What Your Tongue Says About Your Health

Your tongue is pretty amazing. Just think of all the things it does for you! It lets you taste your favorite foods. It helps you chew. It starts the process of swallowing. It’s clear that your tongue plays a very important role in your life. But did you know that your tongue can also be a good indicator of your overall health? Join us at the Dentist of Siouxland as we take a look at what your tongue can tell you.

Symptoms and What They Mean

There are many different things to look out for when inspecting your tongue. We’ve outlined some of them below so that you can look out for your oral and overall health.

    • White Tongue: If your tongue has white patches, it could be thrush. Thrush is a fungal infection that most often occurs after an illness or if you are taking medications that can affect the bacteria in your mouth. However, if the white areas are hard and can’t be scraped away it could be leukoplakia, which is linked to cancer.
    • “Hairy” Tongue: If it looks like there are patches of brown, black, or white “hair” on your tongue, it could be caused by certain antibiotics, diabetes or smoking.
    • Blue Tongue: If your tongue has a bluish color to it, it may be an indicator of poor oxygen circulation. This could be caused by an issue with the lungs.
    • Yellow Tongue: Yellow tongues are caused by a buildup of bacteria. This is most commonly associated with poor oral hygiene, tobacco or alcohol use, or dry mouth.
    • Dark Red or Purple Tongue: This coloration could be caused by a simple vitamin deficiency. However, it can also be an indicator of Scarlet Fever.
    • Burning Feeling: If your tongue feels like you just scalded it with hot coffee, you might be suffering from burning mouth syndrome. It could indicate an issue with the nerves in your tongue or could be caused by other issues, such as diabetes, infections, or acid reflux.
  • Smooth Tongue: If your tongue looks glossy red and has no bumps, it could be a nutrient deficiency. Being deficient in iron, folic acid, or Vitamin B is associated with this. However, it could be caused by something more serious, such as celiac disease.

 

You should make checking your tongue part of your regular oral hygiene routine. Now that you know some of the symptoms that you should keep an eye out for, you can take better care of your oral health and your overall health. 

If you have any questions about your tongue or overall health, please contact any of our three offices.

Increase Your Confidence: Take Your Teeth a Shade Lighter

Yellow and stained teeth are a thing of the past—or at least they can be. Teeth whitening is one of the easiest and most commonly requested ways to quickly improve the appearance of your smile. There are several ways in which you can get your teeth to a lighter shade, and the two primary places to get the shade you’re looking for is either at-home or in the dental office. Read more below to find out which options are most effective. 

At-Home

It can be hard to argue the perks of pursuing an at-home teeth whitening regimen. They are often the most cost effective options available. With their decreased cost, however, they tend to be less effective than in office whitening. Some of the most simple options are most likely the ones you have already heard of:

  • Whitening toothpaste: This special kind of toothpaste typically contains special abrasives that gently polish the teeth. It also contains chemicals, such as peroxide, that help break down and dissolve stains. Using this product can take around 6 weeks or more to see a lighter shade appear on the teeth.
  • Teeth whitening strips: This whitening method can be more effective than using a tooth whitening toothpaste, and it uses similar kinds of chemicals. It does not contain the abrasives that whitening toothpastes have, which can be better for dental health. This method requires you to wear the whitening strips twice a day for roughly two weeks for you to see your results.

When using both of these methods it is important to only use products that are endorsed by the American Dental Association and use the products as they are recommended. Whitening toothpaste and teeth whitening strips can more or less be effective ways of whitening teeth but they still pale in comparison to the products available at the disposal of your dentist.

Take-home teeth whitening kits: This method involves going to your dentist and being fitted for a teeth whitening tray that can be taken home. Your dentist will also send you with a teeth whitening gel that is often higher in concentration than anything you are able to get at the store. Your dentist will have special instructions on how to properly use this method and it can be much more effective than other take-home methods.

In-Office

Professional in-office teeth whitening is the quickest and easiest way to obtain the smile of your dreams. The process itself only takes about two hours to complete and will have you leaving the dentist office with a smile that can be several shades lighter than the one you walked in with. The level of shade reached is determined by several factors. The more stained teeth are, the more difficult they are to whiten. This type of staining can come from drink, food, or lifestyle habits. Even if they are stained, whitening is still possible. The only time when whitening is not possible is when the stained areas are artificial, such as veneers, crowns or fillings. Before beginning the whitening process, your gums will be protected either with special gels or rubber dams. Professional teeth whitening typically involves the use of special, highly concentrated gels, that only dentists can use. This method gets rid of stains deeper than surface level, and does a significantly better job than methods of those that can be bought at the store. At the end of treatment, there is typically a small increase in tooth sensitivity that will subside after a few days. 

Getting your teeth whitened in the office can not only have you feeling like you’re a celebrity, it will have you looking like one too. Teeth whitening can be the most dramatic way to improve your smile in the shortest amount of time. One of the other biggest chief complaints of an imperfect smile is having un-straight teeth. Our practice also offers Invisalign® which together with our powerful teeth whitening application, will give you a smile to be proud of. At The Dentist of Siouxland, we can give you the prizewinning smile of your dreams. Schedule an appointment today for a consultation.

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The Dentist of Siouxland at Lakeport

Hablamos Español

3434 S. Lakeport St.
Sioux City, IA 51106
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Hours

Monday: 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday: 7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Thursday: 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Friday: 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (Front Desk Only)

Phone

(712) 276-8391

Email Address

[email protected]

The Dentist of Siouxland at Hamilton

2930 Hamilton Blvd
STE 103, Building Upper F
Sioux City, IA 51104
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Hours

Monday - Thursday: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Phone

(712) 255-1440

Email Address

[email protected]

The Dentist of Siouxland at Elk Point

109 E. Main Street
P.O. Box 368
Elk Point, SD 57025
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Hours

Monday: 7:30 a.m - 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday: 7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday: 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Thursday: 8:00 a.m - 5:30 p.m.
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday: Closed

Phones answered during normal business hours any day Monday-Friday

Phone

(605) 356-2271

Email Address

[email protected]