How to Get Rid of White Tongue at Home

Tongue is considered as one of the most important muscles in the body. Without it, you will not be able to talk, taste, and even swallow the food that you consume. And if you checked your tongue today and noticed that you have a white tongue instead of the regular pink one, there's nothing you should worry about. This type of condition is completely harmless as it does not affect your sense of taste or your oral health. The reason why it is white is because it is covered with a white coating or white patches caused by trapped food or dirt from the things you eat between your papillae or the rough spot on your tongue. However, you can easily get rid of it with the use of tongue cleaner or by following the tips we have below.

However, there are times that you should be mindful of a white tongue because this could mean a serious health condition. Most especially if aside from white tongue, you are also experiencing other health symptoms, then you should learn first what triggers white tongue.

The Best Remedies for White Tongue

1. Drink More Water

If you are dehydrated, you can see it through your tongue. White tongue is an indication that your body is dehydrated, that's why you need to drink more water. The water will help remove the food debris and even bacteria that resides on your tongue too. The moment you feel like your mouth is always dry is also the same moment that white spots will show up on your tongue due to the decreased flow of saliva.

So, if you're not fond of drinking water, it's time for you to drink 8 glasses of water or 2 liters per day as recommended by health professionals. 

2. Stop Smoking

If you are a smoker, it's time for you to stop it now. The ingredients in cigarettes can cause white coating on the tongue which also leads to more dead cell count. Some smokers will even have a yellowish tongue instead of the white one. Aside from that, there are also a lot of reasons why you should stop smoking today for your overall oral health. It can trigger gum disease, plaque, and even bad breath!

3. Alcohol Usage

If you have been drinking for the past several nights, you are likely to have white tongue too, a condition called leukoplakia, the same thing as smoking cigarettes. When this type of condition gets worse the white patches will also appear on the floor of your mouth or the insides of your cheek. In order to prevent this from happening, you should reduce alcohol use. 

4. Stop Breathing through Your Mouth

Some people will breath through their mouth unconsciously, most especially when they are sleeping, and this causes white tongue. When your mouth is open, you are likely to experience a lack of saliva flow causing dry mouth that will eventually lead to white tongue. 

The best thing to do is to practice breathing in and out of your nose. You also have to keep your nose clean so you will have enough air that goes through your nose without any blockages. If you keep on exercising, it will be an automatic response of your nose to gasp for air for deep breaths than your mouth.

5. Mouth Infection

Mouth infection or oral thrush mostly happens in infants or babies. But in adults, this happens when the amount of candida fungus inside the mouth grows. This is due to stress, illnesses such as fever, and medications taken that thrush occur. This can be treated with the use of antifungal medicine or mouthwash that you may need to ask first from your doctor. 

6. Poor Oral Hygiene

If you don't brush and floss your teeth regularly, you will have a white tongue. Of course, when you don't clean your mouth the bacteria will still reside there and can stick on your papillae causing white tongue. 

How to Clean Your Tongue

1. Use a Tongue Scraper or Tongue Cleaner

The use of tongue scraper or tongue cleaner is very important to avoid white tongue. You can do this once everyday after brushing and flossing. It can help remove bad bacteria in your mouth and keep the balance of good bacteria for your overall oral health.

First, you need to stick your tongue out and scrape from the very back to the front. Do this for 2 to 3 times and rinse with warm water afterwards. Make sure to lightly scrape your tongue so you won't get hurt.

2. Use a Water Flosser

Aside from a toothbrush and tongue cleaner, you will also need a water flosser for flossing. It will wash away all food debris and bacteria stuck in between your teeth with the use of water. This is very convenient to use instead of string floss which you have to control with your hands so you won't be able to harshly pull the string that might damage your gums too. 

With a portable water flosser, you just need to turn it on and let the water flow anytime and anywhere you want. You can even share it to your family since the best water flosser comes with 4 jet tips. Here's how it works:

Steps in Using Water Flosser

1. Fill the reservoir with warm water before placing it on the base.
2. Water flossers come with different tips so choose the one that you favored the most. 
3. Click the tip into the handle.
4. Turn on the water flosser and set the control dial too high to let the water flow. (The next time you will use it, you can set the control dial to any type of pressure you want.)
5. In a sink, you have to lean over so that the water won’t stream down to your clothes.
6. Place the tip at the gumline and let the water flow to clean each tooth. 
7. Move it from one gum to another.
8. Once you have finished flossing your teeth, turn the water flosser off and remove the tip.

Conclusion

If you have noticed that your tongue still has white spots with other symptoms that make you feel uncomfortable or even after following the things mentioned above, do not hesitate to schedule a checkup with a health professional. 

 

Disclaimer:

The content in this article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare provider before making any changes to your health regimen. The author and publisher do not take responsibility for any consequences resulting from the information provided in this article.