White tongue

Date Updated: 11/09/2024

Definition

White tongue is due to the tiny hairlike bumps, called papillae, on the surface of your tongue when they grow too much or swell. Debris, bacteria and dead cells can get stuck between the enlarged and sometimes swollen papillae. This makes the tongue look like it has a white coating. Although it may look alarming, the condition usually doesn't do any harm and lasts only for a limited time.

But white tongue can be a sign of some serious conditions, ranging from infection to a precancerous condition. These conditions could likely to lead to cancer if not treated.

If you're concerned about a white coating or white spots on your tongue, contact your medical or dental health professional.

Causes

Causes of white tongue include, for example:

Not cleaning the inside of your mouth properly.
Dehydration
Alcohol use
Smoking or using other tobacco products by mouth.
Mouth breathing.
Low fiber diet — eating mostly soft or mashed foods.
Irritation from sharp tooth edges or dental appliances.
Fever

Examples of conditions related to white patches or other conditions that can change the color of your tongue include:

Use of certain medicines, such as using antibiotics for a long time. This may bring on an oral yeast infection.
Oral thrush
Geographic tongue
Leukoplakia
Oral lichen planus
Mouth cancer
Tongue cancer
Syphilis
Low immunity caused by diseases such as HIV/AIDS.

When to see a doctor

Unless caused by a serious condition, white tongue generally will not harm you. Gently brushing your tongue with a toothbrush or tongue scraper and drinking plenty of water can help.

Make an appointment with your medical or dental health professional if:

You're concerned about changes in your tongue.
Your tongue hurts.
Your white tongue lasts longer than a few weeks.