White Tongue: Causes, Symptoms, Prevention, and Home Remedies
Table of Contents
When it comes to the health of the mouth, the attention of the people goes directly to the cleaning of the teeth. People forget that the tongue is also an integral part of the mouth. The tongue not only makes sense of taste but also plays an important role in the digestive process. Think through it, if the tongue appears ruddy white every day! Fear is natural. It is not that the white tongue is harmful in every situation, but sometimes it can be a sign of some serious problems. This is the reason why in this article of My Health Only, we are going to give you any important information related to the causes, symptoms, home remedies, and treatment of white tongue. Also, before proceeding in the article, it is important to keep in mind that home remedies can provide some relief from the problem, but the complete treatment depends on medical advice.
So let’s first learn what the white tongue is. Later we will also talk about other aspects related to this.
What is white tongue –
Similar to small grains on the entire tongue few bulges are found. These bumps are called papillae, which give a taste of food as well as size. When we eat or drink anything, some part of that substance gets mixed with saliva and gets stuck in the middle of the papillae. In the absence of regular cleaning of the tongue, this congestion begins to grow slowly and causes decay. This increases the effect of harmful bacteria in the mouth and a white layer begins to form on the tongue. The tongue appears white due to this layer.
In the next part of the article, we will now explain the cause of the white tongue.
Causes of White Tongue –
The causes of the white tongue are many, including normal as well as some serious conditions. Let us know a little about these through the following points.
Common causes of the white tongue –
- Excess use of protein rich foods like milk, cheese and fish.
- Not cleaning the tongue properly.
- Reasons for consuming cigarettes and alcohol.
Other Reason –
Oral thrush- This problem is also known as Candidiasis. It is a type of fungal infection, which is caused by a yeast named Candida. There are white spots on the tongue along with the cheeks, palate, and throat.
Leukoplakia- This is a problem that arises due to the lack of moisture and saliva in the mouth. White spots appear inside the tongue, mouth, and cheeks. This problem can usually be seen in people who consume more cigarettes, alcohol, and tobacco.
Oral lichen planus- This is a disorder associated with allergies or the immune system. It shows white stripes or rashes on the tongue along with the mouth.
Syphilis- This is a type of sexually transmitted disease. When it increases white rashes can be seen on the tongue.
After the cause of white tongue, we will now tell you the symptoms of white tongue.
Symptoms of White Tongue –
Smelling of the mouth is a common symptom of a white tongue. This is due to the decay of the fraction of food stored on the tongue. In addition, the symptoms of the white tongue may also be as follows.
- Sore mouth and redness.
- Feeling like cotton wool in the mouth.
- No taste
- Pain in eating and swallowing.
- Redness and cracks on the sides of the mouth.
- On the whitened area, the tongue feels stiff.
- Pain caused by consuming spicy or sour foods.
After the symptoms of white tongue, in the next part of the article, we will now show the home remedies for white tongue.
Home Remedies for White Tongue –
1 – Baking Soda
Material
- A pinch of baking soda
- Two to four drops of lemon juice
How to use
- First of all make a paste by mixing lemon juice in baking soda.
- Now apply this paste and clean the tongue with a brush.
- Later rinse with clean water.
- This process can be used regularly for about four to five days to clean the tongue completely.
How beneficial
Baking soda can be used as a home remedy for the white tongue. Actually, it has antibacterial effects, which can help maintain mouth health by protecting the mouth from bacteria. On the other hand, research by the National Center for Biotechnology Information provides information related to the effect of citrus fruit on bacteria. This suggests that lemon (citrus fruit) may also exhibit positive effects in reducing the effects of harmful bacteria.
Rotting and bacterial effects of food residues on the tongue are the main cause of white tongue. On this basis, it can be said that baking soda combined with lemon juice can help in relieving the problem of the white tongue.
2 – Aloe Vera Juice
Material
- A cup of aloe vera juice
How to use
- Rinse with aloe vera juice and then wait for 15 to 20 minutes.
- Rinse with clean water after the time is over.
- This process can be used regularly for 15 days for better effect.
How beneficial
Research related to Aloe vera published on the NCBI website has revealed many of its medicinal properties. Research suggests that aloe vera has antibacterial, anti-healing (healing wounds), anti-ulcer (healing of ulceration), antiplaque (cleansing the mouth), and anti-halitosis (oral odor removal) properties. All these properties of aloe vera can help jointly maintain overall oral health. On this basis, it would not be wrong to say that the benefits of aloe vera juice can be seen in removing the white layer that accumulates on the tongue due to harmful bacteria.
3 – Turmeric
Material
- A pinch of turmeric powder
- Two to four drops of lemon juice
- A cup of hot water
How to use
- First, make a paste by mixing lemon juice in turmeric powder.
- Now apply this paste on the entire tongue and leave it for five to ten minutes.
- Rinse with warm water after the time is over.
- This process can be used regularly until the tongue is completely clean.
How beneficial
According to experts, turmeric has many medicinal properties, including antimicrobial (microbial destroyer) and antiplaque (plaque removal) effects. Due to both these effects, it can also be used as a mouth wash for oral health. In such a situation, it can be believed that turmeric powder can prove beneficial in relieving white tongue problems.
4 – Glycerin
Material
- One teaspoon glycerin
- A cup of hot water
How to use
- Add glycerin to a warm water and mix.
- Now rinse with this water containing glycerin.
- This process can be used regularly until the problem is over.
How beneficial
Glycerin and water solution can also be used in home remedies for the white tongue. According to experts, Glycerin Solution exhibits antibacterial effects. At the same time, we have mentioned earlier in the article that the problem can be relieved by eliminating the harmful bacteria present in the mouth. For this reason, one can say that glycerin and water solution can help in relieving the white tongue.
5 – Salt
Material
- ½ teaspoon salt
- A cup of hot water
How to use
- First, mix half a teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water.
- Now with this solution rinse well.
- This process can be used regularly in the morning and evening for better effect.
How beneficial
The research was done by the Dental Medical College, Tamil Nadu to find out the effect of the salt-water solution on oral health. This research found that salt-water solution can help remove plaque (frozen dirt due to bacterial effect) on teeth. In addition, it can also be helpful in destroying harmful bacteria present in the mouth and saliva. It was concluded on the basis that rinse with the saltwater solution can help to overcome many problems related to the mouth. In such a situation, it can be believed that due to the bacterial effect, this mixture can also be helpful in removing the white layer on the tongue.
6 – Apple Vinegar
Material
- A spoonful of apple vinegar
- A cup of water
How to use
- Mix one spoon of apple vinegar in a cup of water.
- Use this mixture to rinse and wait for 10 to 15 minutes.
- When the time is up, rinse with clean water.
How beneficial
According to experts, the use of apple vinegar can help maintain oral health by reducing the effects of harmful bacteria present in the mouth. Also, it can help in preventing bad odor of the mouth and in removing the dirt on the teeth. At the same time, in the beginning of the article, we have told that the white tongue problem is due to the rotting of frozen foods on the tongue due to bacterial effects. This white tongue problem is also the main reason for bad mouth odor. On this basis, it would not be wrong to say that apple vinegar can be used as an alternative to getting relief from this problem.
After knowing the home remedies for a white tongue, now we will tell the treatment of white tongue.
White Tongue Treatment –
To treat white tongue in normal condition, the doctor may recommend using a tongue scraper along with brushing in this problem. It may also suggest the use of mouthwash or mouth gel that destroys harmful bacteria present in the mouth. Actually, both these procedures can help in relieving the problem of the white tongue by improving oral health.
At the same time, if the check-up shows other causes of white tongue, then the doctor can try to cure this problem by treating those causes. So, let us now get information about the treatment of white tongue on the basis of those reasons, which have already been mentioned in the article.
Oral thrush – For the treatment of oral thrush, the doctor may recommend the use of medicines such as Clotrimazole, Miconazole, or Nystatin, depending on the condition of the problem. At the same time, a tablet or injection of fluconazole is considered if the problem is severe.
Leukoplakia – For the treatment of this problem the doctor may recommend taking some antiviral medicine. Also, you can be told to stay away from alcohol and cigarettes. In spite of these remedies, there is no benefit, then surgery can be considered to remove the white spots on the tongue.
Oral lichen planus – Some medications that cure the deteriorating immune system are used to treat this problem. Also, the doctor may advise applying vitamin A cream to the affected area. At the same time, in some severe conditions, the doctor may give an injection of a corticosteroid directly into the white part of the tongue. After adopting these measures, if there is no benefit, then the last option is to try to fix this problem through laser.
Syphilis – If the white tongue problem is due to syphilis, in this case, the doctor recommends using corticosteroid as a medicine. Corticosteroid tablets, creams, and injections are available in all three forms on the market. Therefore, the doctor can determine in which form this medicine should be used, depending on the condition of the problem.
After knowing the treatment of the white tongue, we will now show some remedies for the prevention of the white tongue.
White Tongue Prevention –
Information about the prevention of white tongue can be acquired through the following points.
- Along with teeth regularly clean the tongue as well.
- Make a habit of rinse with water after eating food, so that there is less possibility of food congestion on the tongue.
- Eat a balanced diet so that immunity works properly and the number of harmful bacteria in the mouth is controlled.
- Stay away from cigarette, alcohol and tobacco consumption.
After knowing the white tongue and its causes, it is possible that you will no longer have any doubt about this problem. At the same time, you learned how the white tongue home remedies included in the article can benefit from this problem. Think again, once read all the points given in the article, and then implement them. By doing this, not only people suffering from this problem will be able to benefit, but healthy people will also be able to take a better step in the direction of prevention with white tongue.
