Vitamin B12 deficiency: What does your tongue look like? Signs in your mouth

Vitamin B12 is a crucial ingredient for the healthy running of the body, as it’s needed to make red blood cells. Signs of a deficiency can develop very slowly, so it may be difficult to diagnose the condition.

People with undiagnosed symptoms should consider that they may have a vitamin B12 deficiency.

While it’s unlikely that your symptoms are caused by the condition, there are still many people that have a lack of B12.

A quick blood test could reveal whether you should be adding more B12 to your diet.

One of the more common signs of a deficiency is an unusually swollen tongue, it’s been claimed.

Some people that need to add more B12 to their diet develop an inflamed tongue, according to medical website Healthline.

The symptom, which is known as glossitis, may make your tongue feel particularly painful.

Your taste buds may appear to disappear or stretch out, as the inflammation may make the tongue look smooth.

A deficiency could even make your tongue appear more red than you’re used to, it added.

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“If you have glossitis, your tongue changes colour and shape, making it painful, red and swollen,” it said.

“The inflammation can also make your tongue look smooth, as all the tiny bumps on your tongue that contain your taste buds stretch out and disappear.

“As well as being painful, glossitis can change the way you eat and speak.

“Studies have shown that a swollen and inflamed tongue that has long straight lesions on it could be an early sign of vitamin B12 deficiency.”

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But, just because you develop glossitis, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have a vitamin B12 deficiency.

The symptom may be caused by an allergic reaction, or even an iron deficiency.

Meanwhile, you could also be at risk of a B12 deficiency if you develop persistent dizziness.

The symptom may be caused by a lack of oxygen being delivered to the body’s cells.

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More common warning signs of a vitamin B12 deficiency include tiredness, jaundice, and shortness of breath.

You should speak to a doctor if you’re worried about vitamin B12 deficiency symptoms.

But you can top up on the vitamin by eating certain foods.

The best sources of vitamin B12 include beef, liver, dairy foods, eggs, and salmon.

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