What's the white stuff at back of tongue?

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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?
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Replies

  • Expatmommy79
    Expatmommy79 Posts: 940 Member
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    I hear you. Hopefully among them will be someone who has an idea....

  • DaddieCat
    DaddieCat Posts: 3,643 Member
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    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
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    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: 3,365 Member
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    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
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    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
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    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
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    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
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    Smoking and lots of dairy..
  • cnbbnc
    cnbbnc Posts: 1,267 Member
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    Plaque
  • rainbowbow
    rainbowbow Posts: 7,490 Member
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    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
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    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
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    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
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    earlnabby 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
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    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
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    rainbowbow wrote: »
    earlnabby 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
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  • Aleash44
    Aleash44 Posts: 4 Member
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    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
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    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
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    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: