Are you worried about your Yellow Tongue?
Whilst usually harmless, yellow tongue can sometimes be associated with conditions that may require further investigation or treatment. These conditions include geographic tongue, black hairy tongue, jaundice, gall stones, pancreatitis, hepatitis, and sickle cell disease. It is also worth noting that certain medications, particularly those that contain bismuth, a common ingredient in medications used to treat diarrhoea, stomach complaints or nausea, all list tongue discolouration as a possible side effect.
The most likely explanation for the appearance of yellow discolouration on the surface of the tongue is poor oral hygiene, the good news is that this is an easy problem to fix. Brushing your teeth thoroughly twice a day, brushing or scraping your tongue, using floss or interdental brushes to remove food from in between the teeth and adding anti-bacterial mouthwash to your routine can all help to stem the symptoms of yellow tongue and improve oral hygiene in general. It is also important to visit your dentist regularly as part of your efforts to improve your oral hygiene. The advice below may help you to reverse the symptom you are experiencing and prevent any reoccurrence.
- Drink plenty of water
- Maintain a healthy lifestyle with a balanced and nutritious diet
- Avoid smoking
- Avoid alcohol
- Avoid caffeinated drinks
Whilst it is likely that the discolouration on the surface of your tongue can be explained by simple and easy-to-remedy problems. It is possible that it could be a symptom of a condition that would benefit from medical intervention like geographic tongue, black hairy tongue, or in more serious and rare cases jaundice, a disease that affects your body’s ability to break down a yellow substance called bilirubin. The build-up on bilirubin is what causes your skin, eyes, or tongue to turn yellow. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed below you should contact a doctor for a consultation.
- If your skin or eyes are turning yellow
- If you have experienced the symptoms for more than two weeks
- If you have tried to remedy the situation yourself but the symptoms have not improved
Here at VIDA we have expert clinicians on hand to help diagnose and treat your condition. To find out more about these services, we recommend visiting the following pages:
- Black hairy tongue
- Geographic tongue
- Jaundice