A white tongue is usually nothing to worry about. But on rare occasions, this symptom can warn of a more serious condition like an infection or early cancer. That's why it's important to keep an eye on your other symptoms, and call your doctor if the white coating doesn't go away in a couple of weeks.
White tongue is the result of an overgrowth and swelling of the fingerlike projections (papillae) on the surface of your tongue. The appearance of a white coating is caused by debris, bacteria and dead cells getting lodged between the enlarged and sometimes inflamed papillae.
White tongue is generally harmless, and may be helped by gently brushing your tongue with a toothbrush or tongue scraper and drinking plenty of water. Make an appointment with your doctor or dentist if: You're concerned about changes in your tongue.
If a white tongue is your only symptom, you don't necessarily need to see your doctor. But if it doesn't go away in two weeks, you might want to consider calling for an appointment. Call sooner if you have these more serious symptoms: Your tongue is painful or it feels like it's burning.
Your tongue is one place where you might develop symptoms if you're mildly dehydrated. Some tongues develop white patches or a dry, rough surface. Along with dehydration, having a white tongue can also be a sign of many other medical conditions.
“It could be dead bacteria if you've been fighting off a cold or infection, or mucous if you've been congested,” he says. Both types of debris are fairly harmless, and their accumulation can give your tongue a whitish appearance, he says.
A pink tongue is healthy and normal. A red tongue may indicate heat in the body like a fever or a hormonal imbalance. A reddish purple tongue is a sign that there may be inflammation or an infection in the body. A pale pink tongue may be a sign of a vitamin deficiency, a weak immune system or a lack of energy.
The cause is the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) — the same virus that causes mononucleosis. Usually it goes away by itself, but sometimes treatment with an antiviral medication can help. It's important to get checked out if you have white patches in the mouth because some types of leukoplakia are considered precancerous.
Probiotics
An imbalance of the healthy bacteria in your gut can lead to oral thrush and a white tongue coating. Taking probiotic supplements and eating probiotic foods helps balance the bacteria in your gut and treat health conditions that are related to candida.
Oral thrush can cause a white or yellow film to form on the tongue and can cause discomfort when eating and drinking. Thrush is caused by an overgrowth of yeast in the mouth, which can be a result of poor oral hygiene, a weakened immune system, or antibiotics.
But did you also know, the tongue can also provide insight in a person's overall wellness. Your tongue changes color when your body is sick, low on vitamins, or dehydrated. When looking into your mouth, your dentist can quickly check for any health issues just by checking the color of your tongue.
Other symptoms include congestion, sore throat with thirst, a white or yellowish tongue coating, and a rapid pulse. According to Chinese Medicine theory acupuncture and Chinese herbs can be prescribed to eliminate Wind-Cold or Wind-Heat and relieve symptoms.
An unhealthy tongue. If your tongue is a different colour than pink, or has large patches of white, brown, black, or another colour, this might indicate a specific health issue. Similarly, if you have large bumps or no bumps at all, you may also want to speak to a doctor.
If your tongue is bright red like a strawberry, it could signal a deficiency in folic acid, vitamin B12, or iron. But, it could also mean you have strep throat, or a fever. Is your tongue full of red and white spots? That might be a clear sign your taste buds are worn down.
Other microorganisms and bacteria keep the fungus from growing out of control. However, illnesses, stress and medications can all cause Candida to reproduce more. The main symptom of oral thrush is white lesions that resemble cottage cheese, found usually on the tongue or inner cheeks.
When your tongue is so heavily coated that it results in the appearance of a white tongue, it's a warning sign that you're suffering from an overworked digestive system. If your digestive system is overburdened, it can't function properly. This leads to a buildup of a bacteria or yeast called candida.
Can acid reflux cause a white tongue? Research so far has not shown a strong connection between acid reflux and a white coating on the tongue. A 2020 study drawing on TCM found that people with GERD had more “fur” on certain parts of the tongue, but this did not coat the whole tongue.
Having a coated tongue usually means you have poor digestion or too many bad bugs/yeast in your bowel and/or a sluggish liver.
You may want to brush with 1 part hydrogen peroxide and 5 parts water once a day if your tongue is discolored. You should rinse your mouth out with water following this type of cleaning.
Drink plenty of water: Enough water helps keeping your tongue clean and gets rid of extra food particles. Eat crunchy fruits that cleanse the tongue naturally: Apples and guava are good examples of this. Eat raw vegetables: Raw vegetables, such as spinach, tomatoes, lettuce and peppers.
The white patches in your mouth and on your tongue may be thrush. Thrush is a fungal infection that is relatively common in people with diabetes. If you have had problems controlling your blood glucose levels, you are at higher risk of thrush.
When someone is dehydrated, the tongue appears dry and typically has a white or white-to-yellowish coating. In some cases, the tongue can appear patchy or splotchy. If your tongue commonly sticks to the roof of your mouth, you are dehydrated!
A black and hairy tongue may look concerning, but it's usually harmless. Bacterial overgrowth on the tongue most commonly causes it. Your tongue may look dark yellow, brown, or black. Also, the papillae may multiply, giving off the “hairy” appearance.