If Your Tongue Has Wavy Edges, THIS Is What's Happening

It’s easy to forget how important your tongue is. It’s the reason you can taste things, of course. But it also allows you to form actual words when you speak. Otherwise, you’d have to work much harder to make more than slurred noises.

But like any other part of the body, your tongue can have times when it’s not feeling its best. And whether it’s because of trauma or disease, it’s going to show. And sometimes it can even give you some warning signs about your health in general. But what’s the use of those signs if you don’t know how to read them, right?

Let’s go through some of the many things your tongue could be trying to tell you.

Don’t forget to SHARE this and help your friends figure out what’s going on with their tongues. 

1. Pink, bumpy tongue.

This is exactly what you want. Those bumps are called papillae and make it easier to eat and tell you how hot your food is and what it tastes like.

via Shutterstock

2. White, coated tongue.

This means your oral health could use some work, but it’s usually nothing to worry about. This can be brought on by dry mouth, drinking a lot of alcohol, or smoking.

Usually you can get rid of this by gently brushing your tongue and drinking water.

via Pigeons and Planes | Ethan Miller / Getty Images

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3. Stubborn white patches.

This is called leukoplakia. Its arrival means your mouth is making too many cells. It’s not always dangerous, but it can be a sign of cancer, so it’s a good idea to check with your doctor.

via mddk

4. Thick, cheese-like coating.

This is a kind of yeast infection called oral thrush. It often appears in young children, but can also sprout up if you wear dentures, have a weakened immune system, or use antibiotics.

Talk to your dentist to find out the right treatment for this health problem.

via James Heilman, MD / Wikipedia

5. Lacy white lines.

These are called oral lichen planus and they usually go away on their own. Keep your mouth healthy and avoid smoking and they shouldn’t bother you again.

via Prime Health Channel

6. Tongue with wavy edges (scalloped tongue.)

This is often a sign of thyroid problems if your tongue is swollen. If not, it could be a jaw problem like TMJ. Talk to your doctor to be sure.

via The San Francisco Globe | Heal Cure / Melanie St. Ours

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7. Red, beefy tongue.

This often means you’re not getting enough vitamin B-12 or folic acid. You can find folic acid in most bread products and leafy vegetables.

via Stanford Medicine 25

8. Red tongue with a high fever.

This is a sign of scarlet fever, which means you should contact a doctor immediately. For children under five, it could also be Kawasaki disease, which affects the blood vessels.

via Dentagama

9. Fissured, cracked tongue.

This can develop as you get older, but it’s mostly harmless. If you also get unexplained lip or facial swelling, talk to your doctor because it could be a rare disease called Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome.

via Geographic Tongue

10. Smooth, red patches.

If a dentist says you have geographic tongue, this is what they mean. It usually just means you’ll be more sensitive to spicy foods, cigarette smoke, and certain toothpastes.

via Bin im Garten / Wikipedia

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11. Black, hairy coating.

It’s not actually hair, it’s really bacteria and fungi getting stuck on your papillae. It may look scary, but it’s pretty harmless. 

Just keep up your oral hygiene and start gently brushing your tongue.

via Otolaryngology Houston

12. Tongue sores.

Having these mean you bit your tongue or have canker sores. But if they don’t go away after two weeks, talk to your doctor because it could also be oral cancer.

via Diseases Pictures

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