Tongue Coating: Prevention

To prevent a coated tongue, attention must be paid to reducing individual risk factors.

Behavioral causes

• Diet
  • Poor chewing (thorough chewing reduces deposits on the tongue).
  • Predominantly liquid diet (eg fasting) → white (to dirty-white) tongue coating.
• Consumption of stimulants → black tongue coating.
  • Alcohol (e.g. red wine)
  • Coffee
• Poor oral hygiene → white (to dirty white) tongue coating.

Prophylactic measures

• Oral hygiene (see below “Dentistry/aids for daily oral hygiene“).
  • Daily dental care (toothbrush, interdental brushes (interdental brushes), dental floss).
  • Mouthwashes
  • Tongue scraper or tongue cleaner