The white tongue is usually a sign of an excessive growth of bacteria and fungi in the mouth, which causes dirt and dead cells in the mouth to be trapped between the inflamed papillae, causing the appearance of white plaques.
Thus, the white tongue is more common when there are favorable conditions for the growth of fungi, as in people who do not have adequate oral hygiene or who have a weaker immune system, as in the case of babies, the elderly or patients with autoimmune diseases., for example.
However, there are other diseases that can cause white spots on the tongue, such as:
1. Oral candidiasis
Oral candidiasis, also known as thrush, is the most frequent cause of the appearance of white spots in the mouth, especially in bedridden elderly or babies, due to the excessive growth of fungi. However, it can also occur in adults who do not have adequate mouth hygiene, who have been treated with antibiotics or who have autoimmune diseases, such as lupus or HIV.
This yeast infection can also be accompanied by bad breath, burning in the affected regions and the feeling of cotton inside the mouth. See how the treatment is done.
What to do: Adequate oral hygiene must be performed, brushing your teeth and tongue at least twice a day and using a mouthwash to prevent the development of bacteria. If symptoms do not improve after 1 week, you should consult your general practitioner to start using oral antifungals, such as nystatin.
2. Lichen planus
Lichen planus is an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation of the lining of the mouth, which can generate frequent white spots on the tongue and even inside the cheeks, in addition to small painful sores similar to thrush. It is also common to feel a burning sensation in the mouth, as well as excessive sensitivity to hot, spicy or acidic food.
Better understand what oral lichen planus is and how treatment is done.
What to do: it is recommended to consult the general practitioner, because although there is no medicine capable of curing lichen planus, the doctor may prescribe the use of corticosteroids, such as triamcinolone, to relieve inflammation and pain. In addition, using a toothpaste without sodium lauryl sulfate can also help to prevent the onset of symptoms.
3. Leukoplakia
This is a chronic disease that causes the appearance of whitish plaques inside the cheeks, gums and, in some cases, on the surface of the tongue. This type of plaque does not improve with brushing the tongue and is generally not painful.
Although there is no known cause for this disorder, it is more common in smokers and may be related to the first signs of cancer in the mouth.
What to do: if after 2 weeks of adequate oral hygiene the plaques do not start to disappear it is important to consult a general practitioner or dentist to assess the risk of being early signs of cancer. If they are benign plaques, your doctor may recommend using antivirals or have minor surgery to remove the plaques.
4. Syphilis
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease that can affect the mouth when having unprotected oral sex, and the first symptoms can take up to 3 months to appear. In these cases, sores in the mouth, characteristic of the first stage of the disease, may also appear. Learn more about the symptoms and stages of syphilis.
What to do: the treatment needs to be done with an injection of penicillin and, therefore, one should consult a general practitioner to make the diagnosis and start the treatment. If the treatment is not done, the symptoms may improve after 3 weeks, but the disease will progress to its second phase, in which it can spread to the rest of the body.
When to go to the doctor
In most cases, this symptom is not a sign of a serious illness and can be easily treated with proper brushing of the tongue and frequent water intake.
Watch the following video and learn what to do to properly clean your tongue:
However, if the white tongue lasts more than 2 weeks or appears accompanied by pain or burning, for example, it is advisable to consult a general practitioner to assess if there is any disease and to start the appropriate treatment, if necessary.
