhile, a “black hairy tongue” (lingua villosa nigra) is associated with smoking, dry mouth, and poor oral hygiene. The name of this condition comes from the unusual elongation of the papillae, which resemble hair.
Ultimately, the tongue can appear blue. This color reveals central cyanosis—a serious condition where the mouth, tongue, and face may take on a cyanotic hue due to insufficient oxygen saturation in the blood or poor circulation. Thus, a bluish tongue can be a sign of various heart and lung diseases.
“Geographic” Tongue
As Dan Baumgardt noted, the tongue can not only change colors but also take on truly fantastic appearances. One example is the so-called “geographic” tongue. Smooth red patches appear on its upper surface, making it resemble a world map, with landmasses interspersed with patches of ocean.
The peculiarity of this condition is that the smooth spots can appear and disappear, altering the tongue’s appearance. A geographic tongue is often associated with several conditions, including psoriasis, allergies, asthma, and diabetes.