The tongue, a movable muscle, fills much of the oral cavity. It is essential for many functions, such as speaking, swallowing and tasting. However, the tongue can also tell whether the body is healthy or sick. A white tongue, also known as tongue coating or coated tongue, can have harmless causes, but can also indicate diseases of the digestive organs or poisoning. Other possible causes include poor oral hygiene or improper diet.
What is a white tongue?
A white tongue usually consists of food debris, germs, and old cells. Normally, this coating is removed when eating or through optimal oral hygiene. The tongue reflects the state of health of the body. Ideally, the condition of the tongue should be checked first thing in the morning for changes in color or shape. This should be done before brushing the teeth. In a healthy state, the tongue is pale red, moist and smooth. A white tongue usually consists of food debris, germs and old cells. Normally, this coating is removed when eating or through optimal oral hygiene. Sometimes, however, the tongue coating is not sufficiently removed, for example, if the affected person temporarily eats only liquid food due to a fasting cure or illness. Sometimes a white tongue also occurs in the case of various diseases, inflammations, infections, poisonings. Even though the tongue coating is usually harmless, it often leads to unpleasant bad breath. A furry tongue or changes in taste are also possible.
Causes
The coating can either be strippable or firmly attached to the tongue. In this case, the color of the tongue coating depends on external influences, such as diet, smoking, alcohol, nicotine, diseases, etc. The reasons for a white tongue are very diverse. Therefore, the classification is often not easy. A white coating usually forms during the day from food residues, dead cells and microorganisms. White tongue also occurs more frequently during colds. Another possible cause can be digestive disorders. In particular, an infection with Candida albicans (fungus) causes strippable, white coatings on the tongue. The following different conditions can cause a white tongue:
- A thick, white tongue coating is indicative of a cold or gastrointestinal problems.
- If the coating is only on the left or right side of the middle groove, a disorder of the pancreas is possible.
- Infection with the fungus Candida albicans is manifested by white coatings that can be scraped off, with a reddened and slightly bleeding surface underneath.
- Care should be taken with whitish, solid coatings on the base or edge of the tongue, because in this case the cause may be leukoplakia. In this disease, the corneal cells of the mucosa are produced in increased numbers. This can be a precancerous condition. Therefore, a medical check is very important.
- In iron deficiency anemia, the tongue appears rather pale.
- Typhoid tongue is manifested by central gray-white coatings. Outwardly, these are bordered by red districts.
Diseases with this symptom
- Poisoning
- Typhoid fever
- Pancreatitis
- Common cold
- Iron deficiency anemia
- Nodular lichen
- Leukoplakia
- Oral thrush
- Gastritis
Diagnosis and course
The doctor first looks at the tongue, examines the oral mucosa and will ask some questions to get crucial clues, such as since when tongue is white or whether there are other complaints. In some cases, a smear is taken from the tongue coating, which is then examined under a microscope and sometimes a culture is taken. For some diseases, which are possible causes, further examinations are required, for example, a blood test, a gastroscopy (gastroscopy)or a visit to the dentist.
Complications
Worse complications rarely occur with white tongue. A white coating on the tongue is natural and is caused by the food and drink a person consumes during the day. This coating should be removed when brushing teeth or after meals. If the coating is not removed, inflammation can occur in the worst case.These occur when the patient has generally poor oral hygiene and takes little care of their teeth and gums. Therefore, a mouth rinse should be used after meals to remove the plaque. As a possible complication, inflammation of the gums or tongue can occur here, as well as pain on the teeth or cavities and holes. However, for such complications to occur, the white coating on the tongue must be present for a long time and not removed. This is avoided with regular oral hygiene. The symptom can only be treated to a very limited extent at the dentist. Since the white coating would appear again and again due to the increase of food, the dentist cannot remove it permanently. The affected person must take care of this himself.
When should you go to the doctor?
As a rule, a white tongue is not a worrisome clinical picture that necessarily requires medical examination or treatment. Usually, a white tongue develops due to food debris that builds up on the tongue over time. Inadequate oral hygiene can significantly increase the coloration of the tongue. However, those who regularly practice strict oral hygiene should only temporarily suffer from a white coating on the tongue. In some cases, however, a white tongue may indicate an underlying disease, requiring medical and drug treatment. A fungal infection can be responsible for a white tongue, so going to the doctor should not be delayed for long. By taking antibiotics, this condition can be treated effectively and quickly. If the patient does not take the appropriate medication, further complications must be expected. The bacteria can otherwise spread throughout the body, so that various accompanying symptoms can occur. These include headaches, fever, dizziness or vomiting. In general, therefore, a white tongue is usually only a temporary phenomenon that does not require any medical or drug treatment. However, if a white tongue persists for more than two days, a doctor should be consulted. Only then can an accurate diagnosis and subsequent treatment be made.
Treatment and therapy
In most cases, a white tongue is harmless. This means that only very rarely a therapy is necessary. In the case of a white tongue, special tongue hygiene is very important in order not to provide a nesting place for bacteria, germs and cell debris, which can equally cause gum disease, for example periodontitis. When brushing your teeth, it is therefore important not only to clean your teeth, but also to take care of your tongue, for example with a tongue scraper or a household tablespoon. Use the hollow side to stroke the back of the tongue a few times to remove the plaque. In addition, special toothbrushes for the tongue are available, for example exfoliating instruments, which can also remove the plaque. The mouth is then rinsed thoroughly with a mouthwash or water. Disinfecting mouthwash reduces the number of germs in the mouth. This cleans the tongue in a natural way. If there is a disease responsible for white tongue, it must be treated individually.
Outlook and prognosis
At first glance, a white tongue is not a worrying clinical picture. However, there are cases in which an outlook and prognosis are associated with disease progression. If a white tongue is caused by the ingestion of certain foods, then there is absolutely no need to panic. Immediately after the next brushing of teeth this white coating will be gone. No further discomfort is to be expected at this point. In other cases, a white tongue is caused by poor oral hygiene. In such a case, bacteria accumulate in the oral cavity, which can cause an infection. This can lead to swelling of the mucous membranes, making it considerably more difficult for the affected person to eat. In addition, an abscess can also develop in the course of such an inflammation. If this clinical picture remains without any treatment, such an abscess can even develop into blood poisoning. However, if you decide early on appropriate treatment, you can expect a positive outcome. By taking antibiotics, the bacteria are killed and a threatening inflammation is avoided at an early stage.Thus, the following applies: The course of a white tongue depends on whether a doctor is consulted at an early stage. Only with appropriate medication, a quick and effective cure can be diagnosed.
Prevention
White tongue can best be prevented with good oral hygiene. Furthermore, a healthy diet rich in fiber is advisable. Thorough chewing is also very important. Not only soft food should be eaten. Hard crusts or crunchy vegetables scrape away the plaque. This cleans the tongue in a natural way. Alcohol and nicotine should be avoided. In case of diseases, prevention is impossible. In this case, it is indispensable to fight them. As long as there are no other complaints, for example fever, burning tongue or a general feeling of illness, and the coating does not change much, it is not necessary to see a doctor immediately. The tongue should be observed for a few more days. If the coating on the tongue lasts longer or even occurs permanently, the cause should always be clarified by a doctor to be able to rule out diseases.
What you can do yourself
To permanently remove white coatings on the tongue, the underlying fungal infection must be treated. These yeast fungi feed on any sugars that are ingested with food. Therefore, sugar consumption should be reduced. Furthermore, daily oil pulling has proven to be very effective. Here, a teaspoon of sunflower oil or coconut oil – which also has an antibacterial effect – is taken into the mouth in the morning after getting up. Now the oil is pulled through the interdental spaces and over or under the tongue. This rinses the entire oral cavity. The oil binds fungi, bacteria and viruses. After 10 minutes, the liquid is spat out and the mouth is rinsed with boiled hot water. From Ayurveda comes the use of a tongue scraper. With its help, the coatings are removed from the tongue before or after brushing the teeth. Since the fungal infection usually affects the entire body, it is important to strengthen one’s immune system. Attention should be paid to a healthy diet rich in vital substances and low in sugar. In addition, an increased fluid intake – preferably still water – helps to flush bacteria and other germs out of the body. In most cases, the intestines are also affected by the infection, as the oral mucosa and intestines form a single unit. Special intestinal cleanses and cures with psyllium husks and probiotic cultures, bring the intestines back into balance. Grapefruit seed oil taken daily acts like a natural antibiotic against bacterial infestation and stimulates the immune system.
