Human language is a very informative body for diagnosing problems in the body. Entire theories cover this topic in the East. Their knowledge allows you to identify a particular disease by language. During his research, attention is paid to various characteristics. Among them are configuration, susceptibility, hue, etc.
Manifestations of a pathology in the language can be detected much earlier than its first obvious symptoms appear. That is why such an analysis is used by doctors and is gaining more and more popularity among ordinary people.
Sometimes when examining this body, the question arises: "Why is the tongue yellow?". What does this color signalize, and what should a person do in this case? Let's try to answer these questions.
What should I look for?
Each adult can determine the state of health of his body by going to the mirror after morning awakening. In the case of the normal functioning of all systems and organs, the tongue will have a uniform pale pink color. Its surface will be almost clean.
And why is yellow plaque in the language? This issue should be dealt with more carefully. But before starting to clarify the causes of such a phenomenon, it is worth noting that, normally, a translucent light film can occur in the tongue. It should be easily removed during cleaning and not reappear during the day.
Why is the yellow plaque on the tongue impossible to remove with a toothbrush? As a rule, he speaks of obvious malfunctions in the functioning of the digestive organs and liver. However, do not rush to make specific conclusions. First of all, you need to understand, because of what else a similar plaque may appear in the language. It should also be determined in which of the characteristics should really cause alarm.
Plaque Options
Changing the color of the tongue is subject to preliminary visual assessment.
The obtained parameters are a kind of indicator that serves to characterize the pathological process that occurs in the body.
- Distribution of plaque. As a rule, the mucous membrane of the tongue acquires a uniform yellow color. However, in some cases, sediments are most grouped in separate areas. For example, they can concentrate in the middle of the tongue or at its root.
- Ease of plaque removal. This parameter is determined during the cleaning of the muscular organ in question. If peeling is carried out unhindered, then it is not a sign of serious problems. It is a completely different matter when, to clean the surface, it is necessary to exert efforts almost until an injury occurs. In this case, a visit to the doctor is simply necessary.
- Plaque thickness. With its large values, yellowness indicates the presence of long-existing pathologies.
- Plaque color. The darker it is, the more disturbing this sign is.
- Speed of education. When there are no triggering factors, the tongue will remain clean throughout the day. Other cases require examination.
- Atypical structure. With a dense, glossy or viscous coating, a deviation of health from the norm necessarily takes place.
- Smell. Sometimes clusters with a yellow color lead to stench, which is heard at the time when a person opens his mouth. It also indicates the presence of pathology in the body.
Consequently, a thin, light and easily removed yellow layer on the tongue indicates that the disease is in its initial stage or that small malfunctions in the work of organs occur. With abundant and thick deposits, we can talk about pathological processes of an advanced form.
Non-disease causes of plaque
The answer to the question “Why is the tongue yellow?” Does not always relate to the description of pathologies. There are some provoking factors that are completely unrelated to the disease.
Why is a yellow tongue in an adult? A plaque of this color occurs due to the following:
- drink or food, for example, black coffee or tea, lollipops or juices with colorants, carrot fresh or ascorbic;
- poor oral care, in the absence of thorough cleaning;
- nicotine addiction, when not only the smoker's teeth and fingers become yellow due to tar, but also his tongue;
- undergoing drug therapy using certain drugs (for example, antibiotics or Furazolidone).
After eliminating these irritants, the mucous membrane of the tongue will again take on its healthy appearance.
Failures in the digestive tract
Give an exact answer to the question “Why is the language yellow?” can only be a doctor after a full examination. He will tell his patient how to fix the problem.
Why is a yellow tongue in an adult? A plaque of this color often indicates digestive ailments. The fact is that failures in their work provoke reflux of bile into the stomach.
If such violations occurred relatively recently, then the mucous membrane of the tongue is covered with uniform yellowish deposits. Their structure is not particularly dense. Moreover, such deposits are translucent and easily removable. After hygienic procedures, a person will certainly have an unpleasant odor from his mouth.
The main reasons why yellow plaque in the tongue, in this case, lies in the slagging of the body. A similar phenomenon is observed in those people who suffer from constipation, which is a clear confirmation of malfunctions in the intestinal tract.
Why is the tongue yellow and at the same time a fetid odor is heard from the mouth? A similar phenomenon indicates serious deviations that occur in the digestive tract. As a rule, these are diseases of a chronic form that occur for a long time.
If there is constant diarrhea and vomiting, accompanied by fever, then a person needs to pass feces for analysis to identify intestinal infections. The fact is that one of the reasons for the appearance of thick yellow deposits on the mucosa is dysentery, salmonellosis, or enterovirus.
Liver damage
Why is the tongue yellow in an adult? A similar phenomenon may indicate damage to the liver or its internal ducts. In this case, yellow clusters on the mucous membrane of the tongue are normal due to metabolic disturbances in bilirubin. Sometimes the plaque has a greenish tint, but in either case, a person begins to feel a bitter taste in his mouth, which can be interrupted by another product, but only temporarily.
If liver pathology is the correct answer to the question “Why is an adult tongue yellow?”, What should be done in such cases? Consult a physician or gastroenterologist. Most likely, a specialist will determine suprahepatic jaundice or gallstone disease, congestion or inflammation of the gallbladder, parasitic infection of the liver, cirrhosis or hepatitis. In these cases, the elimination of yellow plaque will become possible only after the cure of the disease that provoked it.
Glossitis
What other reasons for this phenomenon can be? Why is tongue yellow in adults? Sometimes such a plaque may indicate glossitis. This pathology refers to a condition where the tongue becomes inflamed or affected by bacteria or fungi.
In this case, white-yellow deposits occur on the mucosa, under which there are erosions. When a person makes an attempt to eliminate such a plaque, this leads to the appearance of painful sensations. Indeed, in this way the exposure of erosion occurs.
If this is precisely the reason why an adult has a yellow tongue, what should be done in this case? A person should consult a dentist. In parallel with the recommendations for getting rid of glossitis, the doctor will examine the gums and teeth, since carious foci and periodontal inflammations can aggravate the course of the pathology.
Viral infections
Why does a person have a yellow tongue? Quite often, a plaque of this color accompanies colds (ARVI, pharyngitis, tonsillitis and flu). Abundant deposits in this case are caused by the presence of pathogenic microflora in the mouth, which also multiplies intensively. What to do about it?
It is necessary to concentrate on eliminating respiratory and viral diseases. The mucous membrane of the tongue will return to its normal color only after recovery.
Treatment principle
The main reasons why the tongue is yellow, you will need to eliminate the drug therapy prescribed by your doctor. At the same time, to speed up the healing process, you should follow fairly simple rules:
- Follow a diet. It will be required in case of pathologies of the digestive system. The patient's diet should contain fermented milk products, soups on low-fat broth, fish, white meat, salads and stewed vegetables. Dishes should be boiled, stewed and baked. Irritating foods as well as convenience foods should be excluded.
- To refuse from bad habits.
- Use a personal soft brush to handle the tongue. In general, care for the oral cavity will need to be given up to five minutes in the morning and evening hours, carefully treating each area.
- Drink peppermint tea, take pre-ground seeds of milk thistle and flax, eat prunes. All this will improve digestion, stimulate timely bowel movements and increase bile flow.
Sometimes even a simple correction of the menu, smoking cessation, normalization of digestion, as well as meticulous hygiene give excellent results. In this case, the natural color of the mucous membrane will be restored, and no one will indicate to the person that he has a yellow tongue.
Childhood problems
In babies, the tongue is painted in a pale pink color and has a smooth texture. In this regard, the yellow coating that appeared on it immediately catches the eye. A similar phenomenon causes panic in parents.
Why does the child have a yellow coating on the tongue? In most cases, the causes of this phenomenon lie in the use of food coloring products and in poor oral care.
The kid should be introduced to toothpaste and brush already after he has the first tooth. However, parents often simply ignore this recommendation of pediatricians and dentists. And children, as a rule, resist this process. Nevertheless, it should be borne in mind that babies should begin to care for their teeth after the first year of life. Moreover, you need to clean the tongue at the same time with them. This will help get rid of the causes that raise the question “Why is the tongue yellow?”, Including eating:
- oranges, pineapples, peaches, apricots, pumpkins, persimmons and carrots;
- tea or coffee;
- carbonated sweet drinks with food colors;
- any dishes that add curry seasoning.
Pathological causes of plaque
Sometimes parents ask the following question: “Why does the child have a yellow tongue even before the introduction of the first lure, or does it stay with older babies for a long time?” In these cases, the digestive system of the little man will be examined. After all, yellow plaque can signal a malfunction in the digestive tract.
The persistence of such a phenomenon for a long time can be caused by the following reasons:
- eating fatty foods or banal overeating;
- any infectious process, especially if it is accompanied by an increase in body temperature;
- food poisoning or any other intoxication of the body that causes malfunctioning of the liver;
- dehydration;
- local inflammation that occurs in the larynx and in the oral cavity;
- severe somatic diseases that cause poisoning of the body;
- physiological jaundice or other types of jaundice.
Parents should be particularly worried about the dense and thick coating that has been present in the baby’s tongue for a long time and is accompanied by a specific smell, as well as complaints of abdominal pain and deterioration of well-being. Such signs clearly indicate malfunctions in the functioning of the digestive tract, as well as the entire digestive system. Yellow plaque on the tongue with such symptoms can indicate an ulcer, colitis, gastritis, pancreatitis and other rather serious ailments.
Sometimes an unnatural color of a muscular organ indicates the presence of fungal infections or acetonemic syndrome. Such pathologies are acute and will soon show their signs.
The cause of this phenomenon in childhood can be glossitis. In addition to yellow plaque in the tongue, he also has dry mouth, pain and burning in the oral cavity, as well as severe swelling. The causes of this pathology in children, as a rule, are poor hygiene. After all, kids love to pull everything in their mouths. Sometimes they cause glossitis of microtrauma of the tongue, as well as hot food or some types of food allergies.
A non-infectious disease goes away on its own. However, if the inflammation of the tongue is caused by pathogenic bacteria, then parents will need to give their baby the antibiotics prescribed by the doctor.
In the case of local ailments of the oral cavity, in addition to yellow plaque, inflammatory processes appear in the tonsils, dental aphthae, etc. Physiological jaundice is not accompanied by plaque. In this case, the color of the tongue itself, as well as the skin of the baby, becomes yellow.
In any case, parents should take their child to the doctor. Only a specialist will prescribe the necessary course of treatment to eliminate the causes of yellow plaque in the tongue.
How to establish the disease that caused the development of this phenomenon? For this, the baby will need to undergo some examinations and pass the necessary tests. To get a complete picture of the disease, you must:
- get advice from a gastroenterologist and dentist;
- take a urine, feces and blood test;
- to conduct blood biochemistry in order to determine bilirubin, glucose, ALT, AST and other biomarkers;
- do an ultrasound of the digestive organs;
- undergo endoscopic methods of gastrointestinal research.
Examination of the child must begin with the simplest, having come with him to consult with specialists of a narrow profile. Sometimes, to find out the reasons, just one visit to the dentist is enough.
And sometimes changes in the diet eliminate this symptom forever. After all, a small, not yet strengthened organism is very sensitive to any malfunctions and malfunctions in the functioning of its systems and organs. That is why he signals this very quickly with the help of external signs.
The main task of parents in such cases is the timely recognition of such signals and the immediate treatment of specialists with their baby.