Normal color of a healthy tongue is pink. Sometimes, bacteria, food particles, and dead cells get trapped between the string-like taste buds on the tongue surface. The taste buds then enlarge and swell and encourage thick coating on the tongue. It makes it to appear as “white coated tongue.”
There are multiple reasons for white coated tongue; poor oral hygiene, dryness of mouth and tobacco smoking are the most common among them. Regular use of certain medicines also contributes to tongue coating. Some patients; owing to their sickness either cannot eat or eat softer food which does not require active chewing, develop coating on their tongue. Yeast infections caused by Candida Albicans also produce whiteness of tongue. Though the white coated tongue looks ugly but generally it is innocuous. Its treatment requires removal with the help of a toothbrush or a scraper. All the sides of the coated tongue must be carefully cleaned to remove bacteria present in the coating. Mouth rinsing with some antimicrobial preparations help reducing foul smell produced by the coating. For a coating caused by Candida, professional attention from a dentist may be required, who may prescribe an antifungal treatment.
It can also signal systemic conditions such as diabetes or weakened immunity. Maintaining proper oral hygiene, staying hydrated, and addressing underlying health issues are crucial for management. Persistent cases may require medical or dental evaluation.
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