It's Not About Food: Why Tongue Coating Occurs 0 10

Causes of Tongue Coating

The accumulation of bacteria, food particles, dead skin, and other debris can cause the tongue to appear white. This happens when you do not clean your tongue regularly, and the coating cannot slough off.

In addition to the tongue turning white, this accumulation can emit sulfur, leading to bad breath. The longer you go without cleaning your tongue, the thicker the coating becomes and the harder it is to remove.

"A white coating is a symptom, not a standalone disease, and the way to combat it depends on the reasons that triggered the coating's appearance," says doctor Olga Malinovskaya. "Its nature can vary widely — in addition to poor hygiene, it can be a side effect of medication, vitamin deficiencies, digestive issues, fungal diseases of the oral cavity, and much more."

In some cases, the coating on the tongue disappears on its own without any effort: this happens with the coating that appears due to acute respiratory viral infections (ARVI). Additionally, sometimes it can be removed simply by changing your oral care routine.

To prevent the formation of a white coating and restore the healthy pink color of the tongue's surface, clean your tongue every time you brush your teeth. Make sure you are also drinking enough fluids. If you are dehydrated, you may not be producing enough saliva, which plays a vital role in removing debris before it starts to accumulate.

You may also want to avoid alcohol-based mouthwashes. They can cause dryness in the mouth, which again makes it difficult to slough off particles. Minimize the use of these drying agents.

When is Coating Dangerous?

If the coating keeps reappearing, accompanied by other symptoms — such as a burning sensation and pain, bad breath, the appearance of sores, and difficulties in chewing and swallowing — it is worth consulting a doctor to find out why it occurs. Among the most serious conditions that can cause a coated tongue are type 2 diabetes, oral cancer, immunodeficiency (including HIV infection), and syphilis. In liver diseases, the coating takes on a yellowish tint, while in peptic ulcer disease, chronic gastritis, and other gastrointestinal diseases, it becomes grayish. In cases of vitamin B deficiencies, bright red spots with a white border may appear against the coating.

If a white tongue is caused by thrush, you are likely to see white coating in other parts of the mouth or throat, and your tongue will be red, raw, and painful if you try to scrape off the white mucus.

How to Determine the Cause of Tongue Coating?

Any unusual white formation that persists on the tongue for more than two weeks should be evaluated by your dentist or treating physician. The examination should be comprehensive; usually, the doctor sequentially rules out possible causes by questioning the patient, ordering examinations, and tests. The specialist may suggest clinical and biochemical blood tests, tests for HIV and viral hepatitis, a culture for microflora and Candida fungi with sensitivity testing to antimicrobial agents, and determining vitamin status by testing for water-soluble vitamins (B1, B5, B6, B9, B12, C).

You should not interpret the results on your own — this should be done by a specialist who knows the patient's history and the symptoms they are experiencing.

Once the cause is established, the doctor can prescribe treatment. It mainly focuses on combating the disease that caused the symptom and also includes local therapy for healing sores, cracks, and other unpleasant manifestations that may accompany the appearance of the coating.