During medical examinations, a doctor may ask a patient to stick out his or her tongue. This is an essential part of diagnosing various disorders. Since anyone with a mirror can see what color their tongue is, here is a list of colors to look out for and what they mean.

White: it depends on what kind of white it is. Does white coating appear in the morning, and is it easily removed? In this case, it is normal. If the coating is thick, the patients should consult a gastroenterologist and may need to check their stomach. If the tongue coating is accompanied by increased temperature, it could be a sign of infection. In some cases, the coated tongue is caused by the intake of certain drugs.

Grey: this is the next phase after thick white. If patients with gastritis don't take care of the gastrointestinal problems, they may develop an ulcer, and the grey coating is one of its symptoms.

Yellow: here you need to look at what kind of yellow it is. If it is bright yellow, it can be a symptom of having liver or gallbladder issues, and patients should check for hepatitis. A yellow-green color is a sign of bile obstruction or gallbladder inflammation known as cholecystitis.

Green: this is rare and can show up as a sign of stomatitis or fungal infections.

Brown: this is typical for smokers, coffee, and strong tea lovers. It can also occur during pneumonia.

Black: when this is the case, one should seek urgent medical care. The black coating is a sign of severe stomach and intestinal disorders, poisoning, or cholera.

What does a healthy tongue look like?

A healthy tongue is of soft pink color, flexible and moist. If it has a thin white coating that can be easily scraped gently and removed.

Another important thing to keep in mind: before you become alarmed and decide to go to see a doctor, think about what you have recently had to eat and drink. Some beverages and foods (beets, berries, red wine) can change the color of your tongue for a period of time.-

23 March 2021