White or coated tongue: causes and treatments

1. White tongue: what is it?

2. What are the symptoms of a white tongue?

3. What can be the causes of a saburral tongue?

4. Is it dangerous to have a white tongue?

5. How to get rid of it?

Unlike conditions such as black tongue or red tongue, white tongue syndrome is a transgenerational condition that affects approximately one in two people in the world's population. 🌎 A normal tongue has a pale pink color and any change in this color may indicate an abnormality in oral health . Therefore, it is essential to be aware of the existence of whitish tongue and all the inconveniences it can cause. This is in order to take adequate precautions to avoid or eliminate it.

What are the causes of a white tongue and what are the treatments that can help get rid of it? Find out the essentials about this disease in this article. 🧐

Normally the color of the tongue is pink. Another color can therefore represent a sign that something is wrong. This is the case, for example, of the white language. Also known as saburral tongue , it is an oral condition which results in the deposit of a coating on the tongue. 👅 The tongue which is normally pink and smooth finds itself covered with a white layer which may be uniform, pasty or not.

White tongue can be identified by several symptoms. First of all, we have the appearance of the white coating which causes a change of color in this part of the mouth. 👄 This deposit may turn out to be more or less thick. It can also cover the entire surface of the tongue or appear in just a few places. Also, the white coating that appears can cause pain, burn, or cause difficulty swallowing food. In some cases, a metallic taste appears in the mouth. So many signs that can mean that you are affected by this pathology. This is why it is important to consult a specialist doctor as soon as you notice these different signs. 🩺

Here are the most common sources of white language:

A lack of attention to oral health or hygiene can easily cause tongue whitening or gum whitening . Indeed, it is an organ in high demand due to all the functions it can perform in the body. Thus, in the absence of a maintenance routine, we can witness the deposit of numerous germs, food debris and dead cells on the tongue. 🧫 This then turns white as the particles accumulate.

The quality of the food consumed can also be the cause of a white tongue. For example, when you eat your meals too hot 🍝, it can easily cause a whitening tongue. Likewise, irritation from an unhealthy or untreated tooth can cause canker sores and a sore tongue.

Healthy lifestyle in general can also have a considerable impact on your health. Excessive consumption of tobacco or alcohol 🍷 sometimes leads to a change in color of the tongue. Furthermore, the consumption of certain medications such as antidepressants and antihistamines modify the quantity and quality of saliva. 💊 Which can lead to the formation of a thick, pasty and white layer on the tongue.

The white tongue can also be infectious, caused by bacteria and indicate the presence of a possible mycosis such as Candidiasis . Caused by a fungus such as Candida albicans , mycosis occurs in various forms: thrush mycosis and perleche mycosis. 🍄 Perlèche mycosis is characterized by a whitish layer at the corner of the lips. In the second case, we notice a white tongue followed by tingling and burning. This bacterial infection that causes tongue whitening is generally common when following antibiotic treatment. 🦠

The white tongue can hide a much more acute illness. For example, it can represent a symptom of gastroesophageal reflux. In the digestive tract, food that leaves the mouth passes through the esophagus, and passes through the stomach before being digested. At the exit of the esophagus, a valve (sphincter) called cardia prevents food from coming back up. 🍕 When the latter is defective, the hydrochloric acid secreted by the gastric glands can rise into the esophagus. This reflux then causes burning and a white, dry tongue.

Stress can also be the cause of many mouth aches , as well as a whitening tongue. There is a direct link between emotional state and oral health. When you are subjected to too frequent a state of stress, your taste buds are directly affected. They then reduce the secretion of saliva and increase its acidity. This leads to a dry mouth ( xerostomia ) and an unpleasant taste . 🤢 Since this is what normally irrigates the mouth and cleans debris, the reduction in the amount of saliva will cause a dry tongue that turns white.

Here are other situations that can cause white tongue 😛:

As we have just discovered, white tongue can actually hide a deeper problem. Its normal color being pink or red, it is appropriate to ask yourself certain questions when it suddenly turns white. 🤷‍♂️ But nothing to panic about. As soon as you notice the first symptoms appearing, it is important to visit the dentist as soon as possible. Because the possibilities are endless in this case.

And the most dangerous solution is to speculate on one's own health by trying to trivialize a problem that can turn out to be quite serious by turning to self-medication . If you have a fairly healthy oral routine , then it is possible that this is a sign of a larger condition other than oral pathology. 🤭 In the absence of treatment, this condition can progress and cause serious pain in the long term. Fevers, bleeding, difficulty chewing or swallowing food, and more.

Even though white tongue is known to be quite a serious condition, there are simple solutions to get rid of it. However, the process to be considered will mainly depend on its origin. Here is the 4-step action plan to eliminate tongue deposits in record time. ⏱

As we mentioned above, diet quality is one of the causes of this condition. To get rid of them, it therefore makes sense to be careful about what you consume. Avoid consuming too much acid so that your mouth does not dry out. 🍋 But changing eating habits must go even further.

Dehydration and dry mouth can cause tongue whitening. To do this, you must increase the amount of water consumed according to your weight and your activity level. 💧 Drink about 1.5 liters to 2 liters of water per day to be safe and watch for signs of possible dehydration. Smoking being one of the causes of tongue whitening; you need to find a way to quit smoking. 🚬 Finally, you should limit your alcohol consumption.

The second step to getting rid of a white tongue is to practice good oral hygiene. Start by brushing your teeth the right way . Dentists advise giving priority to the many benefits of electric toothbrushes . Check that the latter has soft bristles . 🪥
If we have one recommendation to make, it is to favor sonic technology rather than rotary , because it is less aggressive towards the gums and tooth enamel . Our MyVariations sonic toothbrush is equipped with sonic technology that is much gentler on gums and enamel, ensuring complete and very effective brushing, while respecting the rest of your mouth. Their bristles are flexible and made of soft nylon, and they offer 5 brushing modes to adapt to everyone's sensitivity and needs. 😉

Discover our toothbrushes

Next, check the quality of your well-chosen toothpaste . Make sure that it has a composition that is favorable to your health. For brushing, you must adopt a daily rhythm. It is advisable to brush your teeth after each meal or in the worst case at least twice a day (morning and evening). This helps eradicate germs and bacteria from the mouth that are contained in plaque, which otherwise turns into tartar to be removed . 🦷 The duration of brushing is also very important if you want to obtain convincing results. In general, we recommend brushing your teeth correctly for at least two minutes ( there is no such thing as brushing in 10 seconds , remember!). ⌛️

Moreover, with our MyVariations electric brushes, you no longer need to worry about it, because they are equipped with an integrated 2-minute timer, at the end of which the device turns off automatically. 🙌

Unlike teeth, when you have a problem with your tongue it is not recommended to brush your tongue ...

One of the best solutions to eliminate whiteness of the tongue is to pay attention to your oral health. And for this, what could be better than using a well-chosen mouthwash , regularly. Indeed, even if their taste may be unpleasant for some, these solutions can be very effective against bacteria that settle in the mouth. 🧪 For best results, choose a concentrated saline mouthwash, and avoid those that contain alcohol, as this could make your situation worse. Rinse your mouth for 1 to 2 minutes, taking care not to swallow the solution. The frequency of use as well as the duration of each session should vary depending on the product and the recommendations of your dentist. 👩‍⚕️

The remedy may vary depending on the cause of the condition. For example, in the case of oral thrush, it is important to resort to antifungal treatment. ☝️ This is why we recommend consulting a specialist doctor as soon as you notice the first symptoms. The latter will then be able to carry out a complete diagnosis in order to identify the source of the problem. 😊