What's the white stuff at back of tongue?

Expatmommy79
Expatmommy79 Posts: 940 Member
edited November 26 in Food and Nutrition
It's awful.

I scrape 2x daily and it comes off, but what is it? Does everyone get it?

I'm wondering if it's my body saying it doesn't like something I'm eating?!

Thoughts?
«1

Replies

  • DaddieCat
    DaddieCat Posts: 3,643 Member
    mayoclinic.org/symptoms/white-tongue/basics/causes/sym-20050676
  • Expatmommy79
    Expatmommy79 Posts: 940 Member
    I hear you. Hopefully among them will be someone who has an idea....

  • DaddieCat
    DaddieCat Posts: 3,643 Member
    Or you could just read the link, see that it's caused by smoking, dehydration, and poor oral hygiene.
    1. Brush more...
    2. use mouthwash...
    3. ???
    4. Profit
  • Expatmommy79
    Expatmommy79 Posts: 940 Member
    I'm sure it's not a hygiene issue... I brush 2-3x and floss daily.

    Dehydration could be a possibility.

    I remember meeting an Ayurvedic doctor many many years ago and something about the food one eats and their digestion / constitution showing up on the tongue.... Hence my curiosity now....

    I wonder what the eastern / oriental medicine the is on it.



  • tiptoethruthetulips
    tiptoethruthetulips Posts: 3,371 Member
    Oral thrush?

    I sometimes get a while layer on the tongue, usually after a very spicy (hot as is chilli hot) meal or lots of garlic. I read somewhere once that the chilli/garlic burns the top layer of skin...no idea if its true or not, but it could be just the way my body reacts to chilli and garlic.
  • Expatmommy79
    Expatmommy79 Posts: 940 Member
    tiptoethruthetulips wrote: »
    Oral thrush?

    I sometimes get a while layer on the tongue, usually after a very spicy (hot as is chilli hot) meal or lots of garlic. I read somewhere once that the chilli/garlic burns the top layer of skin...no idea if its true or not, but it could be just the way my body reacts to chilli and garlic.

    Thrush I think would be more consistent everywhere... Chillis and garlic is interesting. I eat fresh crushed green chilli a lot... Everyday.... And garlic in almost all my cooking.

    Thanks! Will look into that.
  • JustMissTracy
    JustMissTracy Posts: 6,338 Member
    edited November 2015
    I suggest you go to the doctor, it sounds like Thrush...and I just read your post above, Thrush can very definitely only occur in the mouth....
  • Lovee_Dove7
    Lovee_Dove7 Posts: 742 Member
    Use a little baking soda on your toothbrush and gently brush your tongue.
    I associate that with being sick, or with eating in a way that's not best for me. I also get that if I do a water fast.
  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    Smoking and lots of dairy..
  • cnbbnc
    cnbbnc Posts: 1,267 Member
    Plaque
  • rainbowbow
    rainbowbow Posts: 7,490 Member
    I have an autoimmune disorder called sjorgen's which causes this along with dry eyes and dry skin.


    I scrape roughly 3 times a day, drink a ton of water, and brush twice a day. This still doesn't really fix the problem for me.

    My suggestion would be to try both an enzyme rinse and gum. Biotene has both gum and rinse.
  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    If it is thrush, then I would think the OP would know about it. I just Google imaged it and what I saw goes way beyond the normal coating most people have..
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    Expatmommy79 wrote: »
    I'm sure it's not a hygiene issue... I brush 2-3x and floss daily.

    Dehydration could be a possibility.

    I remember meeting an Ayurvedic doctor many many years ago and something about the food one eats and their digestion / constitution showing up on the tongue.... Hence my curiosity now....

    I wonder what the eastern / oriental medicine the is on it.



    But do you brush your tongue, or only your teeth? Proper oral hygiene includes brushing or scraping the tongue.
  • rainbowbow
    rainbowbow Posts: 7,490 Member
    earlnabby wrote: »
    Expatmommy79 wrote: »
    I'm sure it's not a hygiene issue... I brush 2-3x and floss daily.

    Dehydration could be a possibility.

    I remember meeting an Ayurvedic doctor many many years ago and something about the food one eats and their digestion / constitution showing up on the tongue.... Hence my curiosity now....

    I wonder what the eastern / oriental medicine the is on it.



    But do you brush your tongue, or only your teeth? Proper oral hygiene includes brushing or scraping the tongue.

    The original post

    "It's awful.

    I scrape 2x daily and it comes off, but what is it?     Does everyone get it?"
  • FunkyTobias
    FunkyTobias Posts: 1,776 Member
    Expatmommy79 wrote: »
    I'm sure it's not a hygiene issue... I brush 2-3x and floss daily.

    Dehydration could be a possibility.

    I remember meeting an Ayurvedic doctor many many years ago and something about the food one eats and their digestion / constitution showing up on the tongue.... Hence my curiosity now....

    I wonder what the eastern / oriental medicine the is on it.



    Skip the woo.
  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    rainbowbow wrote: »
    earlnabby wrote: »
    Expatmommy79 wrote: »
    I'm sure it's not a hygiene issue... I brush 2-3x and floss daily.

    Dehydration could be a possibility.

    I remember meeting an Ayurvedic doctor many many years ago and something about the food one eats and their digestion / constitution showing up on the tongue.... Hence my curiosity now....

    I wonder what the eastern / oriental medicine the is on it.



    But do you brush your tongue, or only your teeth? Proper oral hygiene includes brushing or scraping the tongue.

    The original post

    "It's awful.

    I scrape 2x daily and it comes off, but what is it?     Does everyone get it?"

    I get it, and I noticed it dramatically improved when I cut down from drinking 8-10 cups of milky tea, down to two per day. I also smoke and that affects it too.
    If it is an internal issue a good quality refrigerated probiotic may help.

  • nvmomketo
    nvmomketo Posts: 12,019 Member
    BecomingBane wrote: »
    mayoclinic.org/symptoms/white-tongue/basics/causes/sym-20050676

    That about sums it all up.
  • Aleash44
    Aleash44 Posts: 4 Member
    It's plaque...don't worry everyone gets it just different amounts. Just use a tongue scraper daily. I work in the dental field and I promise this is very normal.
  • PhoenyxRose
    PhoenyxRose Posts: 70 Member
    Could be milk or coffee, a professor of mine once mentioned that milk and coffee tend to stick to the cilia on your tongue which is why people to who drink a lot of coffee tend to have a sour breath.
  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    Aleash44 wrote: »
    It's plaque...don't worry everyone gets it just different amounts. Just use a tongue scraper daily. I work in the dental field and I promise this is very normal.

    I need to work on my gag reflex before attempting to use a tongue scraper again. I dont know how some people (women) manage it :wink: :open_mouth:
  • GaleHawkins
    GaleHawkins Posts: 8,159 Member
    Expatmommy79 wrote: »
    I hear you. Hopefully among them will be someone who has an idea....

    I take 5 tablespoons of coconut oil daily in my first cup of coffee and have for 14 months. My white tongue turned pink and so far stays that way. Coconut oil is good to use where bacteria, fungi or viruses grow on or in one's body based my research and personal use. Kill what is growing on one's tongue is the only solution to a white tongue that I know. If it is yeast it is growing from sources in the body and coming out of the mouth as I understand.
  • cerise_noir
    cerise_noir Posts: 5,468 Member
    I agree with seeing a doctor.
    Mine was caused by dehydration. Once I took care of that, the problem was gone.
    christinev297 wrote: »
    Smoking and lots of dairy..

    I read that as 'Smoking dairy'.
  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    cerise_noir wrote: »
    I agree with seeing a doctor.
    Mine was caused by dehydration. Once I took care of that, the problem was gone.
    christinev297 wrote: »
    Smoking and lots of dairy..

    I read that as 'Smoking dairy'.

    Hmmmm Interesting :tongue:
  • FunkyTobias
    FunkyTobias Posts: 1,776 Member
    GaleHawkins wrote: »
    Expatmommy79 wrote: »
    I hear you. Hopefully among them will be someone who has an idea....

    I take 5 tablespoons of coconut oil daily in my first cup of coffee and have for 14 months. My white tongue turned pink and so far stays that way. Coconut oil is good to use where bacteria, fungi or viruses grow on or in one's body based my research and personal use. Kill what is growing on one's tongue is the only solution to a white tongue that I know. If it is yeast it is growing from sources in the body and coming out of the mouth as I understand.


    Oh good. More Woo.
  • irenehb
    irenehb Posts: 236 Member
    GaleHawkins wrote: »
    Expatmommy79 wrote: »
    I hear you. Hopefully among them will be someone who has an idea....

    I take 5 tablespoons of coconut oil daily in my first cup of coffee and have for 14 months. My white tongue turned pink and so far stays that way. Coconut oil is good to use where bacteria, fungi or viruses grow on or in one's body based my research and personal use. Kill what is growing on one's tongue is the only solution to a white tongue that I know. If it is yeast it is growing from sources in the body and coming out of the mouth as I understand.

    5 Tablespoons!?!? Gag! unless the coffee stayed scolding hot that would be some oily mess not to mention that is an awful lot of calories just for a drink.
  • Mallybear2020
    Mallybear2020 Posts: 82 Member
    It's probably white bacterial on your tongue. Its bacteria that builds up from food and not brushing your tongue properly. It causes bad breath.
    Try using a good tongue scrapper, or make an appointment with your dentist and see if he or she may have an idea.
  • GaleHawkins
    GaleHawkins Posts: 8,159 Member
    irenehb wrote: »
    GaleHawkins wrote: »
    Expatmommy79 wrote: »
    I hear you. Hopefully among them will be someone who has an idea....

    I take 5 tablespoons of coconut oil daily in my first cup of coffee and have for 14 months. My white tongue turned pink and so far stays that way. Coconut oil is good to use where bacteria, fungi or viruses grow on or in one's body based my research and personal use. Kill what is growing on one's tongue is the only solution to a white tongue that I know. If it is yeast it is growing from sources in the body and coming out of the mouth as I understand.

    5 Tablespoons!?!? Gag! unless the coffee stayed scolding hot that would be some oily mess not to mention that is an awful lot of calories just for a drink.

    @irenehb I take it you are not into Bullet Proof Coffee. They typically use butter instead of coconut oil. I hobbled together my way of eating before finding MFP to try and manage my pain without using Enbrel.

    If I am short on time I just put the coconut oil in my mouth by spoon since it is a solid most often. If you are a diabetic the site below has coconut info that may be of interest to you.

    thelowcarbdiabetic.blogspot.com/2015/06/10-proven-health-benefits-of-coconut-oil.html

  • irenehb
    irenehb Posts: 236 Member
    Bulletproof coffee usually only has 1-2 Tbs, but even that sounds awful to me. Rather eat an avocado or some nuts, each to their own.
  • Orphia
    Orphia Posts: 7,097 Member
    I used to have the white stuff on my tongue, and scraping/brushing my tongue did bugger all to fix it.

    It went away completely when I quit smoking.
  • Orphia
    Orphia Posts: 7,097 Member
    Orphia wrote: »
    I used to have the white stuff on my tongue, and scraping/brushing my tongue did bugger all to fix it.

    It went away completely when I quit smoking.

    ETA: Also, Ayurveda is ancient bollocks.
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