Most people don't give their tongue much thought beyond brushing it in the morning. Deficiencies Can Show Up on the TongueA tongue that appears unusually smooth, pale or sore can sometimes point to iron or vitamin B12 deficiencies. When an Ulcer Doesn't HealWhile many tongue ulcers are harmless and clear up on their own, Scannell said persistent changes should never be ignored. Not Every Change Is a Cause for ConcernThe appearance of the tongue can fluctuate for many reasons, and many changes are temporary. For those wondering how closely they should be monitoring their tongue, Scannell said there's no need for daily inspections.