Does the roof of your mouth look yellow? You might be worried after noticing that the top of your mouth looks yellow. But why? The reasons are many. From infections to underlying medical conditions, a lot of factors can make the mouth’s roof change color. We’ll discuss the causes in this blog; keep reading to know what it could be.
What Causes the Roof of Mouth to Look Yellow?
Usually, a yellow roof of the mouth does not indicate a serious condition. Still, causes like jaundice and oral cancer are also sometimes responsible for the yellow in your mouth. Here Are some possible reasons for the discoloration of your palate:
1. Poor Oral Hygiene
If you don’t pay attention to your oral hygiene, you need to start now. Improper oral care allows bacteria in your mouth to build up, which can make your tongue and the roof of your mouth look yellow.
People with poor oral hygiene also experience:
- Bad breath
- Swollen gums
- Bleeding gums
- Pain when chewing
2. Mouth Breathing or Dry Mouth
When your salivary glands don’t produce a sufficient amount of saliva, it can result in a dry mouth or xerostomia.
Smoking and alcohol consumption can dry your mouth. Moreover, medical conditions like diabetes, stroke, and infections can also decrease salivary production. Some habits like mouth breathing can be responsible for a dry mouth too.
3. Oral Thrush
Are there yellow or white patches in your mouth? Yeast overgrowth can cause oral thrush, which turns different areas of your mouth yellow, like the tongue and the roof. If your roof of the mouth is yellow because of oral thrush, these symptoms might appear:
- Burning mouth
- Corners of lips will look cracked
- Loss of taste
4. Canker Sores
Canker sores are open mouth ulcers that appear on the soft surfaces of our mouths. They are painful yellow or red lesions that usually disappear on their own within two weeks. They can develop on the roof of your mouth, making it look yellow.
5. Oral Herpes
Oral Herpes, caused by the HSV-1 virus, can discolor a healthy roof of the mouth. Pus-filled yellow sores might appear on the top of your mouth. The affected individual might experience an itching or tingling sensation before Herpes sores appear. But these sores don’t just appear on the mouth’s roof; they can appear anywhere inside or outside the mouth.
6. Jaundice
When a yellow pigment, known as bilirubin, builds up in the body, you can get jaundice. The dysfunction of the liver or gallbladder is usually why it occurs. Furthermore, some areas of your body will start to look yellow. This includes the whites of your eyes and your skin.
Besides this, you might experience symptoms similar to flu. Jaundice can be pretty serious, so it is best to visit your doctor if you suspect it.
7. Tobacco Smoke
If you smoke, you probably have a yellow roof of the mouth. Since smoking and tobacco can lead to issues that color the top of your mouth, it is a common reason for the yellow roof.
Poor oral hygiene, black hairy tongue, and oral thrush are some of the factors that can affect your mouth.
8. Medications Containing Bismuth
Did you have an upset stomach recently? Or any other condition that required you to take Bismuth? This element can change the color of your tongue and palate to black or yellow.
What to do?
The roof mouth suddenly looking yellow might indicate a serious condition. Therefore, don’t hesitate to call our Pasadena Oral Surgery team at (281) 299 0053 to schedule an appointment.