At St. Mary’s Dental in Mechanicsville we diagnose and treat conditions of the teeth and gums. These conditions can affect the tongue. We’re using this blog post to discuss the tongue.
Have you ever considered all the important things your tongue can do? It helps us talk, perceive the texture and flavor of food, chew, and swallow. It’s a strong and nimble gymnast, and it’s in nonstop motion during our waking hours.
Your tongue can also reveal physical problems. These may include digestive issues, infections, and diseases of the blood.
Tongue abnormalities and possible causes include:
- Swollen tongue: reaction to food/drink/medication, strep infection, leukemia, hypothyroidism
- White tongue: dehydration, yeast infection, irritation to tobacco, enteritis, gastritis, colitis, anemia, or other nutritional deficiency
- Canker sores: may be linked to stress or reaction to food, toothpaste, or mouthwash.
If you have persistent canker sores, you may want to try eliminating products that contain sodium lauryl (or laurel) sulfate (SLS). SLS is a cheap foaming agent that is found in many personal care products.
At St. Mary’s Dental in Mechanicsville we offer general and family dentistry, along with restorative dentistry and many other services. Call to schedule an appontment with us today!
Contact St. Mary’s Dental:
301-884-3248
Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):
28169 Old Village Rd
Mechanicsville, Maryland
20659
