The human tongue is a bit of a wonder to many people. It is necessary to swallow and speak, it helps blow bubblegum, and it heals remarkably fast when you accidentally bite or burn it. But did you know that it also can give you a few red flags when your body isn’t operating at peak performance? If you notice any changes in your tongue, pay attention – it could be trying to tell you something!

If you’ve ever seen white spots on your own or your child's tongue, you may have been initially alarmed. Often these white spots are just a sign of a harmless fungal infection called thrush. Though thrush usually clears up on its own, it can be uncomfortable and even painful, depending on the severity. So, what exactly is thrush, and what should you do if you suspect you or your child has it?

Body piercings are not exactly a new trend. In fact, the oldest mummified body found to date, a 5,300-year-old dubbed Ötzi the Iceman, was found impeccably preserved in a glacier, still wearing earrings! Oral piercings, on the other hand, are generally thought to be a much more recent trend, surging in popularity among young people in the early 2000s, but they too have a deep-seated history. Tongue piercings, for example, were used by the ancient Mayan and Aztec cultures to honor the gods, while lip piercings have been used for centuries in African tribes, and have also been seen in art from Pre-Columbian South American cultures.