Tongue coating or a coated tongue can be harmless in nature. However, it can also indicate poisoning or diseases of the digestive organs. Tongue coating can also indicate poor oral hygiene and poor nutrition. Depending on the type, how the tongue coating looks and under what circumstances it occurs, its cause must be clarified.
What is tongue coating?
Tongue coating is a furry or color-changed area on the surface of the tongue. This is often located in the center of the tongue. A tongue coating is a furry or color-changed area on the surface of the tongue. This is often located in the center of the tongue. Tongue coating is also referred to as a coated tongue. It consists of deposits of the tongue mucosa. Whether the tongue coating is a symptom of an organ disease of the digestive tract, could be a consequence of poor oral hygiene, poisoning or unhealthy nutritional conditions, or indicates a disease of the tongue, must be determined on a case-by-case basis. Often, the accompanying symptoms indicate whether the tongue coating is harmless or not.
Causes
Various factors can be considered as causes of tongue coating. Some of them have already been mentioned. Harmless tongue coating is usually caused by food debris and germ formation on the tongue surface. If enough solid food is ingested, this tongue coating is removed automatically, otherwise it can be done with suitable means. However, if the tongue coating is an indication of an internal disease of the digestive organs, an inflammation, an infection or even poisoning, a different procedure must be followed. Often the cause of the tongue coating can be determined by the type and color of the coating. For example, a white tongue coating may indicate oral fungus. Febrile infections or stomach diseases also lead to a typical tongue coating, as do certain sexually transmitted diseases. So-called glossitis is characterized by a smooth, red tongue coating with a burning sensation on the tongue. However, tongue coating can also be caused by certain medications and toxins such as lead. Dental and gum diseases such as periodontitis, certain skin diseases and especially internal diseases that have an effect on the oral mucosa as a side effect are known to trigger tongue coating. Examples of such tongue coating are the diseases lichen ruber or pemphigus vulgaris. In the case of a so-called map tongue, there is also a spotty-looking tongue coating, but this is harmless. The cause of this phenomenon is not yet known. A black tongue coating occurs in the so-called hairy tongue. In other cases, the tongue coating can take on the color of the food. One then has dark red tongue coating after eating blueberries, or slightly greenish after eating kale. Tongue coating, which is considered precancerous, is known in Bowen’s disease. In general, however, tongue coating almost never indicates cancer of the tongue.
Diseases with this symptom
- Glossitis
- Gastritis
- Typhoid fever
- Liver diseases
- Kidney weakness
- Syphilis
- Common cold
- Oral thrush
- Iron deficiency anemia
- Scarlet fever
- Kawasaki syndrome
- Diphtheria
- Leukoplakia
- Bowen’s disease
- Nodular lichen
- Vitamin B12 deficiency
- Sjögren’s syndrome
- Heavy metal poisoning
Diagnosis and course
Diagnosis and course in tongue coating depend on the color, type and cause of the coating. Some people have a slight tongue coating for life, without being able to assign a specific cause. In the case of a conspicuous and unusual tongue coating, questions are first asked in the medical history about any accompanying symptoms and the duration of the tongue coating. If previous diseases of the digestive tract are known, these may need to be examined more closely. Questions about diet or smoking habits can also facilitate the diagnosis. If necessary, the doctor will take a tongue swab to examine the tongue coating for germs and fungi. In some cases, tongue coating may require a blood test, gastroscopy or dental examinations. In these cases, it is safe to assume that the tongue coating could be a symptom of a disease.
Complications
Anyone who has tongue coating and goes to the dentist with it will rarely be prescribed a medication by the dentist.Tongue coating can be simply scraped off the tongue or removed with a toothbrush. If the tongue coating is not treated or removed, this usually leads to relatively poor oral hygiene. This often manifests itself in bad breath or even bad breath, which can be very off-putting to the people around you. If the tongue coating is still not removed, so inflammations can occur on the tongue, which can also be transferred to the teeth and gums. These are usually related to poor hygiene, so simple brushing and the use of a mouthwash is helpful here. If the tongue coating is treated with the help of medications and rinses, it can occur that the tongue burns or hurts after the treatment. Most medications here are relatively aggressive and contain alcohol, so the tongue may be irritated afterwards. This irritation can also spread to the throat and also to the gums. However, this complication should disappear as soon as the treatment is finished and discontinued.
When should you go to the doctor?
Tongue coating does not always require medical evaluation. Often, deposits and discoloration are triggered by certain foods, nicotine or or a cold and clear up on their own. A visit to the doctor is recommended if the tongue is unusually discolored or the coating persists over a long period of time. If accompanying symptoms such as swelling or itching are also present, a doctor should be consulted. A dark red tongue with a thick coating indicates scarlet fever, while a white coating may indicate a fungal infection of the oral mucosa (oral thrush). Bluish discoloration indicates a lack of oxygen in the blood, which must be clarified immediately. If the tongue coating causes bad breath or other accompanying symptoms, the dentist must clarify the causes. The same applies if blisters or inflammations form in the oral cavity and especially on the tongue. Generally speaking, tongue coating that does not cause any discomfort does not require medical clarification. However, as soon as symptoms develop or a serious underlying condition is suspected, professional advice is recommended. If the tongue coating is treated early, further complications can usually be reliably avoided.
Treatment and therapy
In the case of a conspicuous tongue coating, therapy should be based on the cause. Oral hygiene can be improved with mouthwashes, soft toothbrushes and special tongue scrapers. In addition, dietary habits should be reviewed. Too little solid food can trigger tongue coating. However, if the tongue coating is a fungal infection or candidiasis, it can only be remedied with antifungal drugs. Gastritis or intestinal diseases require diet or drug treatment. For other causes, tongue coating must also be treated at its root – that is, by therapy of the underlying disease that caused the tongue coating.
Outlook and prognosis
In most cases, tongue coating is just a harmless symptom and does not require special treatment or examination by a doctor. However, in the worst cases, tongue coating may indicate poisoning. If the coating on the tongue looks unusual or is associated with pain or a burning sensation, it is advisable to consult a doctor. In the case of tongue coating, the color of the coating is particularly decisive and can provide indications of certain diseases. As a rule, a white coating forms on the tongue after taking meals or after sleeping. This is perfectly normal and can be removed when brushing the teeth. Smokers may suffer from a different colored coating, which usually disappears when the person stops smoking. Complications or further discomfort can occur if the tongue coating is also associated with unpleasant bad breath. This can interfere with social contacts and usually indicates a disease of the teeth or stomach. In cases of poisoning, the tongue coating takes on a different color depending on the type of poisoning. In such cases, a doctor or hospital must be consulted.
Prevention
The best prevention against tongue coating is to practice good oral hygiene, eat a healthy diet rich in fiber, and refrain from smoking.
Here’s what you can do yourself
A coated tongue is quite normal.If the coating is thin and white, there is no need to worry. Only if the coating is thicker and/or has a different color is this an indication of disease. There are good self-treatment options for getting rid of tongue plaque and with it the furry mouth feeling or even bad breath. Those affected should avoid tobacco products and alcohol, prefer solid food, avoid vitamin deficiencies and consume probiotic foods such as sauerkraut, kefir or kimchi. Rubbing off the plaque can be done with a soft toothbrush or scraper, respectively, or by using a tongue exfoliator. Taking antifungal medications is also often helpful. There are also effective home remedies. For example, after stirring a teaspoon of salt into a glass of warm water, rinse the mouth thoroughly with the well-mixed solution and gargle. Another treatment option is to dissolve half a teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of water and use it to rinse the mouth twice a day. Tongue coating can also be combated by keeping a tablespoon of aloe vera juice in the mouth for three minutes. Another treatment option is to liquefy a tablespoon of cold-pressed coconut oil in the mouth before brushing the teeth and drag the enamel mass through the entire throat for about a quarter of an hour. Then rinse with warm water.