Is it normal for back of tongue to be white

Causes Related conditions Treatment Seeing a doctor Prevention We include products we think are useful for our readers. Overview The sight of a white tongue reflected back at you in your bathroom mirror might look frightening, but this condition is usually harmless. Keep reading to learn more about why this happens and whether you should treat it. What causes a white tongue. Conditions linked to a white tongue.

Treatment options. When to see your doctor. How to prevent a white tongue. Read this next. Tongue Problems. Medically reviewed by University of Illinois. What Causes a Yellow Tongue? Medically reviewed by Suzanne Falck, MD. What Causes a Tingling Tongue? Medically reviewed by Judith Marcin, M. What Are the Bumps on My Tongue?

When a person is healthy, the immune system can fight it off. However, when the immune system is not working properly, the person may not be able to fight off bacteria that would otherwise be benign. Beneath the lesions is a red inflamed base, which is the source of the pain. The same goes for extreme use of throat lozenges. IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. You can also try tongue scraping, which is another practice of Ayurvedic medicine that can remove bacteria, debris and dead skin cells from the tongue.

Tongue scraping helps get rid of white tongue and improves the smell of your breath too. In fact, a study published in the Journal of Periodontology found that a tongue scraper performed better than a toothbrush in reducing the production of volatile sulfur compounds that cause bad breath and other oral hygiene issues.

When the pipillae , or small bumps on your tongue, grow, which is perfectly normal, they become more likely to harbor bacteria. This is when your tongue begins to change color and texture, which is more likely to occur when you have poor oral hygiene. Sometimes your tongue may feel sore or have painful bumps.

It can also be caused by food allergies, a bacterial infection, a canker sore or a cold sore. If you smoke, that can irritate your tongue and cause it to feel sore or discolored. Small bumps on the tongue are usually harmless and only temporary. White tongue is a symptom of a health condition.

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Badge field New. Published date field. Top Articles. When to See a Dentist for a Coated Tongue According to the NHS , the tongue appears to be coated with a white layer when the surface is colonised by bacteria or fungi and dead cells become lodged between the papillae. Oral Thrush Thrush is a mouth infection caused by the Candida fungus, more commonly referred to as yeast. It can result from: Antibiotic and corticosteroid use Smoking Diabetes Poorly-fitted dentures Serious diseases, such as HIV and cancer Pregnancy Thrush is treated with antifungal medication taken over 10 to 14 days.

Leukoplakia Excessive cell growth in the mouth produces white patches on the tongue, a condition known as leukoplakia. Treatment of a Coated Tongue Regardless of what's causing your white coated tongue, bad breath is usually a by-product. Related Products.