Ever have tongue patches, tongue color changes or tongue coatings? That's called geographic tongue, and it's about more than just your dental health. Your tongue health can be a not-so-hidden clue about your overall body health. See what the expert has to say about this ThirdAger's geographic tongue and what it might mean.
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QUESTION: Sometimes my tongue gets bald, red patches or thick yellowish coatings on it. My tongue looks nasty. My doctor says that it's nothing to worry about. Do you agree?
ANSWER: You describe what is termed "geographic tongue" because it looks like a map. The smooth, red patches are surrounded by grayish white areas. The tiny bumps on the tongue called "papillae" fall off, that's why you see the patches, but they are able to grow back.
To find a solution, you have to determine the cause. Geographic tongue may indicate a hormonal imbalance, low thyroid, liver disease, yeast overgrowth or a weakened immune system. Poor intestinal health, antibiotic use, liver disease, a bile disorder and digestive disorders (like Celiac, Crohn's, IBS) all impact the color and texture of your tongue. People with methylcobalamin (B12) deficiencies and other B vitamin deficiencies have tongue issues.
