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    White tongue 101: Causes and solutions for furred tongue

    Reading time: 5 mins

    Our tongues are an essential part of everyday life, which is why it's so important that our tongue is healthy.

     

    However, certain ailments and lifestyle habits can lead to something known as tongue covering. Here we’ll explore some of the causes of a furred tongue, including:

     

    • Illnesses such as flu and cold
    • Conditions such as vitamin deficiency and autoimmune diseases
    • Medications
    • Smoking
    • Dietary staining

     

    Ultimately a healthy mouth requires a healthy tongue. So, read on to learn everything about different types of tongue coverings, coated tongue causes, how you can get rid of white tongue (and other colours too!), and finally how to prevent the onset of a tongue which has a white coating or other tongue covering.

    What is a tongue covering?

     

    A healthy tongue is pale red, smooth, moist, flexible, and free from dark spots or white stuff on the tongue. A tongue covering is an often-unsightly new addition that can vary in appearance. You can have a yellow, red, brown, or white tongue, reason, and cause dependant.

    Why do tongue coverings and colour changes occur?

     

    The tongue is an amazing muscle that can even make you aware of unseen illnesses. A few reasons why you may notice a change in colour, or a tongue covering, are:

     

    1. The tongue is a key indicator of the overall state of health of our mouth and body. If we are ill, this can often be detected on our tongue. From a purple tongue suggesting poor circulation or a yellow tongue suggesting gall bladder issues,¹ being able to read the signs your tongue gives can be beneficial in seeking help early on.

    2. Tongue covering can also occur more frequently with age. This is mainly due to changes in a person’s diet. The consumption of predominantly soft foods reduces the natural abrasion of the tongue, so you may not see changes to a baby’s tongue as often as your own for example.

      Tip: If you do notice a change in colour or tongue covering on your baby or young child, be sure to seek medical advice from your family doctor or dentist as it could be a sign of something serious.

    3. Poor oral hygiene and lacking oral health can also lead to tongue covering. Our tongues are made up of small bumps called papillae, taste buds, and a mucus membrane.² The spaces on and around your tongue are ideal harbours for bacteria in your mouth which can lead to tongue covering as well as plaque on the teeth if left untreated.³

    4. Frequent and heavy smoking is one of the leading coated tongue causes.⁴ In addition to being bad for your physical health, the use of tobacco products can wreak havoc on your oral health. Smoking cigarettes, cigars, and pipes can lead to dry mouth, increased bacteria activity, and a variety of tongue coverings including white tongue, yellow tongue, and black tongue.

     

    So, what does each colour of tongue covering mean? Read on to find out.

    Top causes of different coloured tongue coverings

     

    Now you know the root of the issue, what does your tongue say about your health? Here are five of the most common colours you may come across, and – in addition to poor oral hygiene and smoking – what other issues could be indicated by each tongue covering:

     

    • White tongue: The reason for a white tongue varies, but a white coating on the tongue is often a sign of oral thrush.⁵ The additional causes that could result in white stuff on your tongue include:⁶
      1.    Gastrointestinal illnesses
      2.    Cold and flu
      3.    Iron deficiency
      4.    Oral lichen planus (an inflammatory condition)
      5.    External irritation such as dentures or braces
      6.    Regular alcohol consumption

     

    • Yellow tongue: Yellow-coated tongue causes vary from eczema to fungal infections. Other issues related to yellow tongue include:⁷
      1.    Jaundice related to liver, gall bladder, and pancreas illnesses
      2.    A build-up of excess bacteria
      3.    Medications
      4.    Food dyes in candy and other items you consume

      Tip: In some cases, a yellow tongue may darken in appearance to appear browner in colour. A brown tongue could be an indication of kidney issues; however, it is more commonly associated with certain medications and heavy smoking.⁸

     

    • Red tongue: Also known as strawberry tongue, typical causes for a red-furred tongue include scarlet fever and vitamin deficiency. But other issues could be indicated by a red tongue covering including:⁹
      1.    The presence of an autoimmune disease
      2.    Inflammation of the tongue
      3.    Vascular inflammations
      4.    An allergic reaction
      5.    Kawasaki disease¹³
      6.    Scarlet fever¹⁴

     

    • Black tongue (‘hairy tongue’): A black tongue is unsightly but mostly unproblematic. The following could be causes of a black tongue covering:¹⁰
      1.    Certain medication
      2.    Food dyes
      3.    Dark liquids such as coffee
      4.    Radiation therapy
      5.    A weakened immune system caused by conditions such as diabetes or HIV

    A man is looking towards the camera cleaning his tongue covering using a special Philips tongue brush.

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    How to get rid of the white tongue coating

     

    Even a healthy body regularly produces a thin covering on the tongue. This coating consists of food residues, dead cells, and germs. Usually, thorough oral hygiene including tongue cleaning is enough to get rid of a white coating on your tongue and other tongue coverings.¹¹ So, follow these steps to remove and prevent tongue covering:

     

    • Brush your teeth regularly and thoroughly. You should brush your teeth twice a day, for at least two minutes. Take care to ensure you also clean interdental spaces (this can be done by flossing or using an interdental brush). This will not only help to remove tongue covering, but it is also good for your overall oral health and can help prevent conditions such as gingivitis.

      Tip: The Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean is specially designed to be gentle on sensitive areas, remove up to 7x more plaque than a manual brush, and remove surface stains in as little as one week.*

    • Use a mouthwash at least once a day. As part of your regular oral hygiene routine utilising an antibacterial mouthwash is a great way to remove tongue covering causing bacteria and other build-ups on your tongue and around your mouth.

      Tip: If you’re looking for a more natural option, herbs such as chamomile, thyme, and sage have antibacterial qualities. Crushing these and making homemade mouthwash can help to remove tongue covering.

    • Clean your tongue once a day too. Daily oral care should also entail cleaning your tongue, in order to prevent the settlement of bacteria on your tongue and to remove tongue covering.

      Tip: We recommend investing in the Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Smart  which offers up to 10x more plaque removal for a deeper clean, and healthier gums in just two weeks.

    • Rinse your mouth with salt. Salt is antibacterial¹² and is a great option if you’re looking for home remedies to remove your tongue covering. Follow these steps to mix and use a salt rinse to get rid of white tongue and other tongue coatings:
      1.    Dissolve a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water.
      2.    Swill this mix around your mouth for a few seconds.
      3.    Rinse your mouth with clean water.

    • Make a trip to the dentist for professional tongue cleaning. In addition to professional teeth cleaning, some dentists offer professional tongue cleaning. This will remove tongue coverings and bacteria from the tongue.

    • Reduce or quit smoking. While using the steps above will help you remove the coloured coatings that smoking can cause on your tongue if you continue to smoke the tongue coating will just reappear. Quitting smoking is a great preventative measure you can take and will be beneficial not only to your tongue but also to your oral health and physical health too.

     

    Tip: If the tongue coating is caused by illnesses or underlying conditions, it could be hard to remove it mechanically at home. In most cases, it will disappear by itself once the illness starts to subside.

     

    So, there you go. Not as bad as you thought, right? With just a few basic pointers this guide can help you understand why your tongue has a white coating, brown coating, and other colours too. Plus, we’ve given you all the tips you need to keep your mouth and your tongue clean, so you’ll always be able to enjoy a healthy smile.

     

    *Based on two brushing cycles of two minutes each per day in the Clean-Program

     

    Sources:
    ² National Library of Medicine, Medline Plus, Tongue problems
    ³ National Institute of Health, Mouth Microbes
    ⁴ National Library of Medicine, Effects of Tobacco Smoking on the Dorsum of the Tongue and Buccal Epithelium
    ⁵ National Library of Medicine, Oral thrush: Overview
    ⁶ NHS, Sore or white tongue
    ⁷ National Library of Medicine, Bacillus as a potential diagnostic marker for yellow tongue coating
    ⁸ National Library of Medicine, The Response of the Tongue Epithelial on Cigarette Smoke Exposure as a Risk Factor for Oral Cancer Development
    ⁹ The New England Journal of Medicine, Strawberry Tongue
    ¹⁰ NHS Royal Berkshire, Black hairy tongue
    ¹¹ National Library of Medicine, The Effect of Mechanical Tongue Cleaning on Oral Malodor and Tongue Coating
    ¹² National Library of Medicine, Antimicrobial properties of salt (NaCl) used for the preservation of natural casings
    ¹³ NHS, Kawasaki disease
    ¹⁴ NHS, Scarlet fever

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