A tongue coating (synonym: coated tongue; ICD-10-GM K14.3: hypertrophy of the lingual papillae, including coated tongue) is usually harmless. However, a tongue coating can sometimes be the cause of a disease.
A white tongue coating usually forms during the day from dead cells, microorganisms (bacteria) and food debris. As a rule, this white coating is rubbed off again by chewing hard food.
Food (e.g. beet) and stimulants (red wine, coffee consumption) can also lead to changes in the color of the tongue.
Tongue coatings and associated color changes that are causally related to disease are tabulated under “Symptoms – Complaints.”
If tongue coating and burning of the oral mucosa occur, the disease “Burning–Mouth-Syndrome (BMS)” is referred to.
If tongue coating and bad breath occur, the symptom halitosis (bad breath) is referred to.
Course and prognosis: In classical medicine, an existing tongue coating is rarely considered. Usually, tongue coating is an additional symptom of another disease.In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), tongue diagnosis has an established place.
