Why is my tongue green

Strawberry red If you have a glossy, bright red tongue, it could mean that you have a vitamin deficiency. The cells on your tongue require nutrients like vitamin B12 and iron to mature. If your tongue is bright red, ask your doctor about whether you should take supplements or change your diet to get more nutrients.

If you notice red lesions or growths on your tongue that last longer than two weeks, talk to your doctor—those marks could be a sign of oral cancer. These lesions are not always painful and occur most often in older people. Geisinger otolaryngologist Dr. Pleasant in Scranton and Geisinger Tunkhannock. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Linker, please call or visit Geisinger.

Leukoplakia is usually caused by irritants such as tobacco and alcohol, but may also result from inflammatory conditions and irritation from dentures. The patches that leukoplakia causes are harmless by themselves. Tongues with a thick and lumpy white coating could mean you have oral thrush, a fungal infection of your mouth's mucous membranes. On the other hand, a tongue that looks only slightly white can indicate dehydration.

Brushing your tongue involves gently scrubbing your tongue from back to tip with a moistened toothbrush. You can do this most effectively while brushing your teeth by spitting out excess toothpaste after cleaning your teeth but before rinsing so that your mouth and toothbrush still have toothpaste residue on them. In most cases, yellow tongue causes no symptoms other than yellow tongue discoloration. Yellow tongue that progresses to black hairy tongue syndrome may cause symptoms including: Halitosis , or bad breath.

A healthy tongue should be pink and covered with small nodules papillae. Any deviation from your tongue's normal appearance, or any pain, may be cause for concern. What does it mean when your tongue is greenish yellow? Category: medical health dental health.

Why would my tongue be green? Why is there green stuff on my tongue? Why is the top of my mouth yellow? Is a yellow tongue a sign of liver problems? What does cancer of tongue look like? What does oral thrush look like? Can acid reflux affect your tongue? What is growing on my tongue? Can oral thrush be yellow?

Can dehydration cause yellow tongue? Fast facts on yellow tongue :. What does your tongue tell you about your health? Should you brush your tongue? What causes thick coating on tongue? What does tongue color indicate? Steps a person can take to encourage healing include:. Some doctors may also recommend eating probiotic foods or supplements to increase the number of good bacteria in the body. Tongue scraping may also help reduce the number of germs on the tongue and in the mouth that contribute to oral issues.

Tongue scraping is not a cure for a green tongue but may help support a doctor-recommended medication or treatment plan. Tongue scraping may work best when added to a daily oral hygiene routine, along with brushing and flossing.

It is best to ask a doctor or dentist about tongue scraping before starting, as it may not be helpful in every case. When not caused by temporary staining from food coloring, green tongue is often a sign of an overgrowth of harmful germs in the mouth. Whether this is a yeast overgrowth or another type of infection, it is essential to see a doctor for treatment if the discoloration does not resolve in a few days or goes away and comes back. Many cases of green tongue require medical treatment.

Following the treatment plan set out by the doctor is the best way to resolve the underlying issue. Your Name: required. Your Phone: required. Your Email:. Your Message: required. I agree to Terms required. Chula Vista Dental Implants by Dr. All Rights Reserved. Seven causes of a green tongue. Posted on: April 14, Posted in: Chula Vista Dental Implants.

Posted by: Babak Hosseini. Oral thrush may cause discoloration of the tongue. Geographic tongue may cause unusual patterns and colors on the tongue.

Image credit: Martanopue, Treatment for green tongue usually involves taking prescribed medication.