What you need to know about covid tongue, and how coronavirus affects the mouth

Covid tongue is said to be a new symptom of coronavirus, and is added to a long list of oral symptoms of the novel coronavirus infection.
Woman's tongue
Yes, the covid tongue is very real. Image courtesy: Shutterstock
Nikita Bhardwaj Published: 29 Jan 2021, 16:45 pm IST
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Looks like coronavirus doesn’t just affect our lungs but also our mouth. We say this because symptoms which seemed strange at first, like the loss of taste or Covid tongue, are becoming fairly common. In fact, a study reported that around 25 per cent of the patients diagnosed with coronavirus had symptoms related to the oral area.

According to a research letter published in the British Journal of Dermatology, there are many patients who have reported the development of bumps on their tongue. These bumps are accompanied by inflammation and swelling in the region.  

But, what really causes this Covid tongue?

Well, it’s the receptors present on your tongue. Basically, our body has ACE receptors which are found in abundance on the tongue. So, when we are hit by the virus, our body defends itself this way.

The tongue getting affected isn’t unique to coronavirus and has been reported by those suffering from other viral infections as well. It is, however, gaining more recognition as a symptom due to now being associated with the widely-discussed coronavirus.

covid tongue
Keep a check on your tongue. Image courtesy: Shutterstock
Apart from Covid tongue, here are 4 oral manifestations of COVID-19

1. First and foremost, it’s the loss of taste which is the most common oral symptom that the majority of the patients report. In fact, some individuals reported that this particular symptom was experienced by them even after testing negative for the novel virus.

2. The second one is bruxism. This means grinding the teeth and can also be experienced due to stress. According to an article published in The New York Times, it’s causing more serious issues such as cracked teeth and fractures.

3. Bleeding and oral inflammation is increasingly being reported by those diagnosed with coronavirus.

4. Another symptom that is common when suffering from coronavirus is experiencing cotton mouth or dry mouth. Now, this could be due to various reasons. Those who have coronavirus might find it hard to breathe and perform the function through their mouth. This makes the mouth dry.

covid tongue
Stay hydrated to avoid dry mouth. Image courtesy: Shutterstock

Coronavirus also interferes with the function of salivary glands, causing dry mouth. According to experts, this novel virus attacks our salivary glands and reduces the production of saliva.

So, stay alert about any such changes. If you’ve been experiencing any of the oral health-related symptoms mentioned here, you should talk to a doctor at the earliest.

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About the Author

Six-pack abs are all that Nikita needs, along with her daily dose of green tea. At Health Shots, she produces videos, podcasts, stories, and other kick-ass content. ...Read More

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