White tongue is a sign of obvious deviations in the body. But if you notice such a symptom in yourselves, then do not rush to immediately run to the doctor. After all, a plaque in the tongue can form not only due to serious diseases, but also because of the banal non-observance of personal hygiene. To do this, it is recommended to purchase a special brush with which you can brush your teeth and tongue. If after such actions the plaque does not disappear, then the reasons for its formation should be sought inside the body.
Infectious diseases
White tongue is a sign of the appearance of diseases such as:
- Scarlet fever. Plaque appears from the first days, has a gray tint, and is also accompanied by a slight swelling of the tongue.
- Diphtheria. Fibrinous membranous deposits of a dirty white color are observed on the palatine arches, in the throat, as well as in the root and back of the tongue.
- In patients with dysentery, a white tongue can also be observed. A sign of such a deviation is accompanied by an erosive surface of the organ.
- Cholera. It proceeds with a sharp dehydration of the body, as well as a significant darkening of the plaque.
Also, the white tongue (a sign of the following diseases can have a different degree of severity) indicates infections such as whooping cough, foot and mouth disease, pink lichen, candidiasis, fusospirochetosis and erythema multiforme. Diagnosis and treatment of such diseases should occur only after consulting a doctor.
Gastrointestinal diseases
White tongue is a sign of serious digestive disorders:
- Acute gastritis. In this case, the tongue is lined with a thick gray coating covering the entire surface except the tip and sides.
- Chronic gastritis. The tongue becomes whitish or grayish yellow. Hue and plaque intensity are completely dependent on the severity of the disease.
- Stomach ulcer. A white tongue is also characteristic of such a disease. How to treat this deviation, you can tell only an experienced gastroenterologist.
- Pancreatitis It is accompanied by a yellow-white bloom, as well as filiform and enlarged papillae.
- Stomach cancer. With such a fatal disease, the entire surface of the tongue becomes white, as well as consisting of epithelial cells, microflora, mucus and a large number of white blood cells.
- Diseases of the liver, gall bladder. For diseases of these organs fibrinous plaque is characteristic, which is colored in white and yellow. If a person has hepatitis, then yellowness is more intense and appears on the front of the organ.
- Crohn's disease. Decreased adrenal hormones and increased melanin also cause spots on the tongue.
Other reasons
White plaque in the tongue is a sign characteristic of the following diseases:
- Pustular psoriatic erythroderma. The tongue is covered with a bloom of roundish forms of a grayish-white hue.
- Addison crisis. For such a disease is not characterized by a white coating, but brown.
- Severe pathology of the kidneys, namely chronic or acute renal failure. The tongue is rather densely covered with a gray-whitish coating.
- Dehydration is accompanied by a dry white coating on the tongue.
- Chronic or acute radiation sickness.
- Alcoholism, smoking.