Iron Deficiency
Iron deficiency, or anemia, is a condition that occurs when the body doesn’t have enough iron to carry out its basic functions. It’s the most common form of nutritional deficiency worldwide, and it can cause various symptoms, including pale skin, fatigue, and white tongue. In most cases, the tongue will appear white due to the accumulation of bacteria on its surface.
This color change is caused by the pigment in the blood—the same pigment that gives the skin its pinkish hue—being exposed to the air after bleeding from tiny cracks in the tongue’s surface. The cracks are usually caused by constant dryness or biting; for some people with anemia, they’re also a side effect of poor iron intake.
No matter what causes them, you can easily treat these cracks by using a soft toothbrush to gently scrub them away and helping your body get the iron it needs through a diet like red meat, poultry, and certain fish and vegetables.
