Resolved question:
For awhile now when I wake in the morning my tongue is all pasty white. I started rinsing with a solution of water and baking soda as well as brushing my tongue with the solution using a toothbrush. This seems to be helping some because when checking the appearance in the morning it is not so bad.
Does indicate some condition that may need to be looked into?
Submitted:
4 Days
Category:
Family Physician-GP
Hello.
Thank you for posting your query at DoctorSpring.com
Will it be possible for you to upload a picture of what you're trying to describe?
Normally a coated tongue can be due to some infection. But since you do not have any other symptoms, it does not seem to be a cause for worry. At times it happens on its own and settles down within 2 weeks. But if it persists beyond 2 weeks, it needs to be examined.
Some of the causes are lichen planus ( it is a chronic disorder and hence can be ruled out ), leukoplakia, a benign condition where there will be white patches in the mouth and the tongue, is a common condition.
Can happen in diabetics too. One last cause can be due to oral thrush where there will be a history of recent antibiotic or steroid usage. It renders the patient immuno compromised and hence an yeast infection develops.
Since you're observing it is settling down on its own i won't recommend any medicine as of now. Based on the picture that you send, i can help you further.
Regards.
Well I did not say it is settling down just seems to be under control I think. I will attach 2 pictures of before and after. That is I use the toothbrush and solution of baking soda and water to brush tounge suurface. I switched the type of bread I was eating from a 12 grain back to wheat I think that may part of the problem but not sure about that. The first picture might not have enough light but see what you think.
Hello.
Thank you for the follow up.
From the picture that you sent today, it does not seem to be widespread. Its actually not very clear but does not look like anything alarming.
I will advise you to get a LFT done. Sometimes due to slight dysfunction of the liver, and slight indigestion such coating can be present. The etiology is not well known but it is associated with a white coating on the tongue and gastric symptoms may/ may not be present. Do you have any after taste in the mouth?
Just continue the the cleaning of the tongue with the baking soda solution
Once you have your LFT report let me know.
Hoping to hear from you again,
Regards.