Why is my tongue white?!
Question: As I understand it, tongues are supposed to be pinkish. I'm sure my tongue resembles this on some level, but there seems to be a layer of white on it, that neither brushing with a toothbush, nor scratching with my teeth, will fix.
Is something wrong here? I'm white, if it makes a difference, and If I had to describe exactly how my tongue looks, it's mostly white, except at the tip where it's the aforementioned 'normal' colour, and near the end (by my throat), it gets kind of green at the center. To be honest, this is the part that really worries me.
Also, the way my tongue feels in my mouth, is as if it was lacking lubrication, it isn't that it's dry, but rather rough.
Also, this isn't just a 'because i had a lollipop' kind of thing, my tongue's been like this for a really long time.
Thanks in advance,
george
Answers: As I understand it, tongues are supposed to be pinkish. I'm sure my tongue resembles this on some level, but there seems to be a layer of white on it, that neither brushing with a toothbush, nor scratching with my teeth, will fix.
Is something wrong here? I'm white, if it makes a difference, and If I had to describe exactly how my tongue looks, it's mostly white, except at the tip where it's the aforementioned 'normal' colour, and near the end (by my throat), it gets kind of green at the center. To be honest, this is the part that really worries me.
Also, the way my tongue feels in my mouth, is as if it was lacking lubrication, it isn't that it's dry, but rather rough.
Also, this isn't just a 'because i had a lollipop' kind of thing, my tongue's been like this for a really long time.
Thanks in advance,
george
Hi, I'm a dentist.
You may have a condition referred to as hairy tongue, which is harmless - for the most part. Hairy tongue is the result of the overgrowth of the filiform papillae (tiny, hair-like, fibrous appendages of the tongue; you have thousands of these on your tongue naturally). When these papillae overgrow, they appear white in color. Food can stain these papillae very easily, which could be the reason for the green color you see on your posterior tongue. Individuals with hairy tongue tend to have a difficult time cleansing the tongue, and may need to have the papillae clipped at regular intervals (this is a relatively painless procedure; think of it like mowing grass, just on your tongue).
Another possibility is that you may have a fungal infection on your tongue, referred to as oral thrush or oral candidiasis.
Either way, you should see your dentist ASAP to have your tongue evaluated.
Good luck.
Your tongue isn't white. It's pink but covered in a layer of whitish bacteria, also known as plaque. This is basically harmless but if left too long can contribute to periodontal disease.
The cure is to simply brush your tongue and roof of your mouth as WELL as your teeth twice a day, every day. Within a couple weeks you'll notice that whiteness starting to fade.
This sounds very serious, I'd see a doctor.