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When the doctor asks you to stick out your tongue they are not only looking at the tongue. When you stick out your tongue it moves the tongue out of the way and allows the doctor to get a better view of the inside of your mouth. They are looking at the back of your throat, gums, tongue, and mucous membrane (the tissue on the inside of your mouth) for anything abnormal, such as inflammation, bleeding, and abnormal growths and excretions.

Not only that, but the uvula (the little ball that hangs down from the roof of your mouth) is a great way to see if you have problems with one of the nerves coming off of your brainstem.

Looking at the tongue or inside the mouth are two very different things. Doctors will look at someone's tongue to see/note any signs of "deficiencies" or, even more serious, signs of cancer. A healthy tongue is usually pink, and smooth. White tongue could mean dehydration. White tongue may be due to candida (we all have candida but Candida albicans can cause infections). Your tongue may feel smooth due to a nutritional deficiency. A pale, smooth tongue could be a sign of iron-deficiency (anemia) or lack of B vitamins. A red tongue more often signals underlying problems in children's health. A strawberry or raspberry-coloured tongue can be one of the first symptoms of scarlet fever, for example. Adults less often manifest these signs. The list and "symptoms" can be very long but if your doctor feels that there might be something wrong with you he/she may get a confirmation by looking at your tongue (and not inside your mouth).

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Q: Why do doctors look at your tongue?
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