How Should Your Tongue Look Like?

Look at the colour 

• A healthy tongue should: Be pinkish in color
• A dark red shade: Indicates inflammation 
• A brownish or black discoloration of the tongue is caused due of excess consumption of tobacco, gutka and paan.
• A strawberry pink tongue could indicate the onset of scarlet fever or Kawasaki disease
• A thick white coating could be due to the over-secretion of bile in the liver and gall bladder. 
• When the tongue turns blue or purple, it's time to seek urgent medical help. 
• White patches can indicate a fungal infection or leukemia.

Look at the surface 

• A healthy person's tongue must be light pink and moist. 
• Lack of normal texture called as bald tongue can occur due to deficiency of Vitamin B complex or Iron.
• Patches or spots means the person could be prone to allergies. 
• A dry tongue is a sign of stress, since the salivary glands are not functioning at optimum level.