Table of contents:
- What are the causes of yellow tongue color?
- 1. Poor dental hygiene
- 2. Smoking
- 3. Mouthwash that contains oxidizing agents
- 4. Consumption of certain drugs
- 5. Hairy black tongue syndrome
- 6. Geographical tongue
- 7. Jaundice
The normal tongue color is pink with a light white coating on top. If the tongue is yellow, it can be caused by a variety of things - from temporary and harmless, to more serious and requiring medical treatment. Below are a number of reasons why the tongue can turn yellow, which you may not have noticed.
What are the causes of yellow tongue color?
1. Poor dental hygiene
The most common cause of yellow tongue is the buildup of dead skin cells and bacteria between the bumps on the tongue (papillae). This is not a sign of serious illness, but rather a result of poor dental hygiene. You can try brushing your tongue gently with a tongue scrub, gargling, and drinking lots of water to remove the yellow coating.
2. Smoking
The chemicals in tobacco smoke can make your tongue turn yellow.
3. Mouthwash that contains oxidizing agents
Using mouthwash that contains peroxide, witch hazel, or menthol can discolor your tongue.
4. Consumption of certain drugs
Some antibiotics can cause a yellow tongue due to a microbial imbalance, which causes bacteria or yeast to multiply in the mouth. When this happens, yeast or bacteria can build up on the tongue and cause the tongue to turn yellow. Pepto-Bismol and other bismuth-containing medicines can also change the color of your tongue which can range from yellow to black.
Certain medications, such as medications for Sjogren's syndrome and diabetes, as well as radiation therapy and chemotherapy can dry out your mouth. Dry mouth is one of the risk factors for yellow tongue.
5. Hairy black tongue syndrome
A black hairy tongue is a temporary, painless mouth irritation. This harmless condition occurs when the tongue bumps (papillae) that line the tip and both sides of your tongue grow bigger. Papillae that are longer than normal can easily trap dead skin cells and oral bacteria, which then get mixed up with tobacco residue, food scraps, or other substances. Despite the name black tongue, your tongue can turn yellow or something first before turning black.
6. Geographical tongue
Geographical tongue is a condition of structural abnormalities of the tongue that makes the surface of the tongue unevenly covered by papillae. As a result, the surface of the tongue looks like a random, irregular area of red "baldness". There is usually a white, wavy line next to the red patch, but it can also be yellow. Sometimes, this condition causes pain.
7. Jaundice
Jaundice (jaundice) is a condition in which your skin and the whites of your eyes turn yellow. Jaundice is caused by liver damage so it can't process the remaining bilirubin substances properly. Bilirubin is a yellow pigment that is produced when red blood cells break down. When bilirubin builds up in your blood, skin, whites of your eyes, and tongue can turn yellow.
