Your eyes may be the windows to your soul, but your tongue may be the closest thing there is to a window to your health. A healthy tongue is pink, the edges are smooth, and the surface is covered with small bumps. Those bumps are called papillae and they’re there for several reasons, one of which is to help the tongue grip your food and move it around inside your mouth. Papillae are also home to the thousands of receptors (which we call taste buds) that allow you to taste what you’re eating.
Unfortunately, not all tongues are healthy, pink, and smooth. So every once in a while (at least once a week), get in front of a mirror and give your tongue a thorough once-over, paying close attention to any unusual textures, colors, pain, or discomfort. Sometimes these things are no big deal and will go away on their own, but some tongue symptoms may indicate a larger health issue. So if you see anything that scares you (we’ll talk about that below), the pain doesn’t go away, or your tongue doesn’t return to its normal, pink, smooth self within a week or two, see your healthcare provider.
In this article, we take a look at some common tongue issues and what they might mean if you see one in the mirror.
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