Have you ever thought about how important your tongue is? This muscular organ lets you properly eat and digest food, swallow, and speak. Your tongue also helps protect your body from germs that enter through your mouth. Though your tongue plays a big part in protecting your pearly whites from harm, it can also indicate when something is wrong. Read on to learn more about different health issues your tongue can show signs of and how to properly clean it.

Every year, more than 50,000 Americans are diagnosed with oral cancer. There are six kinds of oral cancer, including cancer of the tongue, the inner lining of the cheek, the lips, the gums, the floor of the mouth, and the hard and soft palate. During your biannual dental checkups, your dentist performs an oral cancer screening so they can keep an eye out for early signs of this condition, but what do the different stages look like? Read on to learn about the stages of oral cancer as well as tips for treating and preventing this condition.