The color of the tongue can describe your health. The healthy tongue should be pink with a thin white layer on it. However, if you have a fairly thick white coating or white spot on your tongue, then you need to know the cause and the way of treating the white spot on tongue. Although not dangerous, in rare cases, white spot on tongue may indicate more serious conditions such as infections or cancer symptoms.
Factors that cause white spot on tongue.
Here are some factors that can also cause white spot on tongue, namely:
- Rarely brush teeth and do flossing
- Dry mouth
- Breathe through the mouth
- Dehydration
- Consuming a lot of soft textured food
- Irritation due to sharp teeth or dental cleaning equipment
- Fever
- Smo**king or chewing tobacco
- Consuming too much alco**hol.
Various conditions for the Causes of White Spot on Tongue.
The surface of the tongue is never clean considering this part of the body is the first gate of various types of food and drinks that go into the body. Sometimes, a white membrane appears on the tongue.
The layer is apparently caused by fungal infections. This kind of case can attack anyone. However, people with certain conditions are more prone to experience it.
White spot on tongue may seem alarming, but it is usually harmless and temporary. However, white spot on tongue can also be indicative of some serious conditions, ranging from infections to precancerous conditions. Here are some tongue diseases that make the tongue change color to white:
Leukoplakia
Leukoplakia is a condition in which there is the formation of white spot in the mouth, including on the tongue. These white spots are likely to occur due to too many cells and keratin proteins in the mouth. Although not sick, the white spot cannot be eliminated by brushing or scraping.
Leukoplakia can occur when the tongue has irritation, more often found in smokers and those who consume many alco**holic beverages. Leukoplakia is harmless, but can sometimes turn into cancer if years are left without treatment. Immediately consult a doctor if the white spot on tongue do not disappear after two weeks.
Treatment:
It is advisable to consult a physician on this matter. In addition, keep the oral hygiene, be sure to avoid all irritants that can cause this condition, such as chewing toba**cco and smo**king.
Syphilis.
Syphilis is a se**xually transmitted disease that is most commonly seen in people who have oral se**x in a person with positive symptoms of genital syphilis. Primary lesions (changes in skin color due to illness) can start within 10 to 90 days post-exposure. Symptoms can be seen with the emergence of painful canker sores to develop yellow spots on the tongue or oral cavity.
Read also: How To Cure Canker Sore On Tongue.
How to treat it:
It is advisable to consult a doctor directly. Avoid se**xual intercourse during active infections to prevent transmission to the spouse.
Oral Thrush.
Oral Thrush or also called candidiasis caused by the accumulation or growth of albicans fungus (a normal organism is in the mouth) in the mouth lining. Oral Thrush can cause a burning sensation or sore on the tongue. Candidiasis are more likely to occur in infants, elderly people, diabetics, people often take antibiotics, iron or vitamin B deficiency, a weakened immune system, and those that use dentures.
How to treat this:
- Maintain oral hygiene
- Gargle with warm salt water
- Use of mouthwash or oral anti-fungal creams.
- Probiotic or yogurt supplements.
- In a white tongue in infants due to oral thrush’s, be sure to wash the pacifier and baby bottles frequently and when the mother’s nipple is also abrasions and redness should also be treated and better checked into the doctor.
Oral Lichen Planus.
Oral Lichen planus is a chronic inflammation that affects the mucous membranes in the mouth. Oral lichen planus characterized by white spot, redness, swelling of tissues; or open wounds such as canker sores. These lesions can cause sore, pain or other discomfort. This disorder occurs when the immune system even attacks the mucous membranes of the mouth due to an unknown cause (autoimmune disorders).
Read also: Are canker sores contagious?
Treatment:
This disease is chronic, and the treatment of doctors to reduce symptoms of inflammation or overcome its pain. In most cases it can heal spontaneously without requiring medical intervention by maintaining good oral hygiene and maintaining a dietary consumption of alco**hol and smo**king. The doctor also usually recommends to manage stress and reduce the intake of spicy foods to reduce it.
Other conditions.
- Geographic tongue.
- Oral cancer.
White spot on tongue is generally harmless, but should still consult a dentist, especially if there is an alarming change in the tongue, tongue pain, numbness, or white tongue lasts for more than a few weeks.
