Contents:
- Medical Video: How To Check For Mouth For Cancer
- Various causes of white tongue
- 1. Poor oral hygiene
- 2. Mouth-related problems
- 3. Leukoplakia
- 4. Lichen planus
- 5. Oral thrush
- 6. Syphilis
- 7. Other causes
Medical Video: How To Check For Mouth For Cancer
In general, the tongue does have a thin layer of grayish white. This is not a condition that is too worrying because it is not dangerous. But in some cases, the appearance of a white tongue can indicate a more serious health disorder. The following are various possibilities for the cause of the tongue turning white, from the trivial to the one that must be taken to the doctor.
Various causes of white tongue
1. Poor oral hygiene
The most common cause of white tongue is poor oral hygiene. The surface of the tongue is covered by small papillary bumps that are covered by mucous membranes. When you rarely brush your teeth and / or rub your tongue, leftovers can be trapped between papillae and accumulate with dead skin cells to form whitish plaques on the surface of the tongue. This white tongue plaque is then eaten by bacteria in the mouth as food ingredients. Over time, the papilla can become inflamed and swell because of it.
2. Mouth-related problems
Your tongue can turn white as a result of some oral health related problems, such as:
- Dry mouth
- Dehydration
- Irritation due to braces or dentures
- Fever
- Smoke
- Eating alcoholic beverages
- Eat more soft foods
- Medications such as antibiotics, which can cause fungal infections in your mouth.
In addition, the habit of breathing through the mouth can also cause the color of the tongue to bleach because of the dry condition of the mouth.
3. Leukoplakia
Leukoplakia causes white spots on the inner cheeks, gums, mouth and sometimes on the tongue. Leukoplakia is often owned by smokers or people who chew tobacco. In addition, alcohol dependence or inflammation and irritation from dentures can also cause this condition.
White leukoplakia patches are usually harmless, but in rare cases, this condition can develop into cancer.
4. Lichen planus
Lichen planus is an inflammatory condition that can affect the mouth and cause thick white patches on the mouth and tongue. In addition, your gums may feel sore and get a wound along the lining in your mouth.
This condition is caused by a problem with the immune system.Immune cells, which usually protect the body by destroying bacteria or viruses, begin to attack healthy skin cells or mouth membranes.
5. Oral thrush
Oral thrush or oral candidiasis infection is an infection caused by fungi Candida. This condition causes white patches on the mouth and tongue.
People who have diabetes, a weak immune system such as HIV / AIDS, iron deficiency or vitamin B, or if you wear dentures are more at risk of developing oral thrush.
6. Syphilis
Syphilis is a venereal disease caused by bacteria and can cause white tongue symptoms called syphilis leukoplakia.
7. Other causes
A rare but sometimes serious condition can cause a white tongue, namely:
- Cancer of the mouth or tongue can cause white tongue, and other mouth conditions can also make symptoms worse.
- Chronic inflammatory disorders that can affect the tongue.
