It can sometimes happen that you wake up with a white tongue. Usually this is harmless and you can treat it yourself. But sometimes it can also be a sign of a serious illness…
From a dry mouth, sticky surface, round spots, discolored taste buds to bumps with pus. There are several reasons why a tongue may appear white. The change of color usually happens while you sleep. The discoloration can be accompanied by pain, but it is also often the case that you do not feel anything. However, it is important that you pay attention to a white tongue.
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The most common cause of a white tongue is the build-up of bacteria and dirt. These all get stuck on the taste buds of the tongue. Besides the fact that your taste buds are located on your tongue, they are also located in your buccal mucosa and in the esophagus. And that means that these can also turn white. These parts are all responsible for the swallowing process.
Improving oral hygiene could already reduce the white haze. You can do this by:
White spots can also be caused by dehydration. If you don't drink enough water, your mouth can't make enough saliva. Saliva keeps your mouth clean by moving food debris to your digestive tract. If this does not happen, food particles and bacteria will remain in the mouth, which causes the white haze.
If you eat a lot of cookies and candies, a lot of sugar will remain in your mouth. This causes the acidity in your mouth to change. Chewing a lot of chewing gum can also be a cause. Chewing gum irritates the surface. The same applies to excessive use of throat lozenges.
Do you have a white tongue and does it hurt too? At first there won't be much going on. But have you been bothered by a completely white surface or spot for a longer period of time? Then this could be a sign of a compromised immune system. The change in color is usually accompanied by pain or an irritated feeling. Everyone has good and bad bacteria. In most cases, your body can easily fight these bacteria. If you have a compromised immune system, your body is no longer able to fight the bad bacteria. Does your white tongue last for a longer period of time? Then it is wise to pay a visit to the doctor. In some cases, the development of cancer, diabetes and HIV can be the cause of a long-lasting white tongue.
Source:Today.com
