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Oral health provides clues about our overall health. The mouth is teeming with bacteria and is the entry point to many of our vital organs.
Oral hygienist Shalini Kanagasingham, Senior Clinical Lecturer at the University of Central Lancashire's Dental School (UCLan), recommends taking good care of your oral health to avoid many worrisome health conditions, saying: "The presence of bacteria from infected teeth and gums in the bloodstream can lead to an accumulation of fat." in the blood vessels leading to your heart. Over time, this can cause the arteries to harden and become clogged, leading to heart attacks and strokes."
He added: "Taking care of our teeth and gums can provide long-term benefits for our general health, as well as our general well-being and quality of life."
But teeth and gums aren't the only components that affect overall health.
And according to Dr Paul Etlinger, GP at The London General Practice, it's important to pay attention to the shape of the tongue as well.
yellow tongue
Yellow on the tongue can be caused by thrush, poor oral hygiene, or tobacco.
Sometimes yellowing of the tongue may be the result of "some mouthwashes and some medicines."
Products that may cause yellowing of the tongue include antibiotics, lansoprazole, iron salts, and blood thinners.
mouth breath
Those who tend to breathe more through their mouths than through their noses are more likely to develop dry mouth. "Saliva helps remove excess bacteria from the surface of the tongue. So when it's reduced, you run the risk of bacterial overgrowth as bacteria and food particles remain on the lining of the tongue, which can cause a yellow coating," explained Dr. Etlinger.
white tongue
A white tongue could be a sign of an underlying health condition, says the NHS, including lichen planus, a rash that also appears on other parts of the body in addition to the mouth.
A white tongue can also be caused by geographic tongue, mouth ulcers or oral thrush, and leukoplakia (or leukoplakia), which is a painless white spot on the tongue, which should be examined by a dentist if it remains for two weeks or more.
You should see a doctor if you have any of the following symptoms:
Groups of shiny, raised, purple-red spots on your arms, legs, or body (you may see fine white lines on the spots)
White patches on the gums, tongue, or inside of the cheeks
A burning sensation in your mouth, especially when eating or drinking
Bald spots appearing on your scalp
Rough, thin nails with grooves on them
The condition can take up to 18 months to go away, even with the help of creams, ointments and light therapy.
What should a healthy tongue look like?
According to the experts: "A healthy tongue should be pink with small nodules called papillae on the surface. A discolored tongue can be the first indication of a serious underlying problem."
Publish : 17.03.2023 -Source: Express at https://ar.rt.com/uxpc