Let’s learn about how different problems with your tongue can interfere with your mouth’s fundamental functions.
Your tongue is one of the most important parts of your mouth. However, when it comes to oral health, and indeed, how your mouth operates, it’s often overlooked. While taking care of your teeth and gums is essential, don’t forget to pay some attention to your tongue as well. Let’s learn about how different problems with your tongue can interfere with your mouth’s fundamental functions.
What Might be Wrong with My Tongue?
It’s Swollen: If your tongue is swollen, it is a condition known as glossitis. How does it happen? You might be allergic to something you used while brushing or flossing, or something in your mouthwash. It could also be due to an allergy related to your food or medication. Your tongue might also swell if you get too anxious. However, a swollen tongue could be an indicator of something more serious, such as acromegaly.
It Hurts: What could make your tongue hurt? Perhaps you are suffering from canker sores, mouth ulcers, or an undiagnosed tongue injury.
It’s Coated: What does it mean if your tongue is coated? You might not be brushing it thoroughly enough, or you drink too much coffee or tea. These beverages can leave a sticky residue on your tongue that you might not notice until it starts to cause a problem. Do you smoke or use tobacco in any other form? That might also form a coating on your tongue.
So How Does It Affect My Mouth?
Trouble Talking: if something is wrong with your tongue, it could also affect how you talk. Enunciating and articulating are two key speech skills that suffer when you have a swollen tongue, or if your teeth and gums hurt too much for your tongue to touch them.
Trouble Eating: You could also have trouble eating if your tongue has some issue affecting it. Depending on the damage done to your tongue, your taste buds might stop working, which means you can’t taste or enjoy your food as much. A swollen tongue can also give you trouble while chewing, which means that when you swallow, you might choke on your food unintentionally.
GET BETTER ORAL HEALTH WITH ANNAPOLIS DENTAL CENTER
Whether you need a tooth extraction or just want to get a dental health check-up, Annapolis Dental Center has the expertise and compassion to work with you to improve your oral health and get you smiling again. We value your comfort and dental health, so we go above and beyond to make our patients happy with the services that they receive. To set up your appointment today, give us a call at (410) 571-5014 or visit us online. For more oral health tips for you and the whole family, visit us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and check us out on Yelp!