How To Get Rid Of White Tongue In South Africa
What is White Tongue?
White tongue is a symptom where your tongue grows a thick white coating on part or all of its top. You might also experience bad breath, a hairy tongue and irritation. White tongue can look unattractive but it’s usually harmless and temporary.
How To Get Rid Of White Tongue In South Africa.
1. Hairy tongue:
Your provider probably won’t directly treat your hairy tongue. Instead, they’ll focus on treating your weakened immune system. In rare cases they can prescribe you with antiviral medications like valacyclovir or famciclovir. Or they might apply a treatment (like podophyllin resin or retinoic acid) directly to your white patch.
2.Tongue rash:
You shouldn’t need treatment for a tongue rash (oral lichen planus). But sometimes it can last in your mouth for several years. Your healthcare provider can prescribe steroidal mouthwashes (steroid pills dissolved in water) and steroid sprays that can reduce your discomfort from symptoms like burning or sore gums.
3.Mouth fungus:
If you have a mouth fungus (oral thrush), your provider will prescribe you with antifungal medications such as Diflucan. These come in pills you can take, or gels or liquids you can apply to the patches inside your mouth. You’ll usually need several applications a day for one or two weeks.
4.White patches:
There are no special treatments for having several white tongue patches (called geographic tongue because it looks like a map outline). Avoid any food and drink that causes you discomfort. Topical applications used to treat mouth fungus can give you some relief from any discomfort you feel. There’s no risk of this condition becoming cancerous.
5.Syphilis:
If syphilis is causing your white tongue, it won’t go away on its own. If you don’t get it treated, it can eventually damage your nervous system and cause serious long-term health problems. Syphilis is treated with a single injection of antibiotics (penicillin). If you’ve had syphilis for over a year, you might need up to three injections.
6.Mouth cancer:
If your provider tells you you’re at high risk of getting mouth cancer, they will likely remove your white patch with surgery. Your surgeon might use a scalpel, laser or (rarely) another method like cryotherapy (freezing it with liquid nitrogen). This surgery will help make sure that your tongue cells don’t turn cancerous. You can choose to be either numbed or asleep for this operation. Usually, you’ll heal soon after this procedure.
What can I do at home to treat white tongue?
Usually white tongue is easy to treat. White tongue caused by a buildup of debris in the mouth is treated by regularly practicing good oral hygiene. Simple ways you can treat white tongue include:
- Drinking more water, up to eight glasses a day.
- Brushing your teeth using a soft toothbrush.
- Using a mild fluoride toothpaste —one that doesn’t have sodium lauryl sulfate (a detergent) listed as an ingredient.
- Using fluoride mouthwash. If your child has white tongue, your provider can prescribe an antifungal mouthwash, so you can swab your child’s tongue.
- Brushing your tongue or using a tongue scraper to remove the white coating. If you don’t have a tongue scraper, you can turn over a teaspoon.
- Using a straw when having cold drinks.
- Avoiding substances that can irritate your tongue like alcohol mouthwashes that contain alcohol and cigarettes. Also avoid food and drinks that are spicy, salty, acidic or very hot in temperature.
- Taking over-the-counter painkillers if you have discomfort.
How can I prevent white tongue?
Sometimes you can’t prevent getting white tongue. But you can help avoid it by practicing good oral hygiene. Get a checkup and a tongue cleaning at your dentist’s every six months. Always brush your teeth at least twice a day. Floss once a day and eat healthy with a good mix of fresh fruit and vegetables.
If your provider tells you that your white tongue symptoms are serious, consider quitting alcohol or tobacco (or using less of either). Schedule regular follow-up visits with your dentist or provider. This will help make sure your white patch doesn’t grow or become cancerous.
Your provider can also help you find out if you have a food or drink allergy and also help you find which medications are right for you.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
Does Covid make your tongue white?
For a while we’ve been noticing an increasing number of people reporting that their tongue doesn’t look normal, particularly that it is white and patchy. Professor Tim Spector, COVID Symptom Study lead, tweeted about this in January and got a lot of responses – and some pictures!
Why is my tongue coated white?
White tongue is the result of an overgrowth and swelling of the fingerlike projections (papillae) on the surface of your tongue. The appearance of a white coating is caused by debris, bacteria and dead cells getting lodged between the enlarged and sometimes inflamed papillae.
How do I get rid of COVID tongue?
Geographic tongue: There is no treatment for this tongue condition. Most cases of geographic tongue don’t cause pain. In the event they do, over-the-counter gels and antiseptic mouth rinses can provide temporary relief.
Does a white tongue mean your sick?
White tongue refers to a white covering or coating on your tongue. Your whole tongue might be white, or you could just have white spots or patches on your tongue. A white tongue is usually nothing to worry about. But on rare occasions, this symptom can warn of a more serious condition like an infection or early cancer.
Does white tongue mean dehydration?
White Tongue: A white tongue can be a sign of bacterial or debris buildup on the surface of the tongue. This can be caused by mild dehydration, smoking, dry mouth, or illness. A white film on the tongue could be a sign of oral thrush, which is a type of yeast infection.
Is COVID tongue serious?
But as COVID-19 cases continue, new symptoms are documented, including a rare symptom known as COVID tongue. People with COVID tongue have swollen tongues that might develop bumps, ulcers, and white patches. Read on to learn more about this unusual COVID-19 symptom.
Can upset stomach cause white tongue?
When your tongue is so heavily coated that it results in the appearance of a white tongue, it’s a warning sign that you’re suffering from an overworked digestive system. If your digestive system is overburdened, it can’t function properly. This leads to a buildup of a bacteria or yeast called candida.
What does a dehydrated tongue look like?
If you’re dehydrated, you may notice your tongue has a rough surface or it develops a white layer. Most causes of a white tongue aren’t serious. Poor oral hygiene is one of the most common causes of a white tongue and can be cleared up by improving oral health habits.
Does COVID make your tongue yellow?
Spector estimated fewer than 1 in 500 patients have “COVID tongue.” The main symptoms he hears about are a “furry coating” of the tongue that can be white or yellow and can’t be brushed away, and a scalloped tongue. The condition can be painful.
What color should your tongue be?
While everyone’s tongue may look slightly different, a “typical healthy” tongue has similar characteristics. It ought to be pink, with a thin whitish coating on the surface. Papillae are also prevalent on a healthy tongue. These are small nodules along the surface that help you eat and taste your food.
What healthy tongue looks like?
A healthy (or normal) tongue is pink and covered with small bumps known as papillae. The shade of pink can vary (provided it’s not red), and the bumps should cover a good majority of the upper surface. These bumps are also on the underside of a tongue, but maybe less easy to spot.
Can stress cause white tongue?
A thick white coating on the back or at the center of the tongue may be a sign of an overloaded digestive system. This can be caused by an imbalance of good bacteria in the gut, nutritional deficiencies and stress.
How can I clean my tongue naturally?
Position your toothbrush at the back of the tongue. Brush lightly forward and backward along your tongue. Spit out saliva that appears during the brushing and rinse out the toothbrush with warm water. Clean your tongue as often as you brush your teeth.
What medications cause white tongue?
It often occurs if you’re on antibiotics, taking steroids for asthma, undergoing chemotherapy, or dealing with diabetes or a compromised immune system. A white tongue may also be a sign of leukoplakia from excessive alcohol or tobacco use.
What is the difference between oral thrush and white tongue?
If the tongue pales and develops white patches, this may result from a fungal infection, such as oral thrush. Oral thrush can be painful and cause thick, white or red patches to form on the tongue.
How long does white tongue last?
However, a white tongue can be a symptom of a serious health condition. You should consult your dentist about a white tongue if it’s painful, the coating lasts for longer than three weeks, or you’re concerned about changes to your tongue associated with the coating.