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 a coating of debris, bacteria and dead cells on your tongue that makes it look white. Although the appearance of white tongue may be alarming, the condition is usually harmless and temporary.
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. That means they can turn into mouth or tongue cancer.
Iron deficiency anemia or pernicious anemia – A pale (almost white), smooth tongue can be caused by a deficiency in iron or vitamin B12.
The white coating is caused by debris, dead cells or bacteria which get stuck on the bumps of your tongue and results in the white coloring. Your tongue is the perfect home for anaerobes. These bacteria live in areas with very little to no oxygen, including the bowel.
Baking soda scrub
Adding food-grade baking soda to a toothbrush and scrubbing the tongue, teeth, and gums may help reduce the bacteria that cause a white tongue. One study found that a baking soda oral rinse can reduce harmful bacteria that commonly cause infections in the mouth, such as Streptococcus.
A thick white coating on the back or at the center of the tongue may be a sign of an overloaded digestive system. This can be caused by an imbalance of good bacteria in the gut, nutritional deficiencies and stress.
While a white tongue often indicates thrush, it can be a sign of another condition. Several oral conditions have similar symptoms to thrush, causing them to sometimes be mistaken for thrush.
Signs and symptoms may include: Creamy white lesions on your tongue, inner cheeks, and sometimes on the roof of your mouth, gums and tonsils. Slightly raised lesions with a cottage cheese-like appearance. Redness, burning or soreness that may be severe enough to cause difficulty eating or swallowing.
One of the easiest and most effective home remedies for the white tongue is a saltwater rinse. To do this, mix a tablespoon of salt with a cup of warm water and swish the solution around in your mouth for about 30 seconds before spitting it out.
Lemon juice – Mix the juice of half a lemon into eight ounces of water and either drink or rinse with the mixture. Apple cider vinegar – The antifungal properties of this vinegar can help treat oral thrush. Add one teaspoon of it to a cup of water and swish for one minute then spit.
Listerine Total Care mouthwash
It is a daily mouthwash with clinically proven effectiveness. It is used in addition to brushing, it eliminates up to 99% of the bacteria of the dental plaque at the origin of the white tongue and acts in the places which the brush cannot reach.
Common causes of a sore or white tongue
This should only last a few days. A white tongue can be a sign of a health condition, such as lichen planus, leukoplakia, geographic tongue, mouth ulcers or oral thrush. But do not self-diagnose. See a GP if you're worried.
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.
White Tongue: A white tongue can be a sign of bacterial or debris buildup on the surface of the tongue. This can be caused by mild dehydration, smoking, dry mouth, or illness. A white film on the tongue could be a sign of oral thrush, which is a type of yeast infection.
For many people, placing a toothbrush or tongue scraper near the back of the tongue can trigger the gag reflex. In order to stop this, it may help to begin by placing the scraper or brush in the middle of the tongue the first few times you clean it.
A Sign of Candida
When you have a white tongue, then you probably have an overburdened digestive system. An overworked system results in slow digestion and improper function. This leads to a buildup of a bacteria or yeast called candida, and all of this shows on your tongue.
Oral Thrush
Diabetes can also give you a dry mouth, which helps the yeast take hold. Signs you have oral thrush include: Pain in your mouth and throat. White patches on your tongue, inside the cheeks, and on the roof of your mouth.
Deficiencies in B6 or B12 may lead to a swollen, sore or yellow tongue, along with teeth indentations and fissures on the surface of the tongue. Iron: An iron deficiency can lead to a swollen tongue and painful sores in the mouth.
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.
Oral thrush can usually be successfully treated with antifungal medicines. These usually come in the form of gels or liquid that you apply directly inside your mouth (topical medication), although tablets or capsules are sometimes used.