Request Appointment Do you know what anemia is? Anemia is a physical condition in which there is a lack of healthy red blood cells or hemoglobin–the portion of a blood cell which holds together oxygen. The effects of anemia are fatigue, headaches shortness of breath, and other symptoms.
One large sign of anemia is called anemia tongue. It is typically characterized by an inflamed or swollen tongue in multiple shades of red. Other signs include impaired chewing, swallowing or speaking abilities, tongue pain or tenderness. You may also see that your tongue is unusually smooth, due to the loss of those little bumps on your tongue called papillae, which house your taste buds.
Keep in mind that these symptoms may resemble those that have entirely different cause. Other possible reasons for your symptoms include an allergic reaction, an injury, herpes or dry mouth. If you have already been diagnosed with anemia, it may be safe to say that the cause of your inflammation is anemia tongue, but talk to your dentist first.
If your symptoms are severe, please take a trip to the ER as soon as possible. Otherwise, the best thing to do is to make an appointment with your dentist.
When you visit us at Mecca Dental Dr. Mecca will examine your tongue to see if there are blisters, a lack of papillae and signs of inflammation. We may also ask that you provide us with blood and saliva samples for testing. You may be prescribed an antibiotic or be asked to changes to your diet or upgrade your oral hygiene routine. Depending on your situation, we may also recommend making an appointment with a general practitioner.
If you believe you have anemia tongue and you live in the New Hartford, New York, area, please ring 315-724-6235 to schedule an appointment at Mecca Dental . We’re here to help you and your smile!