Tongue Color & Texture Changes

Common Tongue Appearance Changes

• White Tongue: Often caused by dehydration or poor hygiene, but can also be a sign of oral thrush or leukoplakia.
• Black Hairy Tongue: A harmless condition where papillae overgrow and trap bacteria.
• Geographic Tongue: A benign condition creating a map-like pattern of smooth, red patches on the tongue.
• Fissured Tongue: The presence of deep grooves on the tongue's surface, which is a normal variation.
• Bright Red (Strawberry) Tongue: Can be a sign of a vitamin deficiency or a condition like Kawasaki disease or scarlet fever.