What Causes Tongue Rust?

Oral Hygiene: The tongue is an important part of oral health and should be cleaned regularly. Food particles and bacteria accumulated on the tongue can cause the tongue to become rusty. Tongue cleaning can be done with tongue cleaners and tongue scrapers along with brushing your teeth and using dental floss.

Mouth Breathing: Mouth breathing can cause dry mouth and bacterial accumulation on the tongue. Dry mouth can be associated with conditions such as low saliva secretion or respiratory problems. In this case, tongue rusting can be seen more frequently.

Smoking and Alcohol Use: Smoking or drinking alcohol can contribute to tongue rusting. These habits can increase bacterial accumulation on the tongue and cause changes in the color of the tongue.
Other Health Problems: Tongue rusting can be a symptom of certain health problems. Digestive system problems, tongue infections, fungal infection of the tongue (oral candidiasis), or other medical conditions can cause tongue color changes.
Tongue rusting is usually harmless and can be corrected with tongue cleaning. However, if there are significant changes in the color of the tongue or other accompanying symptoms, it is important to consult a health professional. Regular tooth brushing, flossing, and tongue cleaning routines are important for maintaining tongue health.

How to Get Rid of Tongue Rust?
You can follow the steps below to get rid of tongue rust:

Tongue Cleaning: Cleaning your tongue regularly is important to prevent and remove rusting. Gently scrape or clean your tongue using tongue cleaners or tongue scrapers. Starting from the back of the tongue, clean the surface of the tongue forward. This process removes food particles, bacteria, and dead cells, making the tongue look cleaner and healthier.
Oral Hygiene: Take care to maintain your oral hygiene regularly to get rid of tongue rust. Brush your teeth at least twice a day, use dental floss, and gargle with mouthwash. This reduces the accumulation of bacteria in the mouth and keeps the tongue clean.
Drinking Plenty of Water: Drinking enough water reduces dry mouth and helps keep the tongue moist. You can help eliminate tongue corrosion by increasing your daily water intake.

Avoid Smoking and Alcohol Consumption: Smoking or excessive alcohol consumption can increase the accumulation of bacteria on the tongue and cause changes in the color of the tongue. It is important to avoid smoking and alcohol consumption to eliminate the problem of corrosion.

Healthy Diet: A balanced and healthy diet helps the tongue to be healthy. Consuming fresh fruits and vegetables as well as fibrous foods helps to clean the tongue and keep it healthy.
If tongue cleaning continues constantly or if there are other accompanying symptoms, it is important to consult a health professional.

What Happens If Tongue Rust Is Not Treated?
If tongue rusting is not treated, some negative effects may occur. These may include:

Bad Bad Breath: Food residues and bacteria accumulated on the tongue can cause bad breath. Bad breath can also become more noticeable with tongue rusting. This can affect social relationships and cause loss of self-confidence.
Tongue Infections: Accumulations on the tongue can lead to bacterial growth over time and tongue infections. Tongue infections can manifest themselves with symptoms such as soreness, sensitivity, swelling or pain in the mouth. If left untreated, the infection can spread and cause more serious health problems.
Digestive Problems: Tongue rusting can be a symptom of digestive system problems. Conditions that cause digestive problems can cause bacteria on the surface of the tongue to spread and bad breath can occur in hygienic conditions. This can contribute to digestive problems, malabsorption and other digestive system disorders.
Tongue Diseases: Tongue rusting can sometimes be a symptom of tongue diseases. For example, oral candidiasis (fungal infection) manifests itself with white spots or a thick coating on the tongue. If left untreated, such diseases can lead to more discomfort and health problems.
General Health Effects: Neglecting oral health can lead to tooth decay, gum disease, and other oral health problems. This can have negative effects on overall health. Neglecting oral health can increase the risk of heart disease, diabetes, respiratory infections, and other systemic health problems.
Thickness of the tongue can usually be treated by practicing oral hygiene and cleaning the tongue regularly.