No, the 1997 2.0 sohc. Ford escort is Not a interference engine. It is a Freewheeling type. Interference refers to the non-ability of the engine to freewheel out of valve time. Interference engines DO cause damage if the timing belt breaks.
As a pediatrician this is a common concern I hear from parents of newborns. Sticking your tongue out is better known as tongue protrusion. It is when the tongue sticks out beyond the lip border for all to see. Since tongue protrusion is one of the Characteristics of Down syndrome, new parents often ask,
Yellow tongue is a usually benign condition which occurs when bacteria in the mouth produce pigments which cause the tongue to develop a yellow coating. A yellow coated tongue may look slightly alarming, but it does not indicate the presence of a major medical problem except in very rare cases.