The white tongue is often a sign of an overgrowth of bacteria and fungi in the mouth, causing dirt and dead cells to become trapped in the mouth between swollen papillae, causing white spots to appear.
For example, white tongue is more common when there are conditions conducive to the growth of fungi, such as people who do not have adequate oral hygiene or who have a weaker immune system, such as infants, the elderly, or patients with autoimmune diseases. Like what.
However, there are other diseases that can cause white spots on the tongue, such as:
Oral thrush, also known as canker sores, is the most common cause of white spots in the mouth, especially in the elderly or in bed-prostrate babies, due to excessive fungal growth. However, it can also occur in adults who do not have good oral hygiene, who have been treated with antibiotics, or who have autoimmune diseases, such as lupus or HIV.
This thrush can also be accompanied by bad breath, burns in affected areas and a cotton sensation inside the mouth. Learn how to identify oral thrush.
What to do: Proper oral hygiene, brushing your teeth and tongue at least twice a day, and using a mouthwash should be done to prevent the development of bacteria. If symptoms do not improve after 1 week, you should consult your family doctor to start using oral antifungals, such as nistatin.
Lichen planus is an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation of the mucosa of the mouth, which can lead to frequent white spots on the tongue and even inside the cheeks, as well as small painful sores similar to canker sores. It is also common to experience a burning sensation in the mouth, as well as excessive sensitivity to hot, spicy or acidic foods.
To better understand what oral lichen is and how treatment is performed.
What to do: It is recommended to consult your family doctor, as although there is no medicine capable of curing lichen planus, your doctor may prescribe the use of corticosteroids, such as triamcinolone, to relieve inflammation and pain. In addition, the use of toothpaste without sodium laurilsulfate may also help prevent the onset of symptoms.
It is a chronic disease that causes whitish plaques to appear inside the cheeks, gums and, in some cases, on the surface of the tongue. This type of plaque does not improve with tongue brushing and is not usually painful.
Although the cause of this disorder is not known, it is more common in smokers and may be related to the early signs of oral cancer.
What to do: If after 2 weeks of proper oral hygiene the plaques do not begin to disappear, it is important to consult a family doctor or dentist to assess the risk of being early signs of cancer. If they are benign plaques, your doctor may recommend the use of antivirals or minor surgery to remove plaques.
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease that can affect the mouth during unprotected oral sex, and the first symptoms can take up to 3 months to appear. In these cases, mouth sores may also occur, characteristic of the first stage of the disease. Learn more about symptoms and stages of syphilis.
What to do: Treatment should be done with a penicillin injection and therefore it is necessary to consult a family doctor to make the diagnosis and start treatment. If treatment is not performed, symptoms may improve after 3 weeks, but the disease will progress to its second phase, in which it can spread to the rest of the body.
In most cases, this symptom is not a sign of a serious illness and can be easily treated with proper tongue brushing and frequent water consumption.
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However, if the white tongue lasts longer than 2 weeks or is accompanied by pain or burn, for example, it is advisable to consult a family doctor to assess if there is a disease and to start appropriate treatment, if necessary.