First, it helps to understand a little about the tongue. Your tongue is composed of a group of small muscles and is attached to the floor of the mouth. Small bumps called papillae cover the surface. Most of your taste buds are within the papillae. We rely on our tongues to taste, talk, and eat.
A healthy tongue is pink and covered with small papillae. Minor injuries from eating hot food like pizza or biting your tongue should heal within a couple of weeks. If you notice pain, discomfort, or any changes in appearance or function talk to your dentist or physician. If you notice a change in color pay attention. Different colors and coatings indicate different issues. For example, a while coating may indicate an oral yeast infection.
Furthermore, your dentist has seen hundreds of tongues ranging from super healthy to unhealthy. Because of this, dental professionals are often uniquely suited to recognize problems that manifest in the tongue earlier. If you notice any sudden changes, call your doctor. Sometimes the tongue may hint to a slow-building issue like poor oral hygiene.
But other times sudden changes may indicate a medical emergency. Much like hair, the papillae on your tongue grow throughout your lifetime. In some people, they become excessively long, which makes them more likely to harbor bacteria. He says people with diabetes, taking antibiotics or receiving chemotherapy may also develop a black hairy tongue. Canker sores — mouth ulcers.
Allan says everyone should check their tongue on a daily basis when they brush their teeth and tongue. White, red, black or bumps? Those are all things that should be checked out by your doctor. Learn more about vaccine availability. If further testing is recommended due to an abnormal screening, your dentist will likely collaborate with your doctor on the next steps. An oral cancer screening will involve a discussion of your medical history to determine if you have any risk factors associated with oral cancer, such as smoking tobacco, drinking alcohol or having a family history of cancer.
The clinician will also thoroughly examine the inside and outside of your mouth and throat to check for any abnormalities, such as patches of color, bumps, firm nodules or masses.
Specialty tools, such as a laser light or blue dye, may be used to further evaluate abnormal areas. If you would like to consult with an oncologist in the Head and Neck Cancer Program at Moffitt Cancer Center about the tongue issues you are experiencing, call us at or submit a new patient registration form online. Please call for support from a Moffitt representative. New Patients and Healthcare Professionals can submit an online form by selecting the appropriate buttonbelow.
You may be asked questions such as: When did you first notice the problem? Have you had similar symptoms before? Do you have pain, swelling, breathing problems, or difficulty swallowing? Are there problems with speaking or moving the tongue?
Have you noticed changes in taste? Do you have a tongue tremor? What makes the problem worse? What have you tried that helps? Do you wear dentures? Are there problems with the teeth, gums, lips, or throat? Does the tongue bleed? Do you have a rash or fever? Do you have allergies? What medicines do you take?
Do you use tobacco products or drink alcohol? You may need blood tests or a biopsy to check for other conditions. Treatment depends on the cause of the tongue problem. Possible treatments include: If nerve damage has caused a tongue movement problem, the condition must be treated. Therapy may be needed to improve speech and swallowing. Ankyloglossia may not need to be treated, unless you have speech or swallowing problems.
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