6. A Smooth, Inflamed Tongue
More than half of people who suffer from severe vitamin B deficiency experience a disappearance of their papillae. Papillae are those little bumps on your tongue which are responsible for how you can taste your food. In layman’s terms — they’re your taste buds. This can happen when your tongue experiences glossitis.
Glossitis usually happens because papillae cells are not getting enough oxygen to function properly. Your tongue will change color and shape, often becoming red and swollen. Individuals who suffer from glossitis usually experience a burning sensation, particularly on the back of the tongue.
The inflammation can make your tongue appear smooth and red. This is because the inflammation stretches out the papillae, making them look like they’ve disappeared. An inflamed tongue can affect how you eat and speak. In most cases, people suffer from extreme weight loss due to tastelessness in their food.