Do you have bad breath that won’t go away or a persistent bitter taste in your mouth? Stand in front of a mirror and stick out your tongue — that’s most likely the cause if it appears white instead of the usual pink.
Most of the time, having white tongue is nothing serious. It can be because of poor oral hygiene practices. Sometimes it’s brought about by alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking. If you love eating spicy foods, your tongue may appear white, too. Not drinking enough fluids? That is probably the reason behind it.
There are instances, too, wherein a white-coated tongue can be due to a deeper issue. You may have it if you are suffering from an infection or illness — the intake of certain antibiotics for it can contribute to the problem. Having oral thrush (candida infection of the mouth), syphilis, lupus, liver congestion and congenital heart disease are other causes.
Just been given a clean bill of health by your GP? Well, there’s no need to lose sleep over your white tongue. There are a few home remedies that you may try to bring back its natural and healthy pink color.
Brush It
Usually, a white-coated tongue is simply because of failure to practice good oral hygiene. Each time you are brushing your teeth, sprinkle a little salt or baking soda on your tongue and gently scrub it with a soft-bristled toothbrush. If you are prone to having white tongue, it’s a good idea to invest in a tongue scraper available at pharmacies.
Gargle with Hydrogen Peroxide
You can also cleanse your tongue with hydrogen peroxide, a very common disinfectant for minor wounds. To get started, dilute 1 part of hydrogen peroxide with 2 parts of water. Stir very well and gargle with it. Refrain from swallowing the mixture. Afterwards, give your mouth a quick rinse with water.
Drink More Water
Having white tongue that is accompanied by mouth dryness is an indicator that your body is dehydrated. Drinking more water throughout the day can put an end to the problem. Do steer clear of beverages that are loaded with sugar like artificial fruit juices and soda because they will only make your tongue whiter.
Have Aloe Vera Juice
Once in a while, you may consume aloe vera juice. It has antibacterial properties that can keep your mouth clean and stop the progression of that white tongue of yours. There are also certain enzymes in aloe vera juice that help remove dead cells in your mouth, including those that have piled up on the surface of your tongue.
Swish Coconut Oil
There are instances in which a white tongue is brought about by oral thrush, and zapping the fungus behind it (candida) can help alleviate the issue. For this, you can swish a little coconut oil in your mouth for a few seconds. This yummy-smelling oil actually has superb antifungal properties. Plus it can also make bad breath go away.
Add More Garlic to Your Diet
One more excellent fighter of oral thrush is garlic. Just like coconut oil, this very common culinary herb is capable of killing off any type of fungus. Adding more garlic to your diet can help put an end to oral thrush. Yes, garlic may leave your breath smelly, but it’s something that can be easily remedied by a quick brushing of your pearly whites.
Eat Probiotic Foods
The regular consumption of probiotic foods is not only good for your GI tract, but also excellent in keeping your tongue free of that hideous-looking and bad breath-causing white coating. Make sure that your everyday diet includes something that contains probiotics, such as yogurt, kimchi, sauerkraut and miso.
Sources: ask.naij.com
