At The Center for Dental Anesthesia in Alexandria we diagnose and treat conditions of the teeth and gums on a daily basis. 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.
Is tongue-scraping a good idea, in addition to brushing your teeth? We recommend thorough dental hygiene that includes your tongue.
At The Center for Dental Anesthesia in Alexandria we offer complete family dentistry. Patients from northern Virgina, Fairfax, and Prince William County also come to us for cosmetic dentistry. Call to schedule an appontment with us today!
Contact Center for Dental Anesthesia:
703-379-6400
Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):
5284 Dawes Ave
Alexandria, Virginia
22311
