Our tongues allow us to taste our foods, which is why we have over 10,000 taste buds on our tongues. When a cancer sore infects the tongue, this taste bud is unable to taste food and it can be painful until it heals properly. Many of us do not pay attention to our tongues and our taste buds until we have a head cold and we are unable to taste some of the foods we eat because our sense of smell is distorted. Daily cleansing of the tongue is important to prevent infections from occurring within the mouth. If you notice, every routine check-up you have, your doctor will examine your mouth, nose, and throat. They often ask you to stick out your tongue so they can check for a serious condition known as anaemia. If you have anaemia, your tongue will appear red, smooth, and it will be painful.

Many of us are prone to having ulcers on the tongue. This is the same as having a cancer sore on the tongue and it normally goes away within 48 hours of noticing it. Mouthwash can help to numb the ulcer so it is not as painful. There are also numbing gels like Oragel which can help to numb the ulcer to reduce the pain and allow you to go on with your regular eating. If the ulcer lasts longer than 48 hours, seek medical advice. It could be a warning sign of cancer in the mouth. If you smoke or chew tobacco, your chances of having mouth ulcers are higher than others that avoid tobacco products.

Almost everyone will experience a furred tongue at least once. This is when your tongue looks dirty because dead cells collect on the tongue and they build-up. To remove the dead cells, you need to brush your tongue or use a tongue scraper. You might also consider consuming more vegetables and high-fiber foods as they help to keep the tongue clean and they remove the bacteria. People with multiple dead cells on the tongue often have bad breath problems. Again, a tongue scraper is the best way to get rid of the bad breath smell. Snorers and smokers often have white tongues because they breathe out of their mouths. Eating a lot of softer foods will also cause you to have a furred tongue.

 Some individuals may have white patches on the tongue. It is common for infants to have white patches on the tongue. This condition is known as thrush and it can be caused from improper sterilization of the bottles. Breast fed babies can also control thrush because it is a fungal infection, similar to a yeast infection. When a mother passes it to her infant, they can pass it back to her when they breast feed, causing painful, itching, and red breasts. Some people will have a white tongue when they take certain medications and this is an allergic reaction to them. If your infant has thrush or you have thrush, you will need to take medication and possibly you will need to rinse your mouth with a special type of mouthwash each day. It is important to be examined by a doctor if you have white patches on your tongue. This is because not only is it a warning sign of thrush, it is also a warning sign of cancer. This happens if you are unable to scrape away the white patches and they are not painful. If you do not receive proper treatment you may have cancer of the mouth, which can be difficult to treat.

Many people choose to have tongue piercings. If you have a tongue piercing, you are taking a big risk of getting HIV or even hepatitis C. It is important to visit a professional salon if you want your tongue pierced and make sure the needle is sterilized. After the tongue piercing you may have swelling of the tongue and even an infection. It is important to rinse the mouth often with hot water and salt to prevent infection, think of it like having a tooth extracted and try to keep the area as clean as possible.