The muscular organ that helps us speak, taste, and swallow has a certain look when it's healthy.
- Reviewed by Howard E. LeWine, MD, Chief Medical Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
If the eyes are the windows to the soul, then consider the tongue a sort of check-engine light for the body. The tongue's appearance gives doctors an idea about certain aspects of your health, and its color is an important clue.
What should your tongue look like?
The tongue should have a rounded, symmetrical shape. It's generally light pink, though it may have a little purple or brown pigmentation in African, Asian, and Mediterranean populations. It can also have a hint of white coating.
"The coating comes from a tough protein called keratin, which helps keep your tongue from being scratched when you eat," says Dr. Tien Jiang, a prosthodontist in the Department of Oral Health Policy and Epidemiology at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine.
