Leukoplakia: Leukoplakia is a common condition caused by an overgrowth of cells in the lining of your mouth. These cells combine with the protein keratin (found in your hair) to form a white raised patch on your tongue.
By Mayo Clinic Staff. 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.
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.
Sometimes a white tongue can be a sign of an underlying health problem or a medication side effect. Seek medical care if your tongue is painful or you have one or more white patches on your tongue.
Leukoplakia appears as thick, white patches on the inside surfaces of your mouth. It has a number of possible causes, including repeated injury or irritation. It can also be a sign of precancerous changes in the mouth or mouth cancer.
(10) To remove the white coating on your tongue, swish one tablespoon of aloe vera juice in your mouth two to three times a day until the coating has disappeared.
Types of infection that can cause a white tongue include: hairy leukoplakia: caused by the Epstein-Barr virus. oral herpes simplex virus infection. scarlet fever: a bacterial infection that can cause a whitish coating on the tongue at the beginning of the condition.
That may sound strange, but your tongue can tell a lot about your health. For example, a black and hairy looking tongue can signal poor oral hygiene, or diabetes. If your tongue is bright red like a strawberry, it could signal a deficiency in folic acid, vitamin B12, or iron.
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.
If the tongue pales and develops white patches, this may result from a fungal infection, such as oral thrush. Oral thrush can be painful and cause thick, white or red patches to form on the tongue. A person may have trouble swallowing or eating. Another possible cause is leukoplakia.
When food particles, bacteria, and debris get trapped in the papillae (the tiny dots on the surface of the tongue), it causes a white coating and an unpleasant smell. Good oral hygiene is the best way to avoid and treat this. Take time to gently clean your tongue with a tongue scraper after brushing your teeth.
Often, you can treat a white tongue at home with good oral hygiene practices. However, if it doesn't go away within a week, causes so much pain it's hard to drink, eat, speak, or comes with other concerning symptoms like fever, call a dentist or your healthcare provider immediately.
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.
The symptoms of tongue cancer might include: a red or white patch on the tongue that won't go away. a sore throat that doesn't go away. a sore spot (ulcer) or lump on the tongue that doesn't go away.
Common tongue diseases and problems include canker sores, thrush, oral lichen planus, and tongue trauma. Other problems or conditions that can impact the tongue include tongue cancer, transient lingual papillitis, geographic tongue, vitamin B12 deficiency, Sjögren's syndrome, neuralgia, and allergic reactions.
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.
Poor Oral Hygiene
Most of the time, a white tongue is a result of poor oral hygiene. The tongue has small bumps, called papillae, which can become swollen, inflamed, and discolored if there is an overgrowth of bacteria, yeast, or even with dehydration.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Listerine Total Care mouthwash
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.
Most of the time it's harmless and can be reversed. Sometimes, it can be a sign of illness. From a dry, sticky coating to small round lesions, discolored taste buds to pockets of pus, there are many reasons why the tongue can appear white. The fade from pinkish-red can occur overnight or develop slowly over time.
The tongue is a breeding ground for different bacteria and plaque. Throughout the day, food debris and other bacteria will start building up on the tongue as well as on your teeth. Many people brush their teeth two times a day to clean off this debris from their teeth but forget or overlook cleaning the tongue.