Have you ever noticed white spots on your tongue when looking in the mirror? Don’t worry. White spots are not painful and usually don’t pose a serious problem. Plus, they are easy to treat.
I Have White Spots on My Tongue… What Should I Do?
The tongue is the strongest muscle in the body, but also the most overlooked. Essential for speaking, swallowing, and eating, our tongue is exposed to numerous risks and needs protection, even though we only think about it when we experience discomfort or notice something is wrong. Proper oral hygiene is often the best prevention for the appearance of bumps or white spots on the tongue.
Possible Tongue Conditions
Feeling the pasty tongue, with a strange taste and a whitish tone,
is very common. But it can also be a sign of something more concerning. The
usual cause, as we have mentioned, is poor hygiene or an unbalanced diet.
For one reason or another, there are many possible tongue-related diseases:
- Mouth ulcers: Annoying and painful, their appearance is due to numerous causes such as a weakened immune system or a bite.
- White tongue: Its appearance is associated with smoking, drinking alcohol, or the use of dental prostheses that damage the gums.
- Candidiasis: Poor hygiene or the consumption of certain foods can weaken our defenses and allow the fungus called candida to spread and cause an infection.
- Migratory glossitis: Also known as geographic tongue due to the patterns formed by the spots caused by tongue inflammation.
- Tongue cancer: There are different types, the most common being squamous cell carcinoma. The appearance of ulcers that seem never to heal is one of the first symptoms. If white spots last more than 2 weeks, your doctor may decide to perform a biopsy.
Risk Factors
The color and texture of the tongue says a lot about our health. This muscle has thousands of nerve endings, all of which are associated with various parts of the body. A healthy tongue appears pinkish, smooth, and flexible. However, there are many factors that can contribute to potential health issues, such as white pigmentation on the tongue:
- Poor hygiene
- Alcohol or tobacco consumption
- Lack of iron, vitamins A and B6, or niacin
- A poorly fitted dental prosthesis
How to Treat White Spots on the Tongue
If you notice that the white pigmentation on your tongue persists, it is highly recommended to consult a specialist. The appropriate treatment will depend on each case, as while mild candidiasis may resolve on its own, other infections caused by fungi require the use of specific mouthwashes or other medications, which should always be administered under medical prescription.
Natural Remedies to Combat White Spots
We can combat white spots by following some tips and natural remedies:
- Improve oral hygiene: brush your tongue when you brush your teeth.
- Increase your intake of raw vegetables and fruits.
- Consume natural, unsweetened yogurts and foods with bifidus.
- A teaspoon of baking soda in lemon juice helps cleanse the body and boosts the immune system.
Professional registration Nº 28004040
Degree in Medicine and Surgery, Autonomous University of Madrid
Degree in Dentistry, Complutense University of Madrid
Master’s Degree in Aesthetic Dentistry, Complutense University of Madrid
University Specialist in Pediatric Dentistry, San Rafael Hospital, Madrid
University Specialist in Individual and Public Oral Preventive Programs, Complutense University of Madrid
Director of Radiodiagnostic Facilities
Medical Director, Smiling Dental Center
Specialist in Aesthetic Dentistry, Dr. Bruce Crispin, Los Angeles, California
Member of the Spanish Society of Prosthodontics (SEPES)
CPR Course
Advanced English
