Tongue is an important organ of your body. Without the tongue you would not have been able to enjoy one of the most pleasurable experiences of life: tasting food! Imagine how life would be without the sudden euphoria you experience when you taste something delicious. Not only do your taste buds help you to taste food, but it also rejects harmful substances like toxins and sends your brain a signal to avoid consuming it. The tongue also helps in digestion of food. It makes the food pass easily from your mouth and throat to your stomach. Apart from tasting and sending signals to your brain, the tongue helps you to talk. It facilitates speech. It alters the air in your mouth which is produced by the vocal cords. That is how you make a wide range of sounds.


Tongue problems:


Burning sensation on the tongue: This normally occurs in women who have recently attained menopause. Mood swings are also a characteristic feature of menopause. Burning sensation is rare but a symptom of post menopause. Burning sensations can also occur due to cigarette smoking.
Change in the tongue color: Many times having a pink tongue means deficiency in iron, folic acid and vitamin B-12. This can also be because of an allergy to gluten. A white tongue can occur due to smoking or drinking alcohol.
Tongue pain: It can occur due to biting, injury or infection. Canker pains are also common. It can be caused by aging, diabetes, tumors and infection.
Tongue swelling: It is caused by down-syndrome, tongue cancer, leukemia, strep throat and anemia.
Oral thrush: It is a yeast infection. It makes the surface of the tongue and the mouth look like cottage cheese. People suffering from asthma or diabetes can also get oral thrush.


Remedies for tongue problem:


Don't consume spicy and hot food.
If you have a canker sore, try to drink only cold beverages and eat soft foods.
Rinse your mouth regularly with a mixture of warm water and salt or you can also make a mixture of warm water and baking soda.
Apply ice to soothe your tongue.


If the tongue pain persists then it is better to book an appointment with an ENT specialist or with an otolaryngologist.


All About Tongue Problems

A quite serious bacterial infection, diphtheria is caused by the Corynebacterium diphtheria. It usually tends to affect the throat and the mouth of an affected person, although there are other varieties which can infect your skin as well. However, the most common cases of diphtheria affect the throat and the mouth. 

Symptoms of diphtheria in general
It may take up to five days for symptoms to show up when you are infected with the disease. Some of the symptoms would be:

You neck would swell up due to swelling in the lymph nodes, especially in the neck
Your throat and tonsils will develop a thick grayish membrane 
Your throat may become sore and hoarse
You may face difficulty in breathing, depending on the size of the membrane and the resultant inflammation
You may have difficulty swallowing as well
These are the primary symptoms which will affect your throat in general. Some of the other symptoms that may show up are:

Fever
Nasal discharge
Malaise or a general feeling of discomfort 
Chills
The parts of your body, which are affected the most tend to be your throat, tongue and the neck. The pain tends to persist for quite some time as you recover.

Causes of diphtheria 
Diphtheria is usually spread by the following methods

Airborne droplets: This is possibly the most common method of contracting the disease. This usually happens when a person is infected with diphtheria coughs or sneezes around you. The airborne droplets then travel from one person to another, transmitting the infection. This is particularly the case in crowded area such as public transport and public spaces.
Touching personal items which may be infected: Touching used towels, paper tissues or drinking from an unwashed glass may cause an infection as well. These tend to happen mostly in an indoor setting such as offices and houses. Even toys, door and equipment handles can cause transmission of this virus. 
If you are showing any of these symptoms, it is prudent to go visit your doctor immediately as diphtheria, if left untreated, may also result in serious complications.

Diphtheria - How it Affects Your Throat and Tongue?

Bad breath isn't just an indication of what you eat. Apart from being a turn off for people who come in contact with you, it could also hint at health problems.

Here are 5 reasons that cause bad breath and ways to overcome the same.

1) Unhealthy Teeth And Gums - Most of the bad breath and halitosis problems result due to unhealthy teeth and gums. Basically, people who don't take care of their dental hygiene are prone to the problem. 
Solution - Clean your teeth and rinse your mouth properly to get rid of the annoying rotten egg stench.

2) Lack Of Hydration - If you are not drinking enough water, you can have bad breath. Saliva washes away smell causing bacteria. But not having enough water will lead to lesser saliva, which will lead to dead and rotting cells that will stink. 
Solution - Drink atleast 8-10 glasses of water daily, at regular intervals.

3) Allergies - Nose and asthma related allergies are one of the leading causes of bad breath. 
Solution - Make sure that you get rid of the allergies via proper care. Also, hydrate more when you have any allergy, like sinus problems or tonsil infection, it helps in clearing allergies out.

4) Eating the wrong stuff - Garlic, uncooked onion and too many spices can also lead to bad breath. 
Solution - Use moderate spices and always rinse your mouth after each meal. Also, avoid foods that are high in sugar as they promote more bacteria. 

5) Acid Reflux - If getting gaseous feeling in the pit of your stomach is a common problem for you, then you might have bad breath too. Heartburn, indigestion and acid reflux are common causes of bad breath. 
Solution - Avoid foods that can cause a reflux and try light eating. It will take care of other health problems too.

If you have any questions on improving oral and dental hygiene, please click on 'Consult Privately.

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Bad Breath - 5 Reasons You Might Suffer From It And What Can You Do About It

Teeth stains are a major inconvenience as a well as harmful for your teeth. Teeth stains can occur due to consuming certain foods and drinks. It can also be caused due to unhealthy lifestyle choices, such as not brushing teeth or flossing. Here a few tips to how to prevent teeth stains. Read on more to find out all about them.

1. Practicing healthy habits: It is a good idea to brush, or use a mouthwash after a having a meal. Keep in mind that the foods and drinks mentioned below can stain your teeth more than others. Coffee or tea, soda, red and white wine, grape or cranberry juice, blueberries, beets, soya sauce and tomato sauce cause teeth stains so while consuming them keep in mind to always brush floss or wash your mouth after consuming these.

2. Drinking with a straw: Drinking with a straw keeps away the stains from your mouth as the liquid doesn't go near the visible front surfaces of the teeth.

3. Brush, floss and rinse with an antibacterial mouthwash: By brushing, flossing and rinsing with a mouthwash on a regular basis you reduce the growth of the bacteria called plaque. Plaque is sticky in nature and promotes the formation of teeth stains. By eradicating plaque you also prevent teeth stains.

4. Get your teeth professionally cleaned:Make sure to visit a dentist at least twice a year. Even while maintaining your teeth by regular brushing, flossing and mouthwash, getting your teeth professionally cleaned is beneficial and can help you guard against teeth stains.

5. Using teeth whitening kits: At-home teeth whitening kits are available in local drugstores, which help in preventing teeth stains. They usually cause slight discomfort, which goes away in a few days' time.

6. Professional tooth whitening: You can also get your teeth whitened by your dentist. In this procedure, the dentist applies a bleaching agent to your teeth after applying a rubber shield on your gums. This procedure usually takes a single or in some instances multiple visits to perform.

6 Tips to Prevent Teeth Stains

Myofascial pain syndrome refers to a chronic condition that affects a person s musculoskeletal system. With this disorder, pressure on the sensitive points (known as trigger points) in the muscle induces pain in various parts of the body.

Myofascial pain syndrome mostly affects people in the age group 40-60 years.

What causes myofascial pain?

Typically, myofascial pain syndrome occurs because of repetitive muscle contraction or overuse, or due to an injury. Sensitive areas of the tight muscle fibres can develop following an injury/trauma, and ultimately lead to pain and strain throughout the muscle.

Symptoms to watch out for-

Common signs and symptoms of myofascial pain syndrome include-

  Severe pain in localized muscle areas
  Pain that worsens when you stretch or strain the affected muscle
  Muscle pain that persists for longer than usual, or worsens with time
  Painful, tender knots in the muscles that lead to severe pain when pressed
  Weakness and stiffness in the muscles
  Inflexibility or a reduced range of motion

Although muscle pain is temporary in most cases, and usually subside on its own, you should visit a doctor immediately if the pain becomes intense and severe. Otherwise, the symptoms of myofascial pain syndrome can aggravate and impede your daily routine.

What is the treatment for myofascial pain syndrome?

Treatment for myofascial pain syndrome include a range of pain management options such as the following-

  Medications
Your doctor will likely prescribe medications that include anticonvulsants, analgesics, and over-the-counter Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs). These work as painkillers and help relieve pain and reduce muscle spasms.

  Dry-needling
Dry-needling is a quicker way of getting rid of myofascial pain symptoms. The doctor inactivates the trigger points by directly inserting a needle into it. He/she will then slowly move the needle around and poke it inside and out. The initial process can be a little painful, but it certainly helps manage the pain in your muscles. Alternatively, acupuncture needles can be used for the same procedure since they are small and are less painful.

  Local injections
Local injections, also known as trigger point injections, are similar to dry-needling. The only difference is that local injections involve injecting a solution (saline/steroid/or a local anaesthetic) into the trigger points. The method yield similar results as does dry-needling.

  Therapy
Different types of therapies can be used to ease the pain associated with this chronic pain disorder.

Ultrasound therapy where sound waves are transmitted into the muscle tissues through a sound-conducting gel applied on the skin. The sound waves heat up and relax the muscles, thereby improving blood circulation and removing the scar tissues. Ultrasound therapy is also effective in reducing muscle stiffness and increasing one s mobility.
Massage therapy also is very effective in treating myofascial pain syndrome. The therapist usually uses his/her fingers or some sort of equipment to induce pressure on the various trigger points. When performed, this procedure may first aggravate the muscle pain and then release muscle tension.
Apart from these, the doctor may prescribe regular exercising or physiotherapy treatment for patients suffering from chronic muscle pain.

Myofascial pain syndrome can be managed well using the techniques mentioned above. In addition, it is very important that you stick to some sort of physical activity. Talk to your doctor and incorporate these pain management techniques to live a pain-free healthy life.

Myofascial Pain - Causes, Symptoms & Treatment Of It!

Bad breath is a dental problem which could also emanate due to poor digestion. It can also be experienced as a side effect of other ailments as well as medications. Smoking and bad diet may lead to this and it usually becomes a matter of low self-esteem as time goes by. Homeopathy is one of the most natural forms of medication, treatment and wellness when it comes to such problems that affect the lifestyle of the patient. These medicines usually combine very small doses of naturally found elements so as to cure an ailment or condition. Yet, it is important to remember that one must get a prescription for these medicines from a professional medical practitioner.

Read on to know more about the types of homeopathic remedies available for bad breath.

Merc Sol: If your bad breath problem also comes with symptoms like a moist mouth or constant dribbling, then this medicine may be prescribed. This usually happens when the salivary glands become too active and produce more moisture than what the mouth can handle on a normal basis.
Pulsatilla: This medicine is usually prescribed if the patient complains of a dry mouth along with a bad breath problem. This helps in treating related symptoms like the lack of proper hydration due to the lack of thirst. Not drinking enough water can also lead to the problem of dry mouth and thereafter, a bad odour from the mouth.
Kreosote: This medicine is considered as a very effective medication for bad breath, especially if the bad breath takes place due to caries in the teeth. This medicine can also help patients who are experiencing bleeding gums along with caries and bad breath.
Hepar Sulphur and Carbo Veg: The combination of these two medicines is known as one of the best when it comes to treating bad breath. The other symptoms that call for the prescription of these medicines include Gingivitis or gum infection related problems and symptoms. When there is bleeding and pus in the gums due to the infection, then this medicine is usually prescribed. Excessive salivation is also another symptom that is treated by this medicine combination. Hepar Sulphur can be used if there is a throat-related infection or ailment that can lead to the problem of bad breath.
Carbolic Acid: A homeopathic doctor will usually prescribe this medicine if the problem of bad breath is accompanied by intense and perpetual pain in the abdomen. The patient will also complain of gas in stomach due to the ailment that affects the stomach in such cases. This gives rise to many symptoms including bad breath. Loss of appetite is also treated by this medicine.

Bad Breath - 5 Homeopathic Remedies for it!

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