Your tongue can provide some insight into your overall health.
Dentists often check the tongue during routine dental exams for a few reasons:
- To assess overall oral health: The tongue can provide important information about a person’s overall oral health. For example, a healthy tongue is typically smooth and pink in color, while an unhealthy tongue may be swollen, discolored, or covered in bumps or patches.
- To identify potential issues: Checking the tongue can help dentists identify potential issues such as thrush, an oral yeast infection; oral cancer; or other conditions that may affect the tongue.
- To check for signs of dehydration: The tongue can also provide information about a person’s hydration status. A dry, sticky tongue can be a sign of dehydration.
Overall, checking the tongue is an important part of a routine dental exam and can provide important information about a person’s oral and overall health. If a dentist notices any unusual changes or abnormalities during a tongue examination, they may recommend further evaluation or treatment.
Contact the dedicated and professional team at Escarpment View Dental to book an appointment or if you have any other oral care-related questions.