The Mouth - A Window to Internal Well-being
Healthy looking tongue
Have you looked at your tongue? What can you see…
Functional medicine emphasises the significance of oral health and examination, considering the mouth as a window to internal well-being akin to nails and hair.
The mucosa, or wet lining of the mouth and tongue is constantly renewing itself, and as such provides valuable information about underlying imbalances: the presence of an inflammatory process, mineral or vitamin deficiency or even organ malfunction.
As part of maintaining oral hygiene, it is advisable to observe the appearance of the tongue both in the morning and before going to bed.
Interestingly in the Indian subcontinent, the practice of brushing and scraping the tongue is a common daily routine, akin to brushing the teeth. During sleep, a thick biofilm composed of microorganisms can accumulate on the teeth and tongue. Regular removal of this biofilm through tongue scraping can help prevent oral health issues and promote overall well-being.
In traditional Chinese medicine, the tongue is considered a significant indicator of overall health.
Diagnostic practitioners examine various aspects of the tongue, such as its colour, finish, moisture, and shape, to gain insights into the body's condition. These indicators are carefully analysed to reveal underlying imbalances or issues affecting the individual's health. This holistic approach to health assessment recognises the interconnectedness of the body's systems and how subtle signs in one area, such as the tongue, can provide valuable information about the individual's well-being.
In functional medicine, similar attention to detail and consideration of the root causes of symptoms are key principles in addressing chronic diseases and promoting overall well-being.
What can the tongue tell you?
Size: An enlarged tongue is a sign of hypothyroidism, sleep apnoea, medication side effects, obesity
Shape: Scalloping is a sign of bruxism, sleep apnea, hypothyroidism, and insulin resistance.
Colour: The red beefy, non-painful tongue can indicate niacin deficiency and potentially liver disease.
Red slick tongue may suggest protein and multi-vitamin deficiency, commonly associated with psoriasis, smoking, alcohol misuse, Crohn’s disease, and celiac disease.
White tongue might signal dysbiosis of the gut, microbiome imbalance, and potential bacterial and fungal overgrowth. Benign conditions such as oral lichen planus, create the appearance of white lines.
Black tongue could be linked to smoking, consumption of foods like Oreo cookies, sulfur bacteria dysbiosis, antibiotic-induced alterations, and black hairy tongue.
Dark brown to black tongue is most often caused by bacteria from poor oral hygiene habits. Diabetes is another potential cause of a black tongue. Loss of a large amount of blood or low haemoglobin can also be caused.
Green leafy vegetables
The type and health of the tongue are directly related to the levels of B vitamins. For example:
A smooth and painful tongue with swelling of the mouth and canker sores may indicate a vitamin B3 deficiency.
A purple-red tongue could signal a niacin (vitamin B5) deficiency, known as the anti-stress vitamin.
Sore, red tongue with bleeding gums might suggest a folic acid (vitamin B9) deficiency.
A sore, red, glossy tongue could be a sign of vitamin B12 deficiency. Check your nails, they might appear spoon-shaped.
A smooth and pale tongue may indicate a biotin (vitamin B7) deficiency.
At Lantern Clinic, we offer innovative functional testing, such as Metabolomix, which provides more accurate information about the levels of B vitamins compared to conventional blood testing. This advanced testing allows us to assess individual requirements and tailor treatment plans to address any deficiencies effectively.
If after you have reached so far, reading this blog and feel prompted to look at your tongue, we are here to support you, making sense of anything that might be concerning. Why don’t you consider sending a picture of your tongue to our email info@lanternclinic.com? Dr Margarita has an intriguing collection of tongue images and she will be happy to check yours and provide free advice.
Have you been suffering in silence for a long time, misunderstood and alone? You don’t have to accept this, maybe functional medicine is the right avenue to explore. Dr. Margarita takes time to listen to you, is deeply interested in your health journey, and is a deep diver, who gets to the root cause of disease.
Start your journey to optimal health today, book your free discovery call!
Many thanks to my colleague Mihaela Shehova, IPHM, who provided inspiration and helpful tips for this article.
