14 reasons for yellowing of the tongue that should be taken seriously

Yellow tongue is a strange but harmless thing that usually goes away over time. There are only a few serious diseases, such as jaundice, that need treatment. So if you wake up one day and see your tongue yellow, do not be afraid and investigate the reasons for it. Then, to be sure, see a specialist to check your health.

In this article, we ask BingMag to investigate the causes of yellowing of the tongue.

What does a yellow tongue look like?

The appearance of the yellow tongue depends on the cause. Overgrowth of yeast causes yellowish-white spots on the tongue and other parts of the mouth. Improper oral hygiene and some other conditions cause dead skin cells, bacteria and other particles to accumulate in the mouth and on the surface of the tongue. This can also cause bad breath. Some foods and medications can also temporarily cause yellow spots in areas of the mouth, such as the gums or palate. It is true that jaundice is not common, but if jaundice is seen on the palate, eyes and skin other than the tongue, you should see a specialist immediately to treat the jaundice.

Causes of jaundice

yellowing of the tongue has many causes, and in this section we will introduce some of the most important causes.

1. Poor oral hygiene

When you do not brush regularly, skin cells and bacteria can accumulate on the papillae of the tongue (small bumps on the tip and sides of the tongue). Bacteria release pigments that can make your tongue yellow. Food and tobacco can also get stuck on the papillae and turn the tongue yellow.

Black hairy tongue

Black hairy tongue is a harmless disease caused by the overgrowth of dead skin cells on the tongue. This overgrowth causes the papillae of the tongue to become larger. Bacteria, soil and food are some of the things that accumulate on these bumps and change the color of the tongue. It is true that the name of this disorder refers to blackening of the tongue, but the color of the tongue can change to yellow or other colors before turning black.

Factors that may play a role in the formation of black hairy tongue:

• Smoking
• Excessive coffee consumption
• Drinking alcohol
• Dry mouth
• Some antibiotics such as Tetracyclines
• Diet containing soft foods

Some of the symptoms of black hairy tongue:

• Burning sensation on the tongue
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• Tickling sensation
• Strange taste in the mouth
• Bad breath

3. Dry mouth or mouth breathing

Dry mouth means not having enough saliva. Saliva has the ability to flush bacteria out of the mouth, which helps prevent tooth decay. If your mouth is dry abnormally, you should know that the accumulation of bacteria can cause yellow spots on your tongue.

Factors that can lead to dry mouth:

• Side effects of medications
• Diseases such as Sjgren's syndrome and diabetes
• Radiation therapy and chemotherapy
• Sleep breathing through the mouth

4. Geographical Language

When a piece of papilla on the tongue disappears, the language looks like a world map or map Finds countries. For this reason, this disorder is called geographic tongue. The cause of this disorder is still unknown. The spots are often red but may also be yellow. These stains can sometimes be really annoying.

5. Bismuth-containing drugs

Pepto-bismuth (a mild antacid suitable for the stomach) and drugs containing bismuth sub-salicylate can turn the tongue yellow and then black. These drugs also affect the color of the stool and make it darker than usual.

6. Antibiotics

Taking antibiotics makes the mouth more prone to thrush. Oral thrush is an infection caused by the overgrowth of Candida albicans yeast, which causes white or yellow spots on the tongue, cheeks, gums or lips. Black hairy tongue may also be a rare side effect of antibiotics.

Other Medications

In addition to the drugs reviewed separately, there are other medications and drugs that cause the tongue and mouth to change color to yellow or brown. When the color change is severe, the tongue shows it perfectly. The list of drugs that cause temporary discoloration includes:

• Iron
• Psychotropic drugs that cause dry mouth.
• Anti-malarial drugs
• Oral contraceptives
• Chlorpromazine
• Cyclophosphamide and busulfan
• Chemotherapy drugs
• Zidovudine
• Lansoprazole
• Cocaine

8. Some mouthwashes

Witch hazel is a shrub native to the east coast of the United States that is still used as an ornamental plant outdoors. This plant has unique properties and has a long history of medical use.

Mouthwash containing peroxide, Witch Hazel or menthol extract can change the color of the tongue. Prescription mouthwashes containing chlorhexidine can also stain the surface of the teeth and tongue.

Tobacco smoke and chewing

The chemicals in tobacco and its smoke can change the color of the tongue to yellow. Smoking is also a risk factor for developing black hairy tongue. In a 2018 study, they looked at a 36-year-old woman who smoked 25 cigarettes a day for 17 years and had a yellow, hairy tongue. His tongue improved completely after changing his oral hygiene habits as well as quitting smoking.

10. Diet

Some foods and beverages can cause temporary yellow or brown spots on the tongue. Tea and coffee are the most important causes of these stains. Snacks such as chips and puffs, vitamins, and supplements that use food coloring can also cause jaundice.

Jaundice is a complication that causes the skin and whites of the eyes to turn yellow. This happens when the liver is damaged and can not properly process the waste product bilirubin. Bilirubin is a pigment produced during the breakdown of red blood cells. Jaundice can also cause yellowing of the mouth. Bilirubin tends to accumulate along the soft palate and floor of the mouth and near the phrenolum, the tissue strip that connects the tongue to the bottom of the mouth. Jaundice requires immediate medical attention because it can cause diseases such as cirrhosis, hepatitis, pancreatic cancer, liver cancer and bile duct obstruction.

Autoimmune disease

An autoimmune disease called psoriasis, which causes the skin to flake off, can cause red spots with yellow edges on the tongue. Of course, oral psoriasis is very rare, but it is considered as one of the possibilities of changing the color of the tongue to yellow. According to research conducted in 2019, from 1903 to 2009, only 64 cases of oral psoriasis were observed.

13. Diabetes In a study published in the Journal of Epidemiology in 2018, researchers found that a study of non-smoking Japanese men and women with prediabetes found that jaundice was associated with diabetes. .

14. Stomach condition

Gastritis means inflammation of the lining of the stomach. Chronic gastritis with the long-term inflammation it causes can cause a yellow coating on the tongue. In one study, researchers found that 840.16% of jaundice was seen in 440 patients with chronic gastritis infected with Helicobacter pylori.

When to see a doctor Did you call?

If you only saw the yellow tongue and you have no other symptoms, you do not need to call Not a doctor. But if you have other symptoms of jaundice, infection or liver damage, you should see a doctor immediately.

The most important symptoms to look for:

• Abdominal pain
• Observation of blood in stool
• Vomiting
• Fever
• Bruising and easy bleeding
• Yellow color does not disappear after 2 weeks Is.
• The skin or whites of the eyes are yellow.
• Pain in the tongue

Does jaundice have any side effects?

• Liver ulcer
• Liver failure
• Swelling in the legs And abdomen
• enlarged spleen
• gastrointestinal bleeding
• liver cancer

so it is better to be sure and eliminate Concerns If you see a yellow tongue, see your doctor to look for other factors and possibilities.

Is there a underlying cause for yellowing of the tongue?

A specialist doctor can tell you Help to understand why your tongue turns yellow. To diagnose the cause, you also need to be examined and your medical records checked. Your doctor may be able to determine the cause of yellowing of the tongue after examining the signs and symptoms, but sometimes there is a need for a closer look to find the underlying cause. For this reason, you may be prescribed a blood test and imaging.

How to prevent jaundice?

Source: healthline