India, Aug. 6 -- Taking care of oral health is not just limited to brushing our teeth every morning; taking note of the tongue is equally important. According to orthodontist Dr Jaineel Parekh, the tongue can offer valuable clues about the overall health of an individual, sometimes even before other symptoms appear.

In an interaction with HT Lifestyle, Dr Parekh noted that dentists routinely examine the tongue during oral check-ups because changes in its colour, texture, or appearance may point to nutritional deficiencies, infections, dehydration or, in some cases, more serious conditions.

He shared five changes to the tongue that individuals should be mindful of, which are presented as follows.

A thin white coating after waking up is ...