I don’t know if any of you have ever watched one of those dodgy diet shows… wannabe doctor-cum-nutritionist types who stand there shouting at fatties about how if they don’t stop eating crap they’re going to die tomorrow, all the while probably fantasising about sinking their teeth into the big cream buns and greasy, lovely chips stacked high on the table (designed to make the fatty feel guilty… personally I think I’d start tucking in, you know?)
Anyway, they always seem to talk about the tongue. Apparently, the tongue is the gateway to the body and reflects the general health of a person, bla bla bla. I always considered it a load of bollocks, personally. It’s just a slimy pink thing in your gob, isn’t it?
Except, it clearly isn’t. When I got sick, I noticed almost straight away that my tongue went from its normal healthy looking pink colour to a weird off-pink, coated in a thick layer of white crap. I have no idea what it was, and you probably don’t care for the details. Nonetheless, it would have been obvious just from my tongue that something was not right in my guts.
I was brushing my teeth yesterday before bed, and when I stuck my tongue out to brush it (did you know that it’s estimated as much as 50% of the bacteria in the mouth is found on the surface of the tongue? source) I noticed that it was back to its lovely pink self again, with no white coating or grossness.
I did a little dance in the bathroom.
17 Nov at 7:05 pm
I’ve noticed that as well. Even simple things like my allergies acting up causes my tongue to be discolored or have that icky white coating on it. It’s definitely an odd thing how much control over our senses something like our tongue has.
17 Nov at 7:26 pm
Your tongue is very important. Don’t neglect it, or it will make you be very, very sorry. Tongues have that sort of control, you know.
17 Nov at 7:53 pm
There are DIET shows? On TELEVISION? That sounds even worse than reality TV. Yecccch.
17 Nov at 8:07 pm
It happens to me too … but I didn’t know about the bacteria part. So brushing them will keep them healthy?
17 Nov at 8:21 pm
I love tongue scrapers. :)
17 Nov at 8:24 pm
I have one of those toothbrushes with a thing on the back for tongue scrape-age. The ones they show people using very enthusiastically on telly. :)
17 Nov at 8:51 pm
“wannabe doctor-cum-nutritionist”
Cum? Say what?
17 Nov at 8:54 pm
Is this You Are What You Eat? Or something? When I was in London, I noticed a great deal of shows and commercials and adverts all had to do with health and how British people eat. You guys also seem to have a lot more pro-health stuff than we do here in the States.
Anyway, speaking of which, haven’t you seen cartoons or old shows or something where a kid complains they’re not feeling well and their grandma or whoever looks at their tongue? We also have an expression here called a coated tongue (usually made a pun of in cheeky cartoons) which indicates the health of someone. :)
17 Nov at 8:57 pm
Aw! Yay for regular color tongues. I’m sure Karl appreciated it looking normal as well.
17 Nov at 9:10 pm
I was going to add a rude joke in, but must have forgotten at the last minute.
Oh wells.
17 Nov at 10:21 pm
Never knew that. O_o Guess I’ll have a look at my tongue next time I’m sick.
17 Nov at 10:34 pm
… Ewwww :( I second what Erin said up there. I bet Karl is happy. XD
18 Nov at 12:36 am
When I was in Latin class, there were always boys sniggering about the use of the word “cum.” Sigh.
18 Nov at 10:47 am
A little dance… I can just imagine it. Jem spinning around and shaking her booty.
18 Nov at 6:49 pm
Happy pink tongue day :o)
18 Nov at 7:08 pm
Interesting. Your tongue is also the strongest-relative-to-size muscle in your body.
19 Nov at 12:19 pm
Random fact: Using the toothbrush bristles to brush your tongue is better than using those special “back of the brush” toothbrushes. It’s more effective at removing bacteria. :)
19 Nov at 8:12 pm
Eww, I have that white crap on my tongue when I wake up :|
I brush my teeth and use mouthwash, and it goes for the rest of the day; wake up the next morning and its back >.<
19 Nov at 8:57 pm
I have seen those shows from time to time. They make me hungry.
22 Nov at 1:39 am
You are too funny. I’m glad to know that your tongue is back to its regular self.