Normally the human tongue has a pink color. An orange tongue is an often alarming symptom for the patient, but usually the orange-colored tongue does not indicate serious causes. This usually indicates eating orange foods. However, if this is not the case, the orange tongue color may indicate an underlying medical condition or the use of certain medications.

• Certain medications and orange-colored tongue
• Oral thrush and orange tongue color
• Excessive beta-carotene intake
• Poor oral hygiene and orange discoloration of the tongue
• Vitamin deficiencies
• Acid reflux and orange tongue discoloration
• Alarm signals

 The use of certain medications (especially antibiotics) leads to an orange tongue discoloration more quickly / Source: Stevepb, Pixabay

Certain medications and orange-colored tongue

Some medications contain ingredients that temporarily turn the tongue orange. For example, the doctor may prescribe the antibiotic Rifampicin to treat tuberculosis (bacterial infection with lung problems). This possibly leads to the orange tongue color. Other medications that lead to an orange tongue include:

• amiodarone
• bleomycin
• chlorpromazine
• chloroquine
• doxorubicin
• hydroxychloroquine
• quinidine
• minocycline
• quinacrine

the patient to drink something after taking the medicine and then brush their teeth. The orange tint usually disappears within a few hours. Furthermore, the patient may take probiotics and/or yogurt to restore a healthy balance of bacteria in the intestinal flora and fauna after antibiotic use.

Oral thrush and orange tongue color

Oral candidiasis (oral thrush) is a fungal infection that presents in the mouth. This infection appears when too many Candida fungi are present on the tongue. This accumulation gives the tongue a yellow (yellow tongue) or orange appearance. Oral thrush affects patients of all ages. However, doctors see this fungal infection more often in patients who use steroid medications or have weak immune systems. Also, candidiasis is more common in infants, especially when they are taking antibiotics. These medications kill the bacteria that protect the baby from fungal overgrowth. The fungal infection can be very annoying and affects the patient’s speech and eating. The doctor prescribes a liquid agent containing nystatin, diphenhydramine, lidocaine and triamcinolone. The patient uses this medication two to three times a day like a mouthwash until the infection clears. If this does not help, the doctor will prescribe antifungal medications.

Excessive beta-carotene intake

Beta-carotene is the substance that gives carrots the orange color. Eating foods rich in this substance causes discoloration of the skin and tongue. In medical terms, this is known as carotenemia. Carotenemia is most common in infants and young children, who often eat carrot puree. The benign condition is sometimes reminiscent of jaundice, a condition that causes the skin to turn yellow. However, patients also develop a yellowing of the whites of the eyes, while this is not the case in patients with carotenemia.Foods that contain high amounts of beta-carotene include:

• cantaloupes
• mangoes
• papayas
• pumpkins
• carrots
• sweet potatoes

The patient should eat less foods containing beta-carotene so that the orange tongue color disappears. Sometimes it takes several months before the tongue and skin return to a normal color.Brushing your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste is necessary / Source: Photo Mix, Pixabay

Poor oral hygiene and orange discoloration of the tongue

In a patient who does not brush their teeth and tongue regularly, food and other debris accumulate in the mouth. This mainly happens when the patient smokes or drinks tea or coffee or tea. If a patient does not brush his teeth and tongue regularly, severe dry mouth (xerostomia) is more likely to develop. Due to a dry mouth, the bacteria remain in the mouth and are not washed away. This leads more quickly to tooth decay and other mouth and dental problems. The patient should improve his oral hygiene by brushing the teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and also using a tongue scraper as this makes it possible to remove the excess bacteria and built-up dirt. Visiting a dentist twice a year to have your teeth professionally cleaned is another good piece of advice.

Vitamin deficiencies

When a patient has vitamin deficiencies, medical problems arise more quickly, including an orange tongue. An orange layer on the tongue is mainly caused by a deficiency of vitamin B or a deficiency of folic acid.

Acid reflux and orange tongue discoloration

Gastroesophageal reflux (heartburn symptoms) is a condition in which stomach acids back up into the esophagus. The esophageal sphincter (closing valve) relaxes, allowing the acids to escape from the stomach. Common symptoms of reflux include:

• other tongue colors (occasionally) such as a white tongue or an orange tongue.
• farmers
• heartburn
• bad breath (halitosis)
• a sour taste in the mouth
• nausea or vomiting
• difficulty swallowing or pain when swallowing (odynophagia)

It is important not to eat large, heavy meals before bedtime. In addition, spicy, greasy and acidic foods are more likely to cause problems, so the patient also tries to avoid these foods. When sleeping, it is important to raise the head of the bed a little. Wearing loose-fitting clothing is also recommended. If these self-care measures do not work, the doctor will use medications that reduce or block the acid production of the stomach, such as antacids (type of antacids), H2 blockers or proton pump inhibitors (medications that reduce stomach acid).

Alarm signals

An orange tongue is usually not a cause for concern. The color normalizes again when the person eats less orange foods or improves oral hygiene. If the patient experiences tongue pain or other symptoms, medical advice is necessary.

read more

• Yellow tongue: Causes and symptoms of yellowish tongue color
• White tongue: Causes and symptoms of white appearance of tongue
• Carotenemia: Orange skin due to intake of carotenoids
• Red tongue: Causes and symptoms of red tongue color
• Tongue: Abnormalities in color, shape and texture