Coated Tongue: Why it happens and how to treat it
When it comes to oral hygiene, most people limit it exclusively to thorough cleaning of teeth with a soft brush, dental floss, and interdental brushes. However, if the white coating is not removed from the tongue, there is a danger that the bacteria that make them up will harm the health of the teeth, causing bad breath or gum problems.
A healthy tongue is pink without discoloration, parts covered with yellowish or white-gray spots.
Why does white coating happen?
Debris on the back of the tongue can indicate an overloaded digestive system, excessive stress, and an imbalance in the intestinal flora due to excessive levels of bacteria in the digestive tract.
There are small red spots on the tongue that are less pronounced in some people and more so in others so that microbes and dead cells accumulate between them. For this reason, clean your tongue every time you brush your teeth with a special cleaner.
The white coating also occurs due to insufficient secretion of saliva when the mouth is dry or if a person breathes through the mouth during sleep. Also, if the body is not sufficiently hydrated, such deposits can appear. Nicotine also affects their appearance.
White spots can also imply a fungal infection after taking antibiotics or be a sign of diabetes.
In addition, some of the accompanying symptoms can be a great need for food rich in carbohydrates, bloating and gas, chronic fatigue and lack of energy, constipation or diarrhea, muscle pain, and weakness.
HOW TO GET RID OF WHITE TONGUE?
If any of the mentioned causes are responsible for the appearance of a white tongue, it is necessary to eliminate it as soon as possible. Take more fluids, break bad habits, and start cleaning the tongue with a special cleaner.
Baking soda is an excellent natural remedy that can help solve this problem. Put a small amount on the brush and rub it on the tongue first, then the teeth and gums. It destroys harmful bacteria and fungi that cause infections in the mouth, such as streptococcus and candida. In these cases, coriander, ginger, or oregano oil can be of great help.
Other natural foods that help are turmeric and kitchen salt. You can also pour a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar into a glass of lukewarm water and use it as a natural mouthwash.
Probiotics are another way to influence oral symptoms such as a white tongue, so you should take them twice a day.
It is necessary to visit the dentist at least twice a year for preventive examinations to identify possible problems at the very beginning and resolve them in time.
If you have any questions regarding oral health or want to schedule an examination, we are waiting for you in Belgrade at 3 Trstenjakova Street. You can also contact us by phone and schedule your check-up.