Why is the language coated with a white touch: what to do, how to clean up with alternative means?

A white touch on the tongue is a symptom that, if at first glance seemingly harmless, in most cases indicates a certain, serious enough health problems, because normally there should be no deposits on the surface of the tongue.

And even in the pre-Hippocratic times, the patients' language for physicians was an indicator of the state not only of their gastrointestinal tract, but also of some other organs.

So to have an idea, which is very eloquently says the look of our language and why in the language of white plaque can appear under certain somatic pathologies, is certainly useful.

Causes of white plaque in the language

Why does a white coating appear on the tongue? We note at once that in most people a thin white coating on the tongue in the morning has nothing to do with pathology, because during the night, while the person is asleep, on the dorsal surface (back) of the tongue, apart from the exfoliated horny particles of the flat epithelium of the filiform papillae, food particles, and the breakdown products of the protein substance of the mucin saliva. It can also be microorganisms characteristic of the microflora of the oral cavity: Streptococcus salivarius, Streptococcus mutans, Veillonella alcalescens, Lactobacillus acidophylus, Lactobacillus salivarius, Fusobacterium nucleatum, etc. Such translucent plaque appears from time to time and is rapidly removed from the surface of the tongue during tooth cleaning with followed by mouth rinsing.

But when the white coating on the tongue constantly, and regular hygienic oral care does not help get rid of it, it indicates a decrease in the defenses of the body and should make you worry about your health.

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Causes of white plaque in language associated with gastrointestinal problems

White coating on the tongue as a symptom of a disease associated with the digestive system is considered by absolutely all gastroenterologists. A classic example is a white coating on the tongue and gastritis, that is inflammation of the gastric mucosa. Moreover, with gastritis with a low acidity of gastric juice, the surface of the tongue is smooth, white coating and dryness of the tongue are observed. And when the rough tongue is combined with a white touch, the level of hydrochloric acid in the stomach is clearly elevated.

When acute forms of the disease manifest symptoms such as heartburn, pain, etc., but chronic gastritis (the so-called functional dyspepsia) can develop without obvious signs. So you need to pay attention to the white-gray coating on the tongue, the appearance in the mouth of an unpleasant aftertaste, as well as spontaneous bouts of weakness and excessive sweating that occur some time after meals.

If in the middle there is a dense white-gray coating on the tongue, then one can suspect the development of gastric ulcer. In addition, for many gastrointestinal pathologies, primarily for gastric ulcers, sloughing of the epithelial cells of the tongue (desquamation) is characteristic. At the same time, the white coating on the tongue is clearly visible in spots, having different shapes and sizes. This language is even called the language of the ulcer.

In the presence of duodenal ulcers, patients complain of burning tongue and white coating, and by the evening the tongue begins to ache with them as after a burn.

But white coating at the base of the tongue, as well as the appearance on the sides of the tongue of teeth impressions can be with inflammatory processes in the small and large intestines - enterocolitis and colitis. It is clear that the language, coated with a white touch, is not a key sign of the listed diseases, since there are more "expressive" symptoms in the form of nausea, constipation or diarrhea, pain sensations of different localization and intensity, etc. But in the general clinical picture of gastrointestinal pathologies appearance language - swollen tongue with a white touch - helps in setting the right diagnosis.

Inflammation of the gallbladder and a delay in the bile leads to acute pain and a significant increase in body temperature, against which there is also a symptom of acute cholecystitis, such as a white-gray coating on the tongue or a white and yellow coating on the tongue and dryness of the tongue.

In the chronic form of cholecystitis, as well as inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis) and hepatitis, almost all patients have a yellowish-white coating on the tongue, which becomes completely yellow to the root of the tongue.

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Problems with other organs

When the tongue is covered with a white coating only in the anterior part (that is, closer to the tip), the doctors have a reason to diagnose inflammation of the bronchial mucosa (bronchitis) of various etiologies.

A white coating on the root of the tongue, especially on the lateral surfaces of its distal part, signals a possible latent form of kidney failure. In addition to complaints of extremely bad breath and a white coating on the tongue, as well as dry mouth, general weakness and rapid onset fatigue may occur with muscular load. And nephrologists recommend in such cases to pass an analysis of urine on protein.

In diabetes, a rough tongue with a white coating or a dense white-gray coating on the back of the tongue is a consequence of pathological changes in the submandibular salivary glands and a decrease in the volume of saliva (hypo-salivation).

Burning tongue and white coating on it are typical signs of inflammation of the tongue, which occurs for many reasons and is called glossitis. Thus the person partially or completely loses taste, tongue hurts, and the white scurf covers all back of tongue. If the body lacks vitamin B12 (pernicious anemia), then there is a red tongue and white coating.

It should also be borne in mind that the tongue, overlaid with a white coating of a dense consistency, can be with malignant tumors of the stomach and esophagus.

Various infections as causes of white plaque in the tongue

Problems with infections should not arise, because in addition to those pathogenic and conditionally pathogenic microorganisms that we inhale and swallow, in the obligate microflora of the same oral cavity, strepto- and staphylococci, and protozoa, and microscopic fungi of the genus Candida are sufficient. Using the weakening of the immunity, restraining their development, they cause various diseases that exhibit such symptoms as temperature and white coating on the tongue.

So, almost always there is a sore throat and white coating on the tongue. With catarrhal, lacunar and follicular tonsillitis, ENT doctors mark the obscured white tongue, and in fibrinous tonsillitis, tonsils (palatine tonsils) cover a thick layer of white-yellow plaque, which often captures the root of the tongue.

Similarly, a white coating on the tongue and thrush are associated, that is, oral candidiasis - an acute pseudomembranous candidosis caused by the Candida fungus (C. Albicans, C. Glabrata, etc.). A thick white coating on the tongue with this kind of mycosis has an external resemblance to cottage cheese. When removing the plaque, a strongly hyperemic surface of the tongue is visible, which can bleed. It is also possible formation of erosion of the mucous membrane of the tongue and the entire oral cavity.

By the way, white plaque on the tongue and HIV are associated with candida of the oral cavity, and this fungal disease - in a chronic pseudomembranous form - is referred to the so-called HIV-associated infection.

You can confuse candidiasis with oral leukoplakia, which is parakeratosis (keratinization) of the mucous membrane of an unclear etiology. In the case of leukoplakia, the upper or lateral surfaces of the tongue are affected, and its distinctive feature is the burning of the tongue and white patches in the form of spots. In addition to white patches, there are spots of red; plaques can be flat (with flat leukoplakia) or slightly rise above the surface of the tongue (with verrux leukoplakia). According to medical experts, this pathology can take a malignant character.

The tongue, overlaid with white coating, is one of the main elements of the clinical picture of inflammation of the oral mucosa of stomatitis - stomatitis. This disease begins with reddening and swelling of the mucous gums and tongue, and then a white coating appears on the tongue. Treatment should be started with the first symptoms, otherwise on the site of the white plaque ulcerations are formed along the entire mucous surface of the mouth and even the larynx.

White coating in the language of the child

Dry tongue and white plaque in the child's language are common symptoms when infected with the influenza virus; colds and white patches on the tongue are also characteristic for children under 10-12 years old. But the red tongue and white coating on its background (in the middle of the tongue) is one of the symptoms of an infectious disease caused by Streptococcus pyogenes - scarlet fever. Simultaneously, a small red rash appears on the cheeks, on the sides of the body and in the inguinal region, which lasts about a week.

The reasons for the appearance of a white coating on the surface of the tongue in children are almost the same as in adults (see the sections - Causes of white plaque in the tongue: problems with the gastrointestinal tract and Causes of white plaque in the tongue: various infections).

Very often, the smell from the mouth and white coating on the tongue of children is with helminthic invasion and giardiasis. To detect parasites, pediatricians must prescribe a scatological study.

Most often a white coating in the language of a newborn is a symptom of thrush, that is, candidiasis. The consequence of a viral infection, dysbiosis, dehydration of the body at elevated temperature or diarrhea, as well as stomatitis can be white plaque in the language of the baby. In any case, parents should find a white plaque in the language of children should consult a doctor, and not try to establish the cause of the pathology on their own.

Treatment of white plaque in the language

It should be borne in mind that the diagnosis of white plaque in the language, more precisely, the diagnosis (recognition) of diseases accompanied by this symptom is a prerequisite for the appointment of adequate treatment. Actually, the very treatment of white plaque in the language implies the treatment of pathology revealed by doctors.

Thus, the treatment of white plaque in a language associated with diseases of the digestive system is performed by gastroenterologists, who have in their arsenal enough methods for revealing gastrointestinal pathologies. If the causes of white plaque in the language can be directly related to your diabetes, then you need to contact an endocrinologist. In the presence of a plaque caused by angina, a visit to the otolaryngologist is necessary. And how to remove the white coating from the tongue with candidiasis of the oral cavity or stomatitis - the dentist will give recommendations, and for the youngest patients - the pediatrician.

Treatment of white plaque in the tongue with candidiasis of the oral cavity is carried out with such antimycotics as Nystatin, Amphotericin B, Intraconazole, etc.

Nystatin (Antikandin, Fungitsidin) in tablets of 500,000 units should be kept in ryu (behind the cheek) - until it resolves; applied after eating, 4-5 tablets a day; course of treatment - two weeks. The drug Amphotericin B is injected, and close to it for pharmacodynamics, Mikogeptin can be taken in tablets: 0.25 g twice daily for at least 10 days.

Also, for thrush, it is recommended to take Intraconazole (Rumikoz) - in the form of capsules and a solution for ingestion - 200 mg per day (capsules - after meals, solution - on an empty stomach); the course of therapy lasts from 5 to 7 days. Use of this drug for children is not provided, and among its side effects nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, constipation, headaches, drowsiness, increased blood pressure, etc. Are noted.

The drug Fluconazole (Diflucam, Medoflukon, Fluzon) in the form of capsules of 50, 100 150 and 200 mg is taken orally once a day. The standard daily dose is 50-100 mg; duration of application is determined by the doctor (from one week to four). This drug is contraindicated in children under 16 years of age and pregnant. Among the possible side effects are rashes on the skin, diarrhea and excessive formation of gases in the intestine.

For mouthwashes that need to be repeated at intervals of 2.5-3 hours, 2% solutions of baking soda and sodium tetraborate (borax) or 1% boric acid solution are usually used.

White coating on the tongue of the baby with candidiasis of the oral cavity is recommended to clean using a sterile cloth moistened with 2% baking soda solution (teaspoon per 200 ml of boiled water). Pediatricians also prescribe Nystatin in the form of an aqueous suspension, which must be carefully treated with mucous in the mouth at least 4-5 times a day.

White coating on the tongue with scarlet fever occurs as a result of the treatment of scarlet fever (antibiotics of the penicillin group and vitamins C and Group B). How to remove white coating from the tongue during helminthic invasion? Get rid of worms with the help of anthelmintic drugs: Helmintox, Albendazole or Pirantel. For example, Albendazole should be taken for five consecutive days - once a day; The daily dose for children is determined from the calculation of 15 mg of the drug per kilogram of the child's body weight.

Alternatively, it is recommended to treat white plaque by means of frequent mouth rinses with infusions and infusions of chamomile, sage, St. John's wort, plantain (a tablespoon of grass to a glass of boiling water), oak bark (a teaspoon of a glass of water, boil for 10 minutes and insist half an hour), diluted 1 : 1 juice of aloe. It copes well with microbes on the surface of the tongue of garlic (if you eat one tooth every day) and natural honey (take a teaspoon of honey in your mouth and keep it for 15 minutes, without washing down).

Now you know that white plaque in a language is not at all as simple a symptom as it might seem, and you have an idea of the main reasons for its appearance in adults and children.