Why is the tongue covered with white plaque: what to do, how to remove folk remedies?

A white coating on the tongue is a symptom that, although seemingly harmless at first glance, in most cases indicates certain, quite serious health problems, because normally there should be no deposits on the surface of the tongue.

And even in pre-Hippocratic times, the tongue of patients was an indicator for doctors of the condition of not only their gastrointestinal tract, but also some other organs.

So, having an idea of what the appearance of our tongue speaks volumes about and why a white coating on the tongue can appear with certain somatic pathologies is certainly useful.

Causes of white coating on the tongue

Why does a white coating appear on the tongue? Let us note right away that for most people, a thin white coating on the tongue in the morning has nothing to do with pathology, since during the night, while a person is sleeping, on the dorsal surface (back) of the tongue, in addition to exfoliated keratinized particles of the flat epithelium of the filiform papillae, microscopic food particles and breakdown products of the protein substance of mucin saliva can accumulate. These can also be microorganisms characteristic of the oral microflora: Streptococcus salivarius, Streptococcus mutans, Veillonella alcalescens, Lactobacillus acidophylus, Lactobacillus salivarius, Fusobacterium nucleatum, etc. Such a translucent coating appears from time to time and is quickly removed from the surface of the tongue during brushing the teeth and then rinsing the mouth.

But when there is a constant white coating on the tongue, and regular oral hygiene does not help get rid of it, then this indicates a decrease in the body's defenses and should make you worry about your health.

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Causes of white coating on the tongue associated with gastrointestinal problems

White coating on the tongue as a symptom of a disease associated with the digestive system is considered by absolutely all gastroenterologists. A classic example is white coating on the tongue and gastritis, that is, inflammation of the gastric mucosa. Moreover, with gastritis with low acidity of gastric juice, the surface of the tongue is smooth, white coating and dryness of the tongue are observed. And when a rough tongue is combined with white coating, the level of hydrochloric acid in the stomach is clearly increased.

In acute forms of this disease, symptoms such as heartburn, pain, etc. appear, but chronic gastritis (the so-called functional dyspepsia) can develop without obvious signs. So you need to pay attention to a white-gray coating on the tongue, the appearance of an unpleasant taste in the mouth, as well as spontaneous attacks of weakness and increased sweating that occur some time after eating.

If there is a dense white-gray coating on the tongue in the middle, then one can suspect the development of a gastric ulcer. In addition, many gastrointestinal pathologies, primarily gastric ulcers, are characterized by the sloughing of epithelial cells of the tongue (desquamation). In this case, a white coating on the tongue is clearly visible in spots of various shapes and sizes. Such a tongue is even called the ulcer tongue.

In the presence of a duodenal ulcer, patients complain of a burning sensation on the tongue and a white coating, and by the evening their tongue begins to hurt as if after a burn.

But a white coating at the base of the tongue, as well as the appearance of teeth marks on the sides of the tongue, can be due to inflammatory processes in the small and large intestines - enterocolitis and colitis. It is clear that a tongue coated with a white coating is not a key sign of the listed diseases, since there are more "expressive" symptoms in the form of nausea, constipation or diarrhea, pain of varying localization and intensity, etc. But in the general clinical picture of gastrointestinal pathologies, the appearance of the tongue - a swollen tongue with a white coating - helps in making the correct diagnosis.

Inflammation of the gallbladder and retention of bile in it leads to acute pain and a significant increase in body temperature, against the background of which such a symptom of acute cholecystitis as a white-gray coating on the tongue or a white-yellow coating on the tongue and dry tongue also appears.

In chronic cholecystitis, as well as in inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis) and hepatitis, almost all patients have a yellowish-white coating on the tongue, which becomes completely yellow towards the root of the tongue.

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Problems with other organs

When the tongue is covered with a white coating only in the front part (that is, closer to the tip), doctors have grounds to diagnose inflammation of the mucous membrane of the bronchial walls (bronchitis) of various etiologies.

White coating on the root of the tongue, especially on the lateral surfaces of its distal part, signals a possible latent form of renal failure. In addition to complaints of an extremely unpleasant odor from the mouth and a white coating on the tongue, as well as dry mouth, general weakness and rapid fatigue during muscle exertion may be noted. And nephrologists recommend in such cases to take a urine test for protein.

In diabetes mellitus, a rough tongue with a white coating or a dense white-gray coating on the back of the tongue is a consequence of pathological changes in the submandibular salivary glands and a decrease in the volume of saliva (hyposalivation).

Burning tongue and white coating on it are typical signs of tongue inflammation, which occurs for many reasons and is called glossitis. In this case, a person partially or completely loses taste, the tongue hurts, and white coating covers the entire back of the tongue. If the body lacks vitamin B12 (pernicious anemia), then a red tongue and white coating are observed.

It should also be borne in mind that a tongue coated with a white, dense coating may be a sign of malignant tumors of the stomach and esophagus.

Various infections as causes of white coating on the tongue

There should be no questions about infections, since in addition to the pathogenic and opportunistic microorganisms that we inhale and swallow, the obligate microflora of the same oral cavity contains enough streptococci and staphylococci, protozoa, and microscopic fungi of the genus Candida. Taking advantage of the weakening of the immune system, which restrains their development, they cause various diseases that exhibit symptoms such as fever and white plaque on the tongue.

So, almost always, tonsillitis and white coating on the tongue go together. In catarrhal, lacunar and follicular tonsillitis, ENT doctors note a coated white tongue, and in fibrinous tonsillitis, the tonsils (palatine tonsils) are covered with a thick layer of white-yellow coating, which often covers the root of the tongue.

White coating on the tongue and thrush are related in a similar way, that is, oral candidiasis - acute pseudomembranous candidiasis caused by the Candida fungus (species C.albicans, C.glabrata, etc.). The thick white coating on the tongue with this type of mycosis has an external resemblance to cottage cheese. When removing the coating, a strongly hyperemic surface of the tongue is visible, which can bleed. It is also possible to form erosions of the mucous membrane of the tongue and the entire oral cavity.

By the way, white coating on the tongue and HIV are associated specifically with oral candidiasis, and this fungal disease - in its chronic pseudomembranous form - is classified as a so-called HIV-associated infection.

Candidiasis can be confused with oral leukoplakia, which is parakeratosis (keratinization) of the mucous membrane of unclear etiology. In the case of leukoplakia, the upper or lateral surfaces of the tongue are affected, and its distinctive feature is a burning sensation of the tongue and a white coating in the form of spots. In addition to white plaques, there are red spots; plaques can be flat (with flat leukoplakia) or slightly elevated above the surface of the tongue (with warty leukoplakia). According to doctors, this pathology can be malignant.

A tongue coated with white plaque is one of the main elements of the clinical picture of inflammation of the oral mucosa, stomatitis. This disease begins with redness and swelling of the mucous gums and tongue, and then a white plaque appears on the tongue. Treatment should be started at the first symptoms, otherwise ulcers form on the site of the white plaque all over the mucous surface of the mouth and even the larynx.

White coating on child's tongue

A dry tongue and a white coating on a child's tongue are common symptoms of influenza virus infection; colds and a white coating on the tongue are also typical for children under 10-12 years old. But a red tongue and a white coating on its background (in the middle of the back of the tongue) is one of the symptoms of an infectious disease caused by Streptococcus pyogenes - scarlet fever. At the same time, a small red rash appears on the cheeks, on the sides of the body and in the groin area, which lasts about a week.

The reasons for the appearance of white coating on the surface of the tongue in children are practically the same as in adults (see sections - Causes of white coating on the tongue: gastrointestinal problems and Causes of white coating on the tongue: various infections).

Very often, bad breath and a white coating on the tongue in children occur with helminthic invasion and giardiasis. To detect parasites, pediatricians necessarily prescribe a coprological examination.

Most often, a white coating on the tongue of a newborn is a symptom of thrush, that is, candidiasis. A white coating on the tongue of an infant can be a consequence of a viral infection, dysbacteriosis, dehydration with high temperature or diarrhea, as well as stomatitis. In any case, parents should consult a doctor when they find a white coating on the tongue of their children, and not try to establish the cause of the pathology on their own.

Treatment of white coating on the tongue

It should be borne in mind that the diagnosis of white plaque on the tongue, or rather, the diagnosis (recognition) of diseases accompanied by this symptom is a prerequisite for prescribing adequate treatment. In fact, the treatment of white plaque on the tongue itself implies the treatment of the pathology identified by doctors.

Thus, treatment of white plaque on the tongue associated with diseases of the digestive system is carried out by gastroenterologists, who have enough methods for identifying gastrointestinal pathologies in their arsenal. If the causes of white plaque on the tongue can be directly related to your diabetes, then you need to see an endocrinologist. If there is plaque caused by tonsillitis, a visit to an otolaryngologist is necessary. And how to remove white plaque from the tongue with oral candidiasis or stomatitis - a dentist will give recommendations, and for the youngest patients - a pediatrician.

Treatment of white plaque on the tongue due to oral candidiasis is carried out with antimycotic drugs such as Nystatin, Amphotericin B, Itraconazole, etc.

Nystatin (Anticandin, Fungicidin) in tablets of 500,000 IU should be kept in the ryu (behind the cheek) until it dissolves; used after meals, 4-5 tablets per day; the course of treatment is two weeks. The drug Amphotericin B is administered by injection, and Mycoheptin, which is similar in pharmacodynamics, can be taken in tablets: 0.25 g twice a day for at least 10 days.

Also, for thrush, it is recommended to take Intraconazole (Rumikoz) - in the form of capsules and solution for oral administration - 200 mg per day (capsules - after meals, solution - on an empty stomach); the course of therapy lasts from 5 to 7 days. The use of this drug for the treatment of children is not provided, and among its side effects are nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, constipation, headaches, drowsiness, increased blood pressure, etc.

The drug Fluconazole (Diflucam, Medoflucon, Fluzon) in the form of capsules of 50, 100, 150 and 200 mg is taken orally once a day. The standard daily dose is 50-100 mg; the duration of use is determined by the doctor (from one week to four). This drug is contraindicated for children under 16 and pregnant women. Possible side effects include skin rashes, diarrhea and excessive gas formation in the intestines.

For mouth rinses, which should be repeated at intervals of 2.5-3 hours, 2% solutions of baking soda and sodium tetraborate (borax) or 1% solution of boric acid are usually used.

White plaque on the tongue of an infant with oral candidiasis is recommended to be removed using a sterile napkin soaked in a 2% solution of baking soda (a teaspoon per 200 ml of boiled water). Pediatricians also prescribe Nystatin in the form of an aqueous suspension, which must be used to thoroughly treat the mucous membrane in the mouth at least 4-5 times a day.

White coating on the tongue with scarlet fever goes away as a result of scarlet fever treatment (penicillin antibiotics and vitamins C and B). How to remove white coating from the tongue with helminthic invasion? Get rid of worms with the help of anthelmintic drugs: Gelmintox, Albendazole or Pyrantel. For example, Albendazole should be taken for five days in a row - once a day; the daily dose for children is determined based on 15 mg of the drug per kilogram of the child's body weight.

Folk remedies for treating white plaque are recommended by frequently rinsing the mouth with decoctions and infusions of chamomile, sage, St. John's wort, plantain (a tablespoon of herbs per glass of boiling water), oak bark (a teaspoon per glass of water, boil for 10 minutes and leave for half an hour), aloe juice diluted 1:1. Garlic (if you eat one clove daily) and natural bee honey (take a teaspoon of honey in your mouth and hold for 15 minutes without drinking anything) cope well with microbes on the surface of the tongue.

Now you know that a white coating on the tongue is not such a simple symptom as it may seem, and you have an idea of the main reasons for its appearance in adults and children.