One of the strongest muscles that exist in the human body is the tongue muscle, and the tongue is the organ in the mouth that is responsible for two main functions, which is the sense of taste, swallowing food, and speaking. Without the tongue, a person loses his ability to taste and speak. Or pale pink, which is the natural color of the tongue, but the tongue may turn from red to white, and we call it the whiteness of the tongue, which is usually an occasional condition for some or a continuous condition for others.
Causes of white tongue
- One of the most important reasons for a white tongue is that it is infected with bacteria that ferment on the tongue and cause inflammation, and the bacteria appear on the tongue as a result of intestinal inflammation that appears to have an effect on the tongue. This bacteria may be accompanied by the accumulation of dead cells on the tongue and the emission of an unpleasant odor from the mouth.
- Dry mouth and dry throat are among the causes that lead to whiteness of the tongue, where a thick white layer is formed indicating dryness of the throat and fungal infections that appear on the front and middle of the tongue. Therefore, in this case, it is advised to drink quantities of water to avoid dry mouth and compensate the body with the necessary fluids by drinking juices and drinks. Cold and hot drinks and soups that nourish the body.
- Among the wrong practices that lead to a whiteness of the tongue resulting from inflammation of the cilia that cover the surface of the tongue is smoking, drinking alcohol, and drug abuse.
- Medicines are also one of the reasons for the whiteness of the tongue. There is sensitivity to a certain type of medicine that leads to this white layer, such as corticosteroids and antibiotics.
- Anemia and lack of nutritious vitamins needed to nourish the body is one of the problems of the whiteness of the tongue.
- Endocrine infections that cause the appearance of fungi that accumulate on the tongue and form a thick white layer on the tongue.
- Oral hygiene, teeth and tongue. If we neglect oral hygiene after eating food and drinks, it will inevitably lead to the accumulation of bacteria and fungi around the mouth and the surface of the tongue. Therefore, it is recommended to clean the teeth, mouth, and tongue with a toothbrush and toothpaste. Gently, a tongue cleaning tool is used from leftovers. Doing the daily rinsing after eating and before going to bed to avoid the accumulation of food and dead cells and the accumulation of fungi and bacteria.