What your tongue tells me

Do you have a mirror handy? You're going to want to check out your tongue by the time you finish reading this. We may occasionally fool ourselves into thinking what we put into or expose our bodies too, somehow doesn't count. Our body however, starts to give off signals to let us know we're not fooling anyone. We get bags under our eyes when we don't get too much sleep, or our hair starts falling out when we don't eat right or suffer from too much stress. Our tongue likes to join in the fun by changing funky colors to show you (and the world) what's really going on inside you.

Healthy tongue

This is what a healthy tongue (more or less) looks like. It's pink with a reddish tint in color. A healthy tongue is not overly moist and it's smooth with a thin white film with no deep cracks.

OMG!

A black, hairy tongue is usually indicative of an overgrowth of bacteria. It's often caused by heavy smoking, certain medications or OTC (over the counter) drugs like Pepto-Bismol. Occasionally being a mouth breather may also cause this to happen to your tongue. The most common cause however, is poor oral hygiene, which means this condition is usually treatable without needing to see a doctor (unless it lasts more than 10 days).

Is this your tongue?

Oral thrush is usually an easy one to spot, as it looks like a white film covering the tongue. It's caused by candida yeast, affecting mostly babies and people who wear dentures. For adults, you will want to go see your doctor as it may also indicate a weakened immune system caused by diabetes, cancer and yeast infections. Certain medications like predisone (for asthma or COPD symptoms) and even birth control can also cause oral thrush.

Take care of your mouth, the American Dental Association (ADA) recommends brushing your teeth twice a day, flossing and also gently brushing your tongue to remove any bacteria buildup. Most experts believe brushing your teeth for 2-3 minutes is what you should aim for, covering different angles of your mouth. As always, if you have any concerns, be sure to check with your medical doctor or dentist.

**Also, don't forget! On May 19th the New York chapter of Tamika & Friends, Inc. as part of National Women's Health Week, is offering FREE Cervical Cancer screenings. You must schedule an appointment ahead of time by calling 917-829-8369 or by emailing nycchapter@tamikaandfriends.org