Dry Mouth: Not enough saliva lets bacteria grow and causes discoloration.
Diet and Lifestyle Choices: Foods and drinks with strong colors, like coffee or tea, can stain the tongue. Smoking and mouth breathing can also make it yellow.
Jaundice: Rare, but it can turn the tongue yellow when the body can’t handle bilirubin well, also yellowing the skin and eyes.
If the yellow doesn’t go away or there are other symptoms, see a doctor.
What Can a Cracked or Fissured Tongue Indicate?
Cracks or fissures on the tongue (fissured tongue) are usually harmless but can have several causes.