2 weeks Ago
Has your doctor asked you to stick out your tongue and say "aaah"? While the GP assesses your throat, they're also checking out your tongue, which can reveal a lot about your health. The doctor will look for any changes in the tongue's surface or how it moves. This can indicate issues in the mouth itself, as well as the state of your overall health and immunity.
But there's no need to wait for a trip to the doctor. Cleaning your tongue twice a day can help you check how your tongue looks and feels – and improve your breath. What does a healthy tongue look like? Our tongue plays a crucial role in eating, talking and other vital functions.
It is not a single muscle but rather a muscular organ, made up of eight muscle pairs that help it move. The surface of the tongue is covered by tiny bumps that can be seen and felt, called papillae, giving it a rough surface. These are sometimes mistaken for taste buds – they're not.
Of your 200,000-300,000 papillae, only a small fraction contain taste buds. Adults have up to 10,000 taste buds and they are invisible to the naked eye, concentrated mainly on the tip, sides and back of the tongue. A healthy tongue is pink although the shade may vary from person to person, ranging from dark to light pink.
A small amount of white coating can be normal. But significant changes or discolouration may indicate a disease or other issues. How should I clean my tongue? Cleaning your tongue only takes around 10-15 seconds, but it's is a good way to check in with your health and can easily be incorporated into your teeth brushing routine.
You can clean your tongue by gently...
.
