What should normal tongues and lips look like?

Tongues should be rosy pink, though some people have harmless "geographic tongue" (red and white geometric patterns). Lips should be pink to deep brown, depending on skin tone.

Tongues should NOT be
BLACK: caused by bacteria (due to diabetes, antibiotic use or poor hygiene). An active ingredient in Pepto-Bismol (Bismuth subsalicylate) can blacken the tongue temporarily, which is harmless.

BRIGHT RED: caused by low levels of folate or B-12 or if it's sore and swollen too it could be glossitis (caused by an infection, allergic reaction, or dehydration)

WHITE PATCHES: white patches on the tongue or on the insides of cheeks can be caused by thrush. Any white patch that has been in your mouth longer than two weeks should be seen by a doctor as it could be a cancerous lesion.

Lips should NOT be pale pink to white. This can be caused by anemia (low on red blood cells). There are many causes from diet to fibroids and heavy periods to even taking too much aspirin or ibuprofen. Check with your doctor to identify the underlying problems before you try to treat the matter yourself.