White Tongue Coating? It Could Be Oral Thrush

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Dr._Kristie_Leong_M.D.]Dr. Kristie Leong M.D.
Do you have a yucky white film on your tongue? Sometimes a white tongue coating comes from debris that's accumulated on the tongue from poor oral hygiene, but there are other causes as well. A white tongue coating can also come from an overgrowth of Candida on the tongue and in the mouth. The name for this condition is oral thrush. Candida is a normal inhabitant of cavities such as the mouth and vagina, but your immune system and "good" bacteria in the mouth normally keep this fungus from overgrowing and causing the tongue to look white.
What Causes Oral Thrush?
Certain factors can cause the equilibrium between Candida, mouth bacteria and the immune system to get out of whack and lead to an oral thrush infection. Some of these include taking oral steroid medications, a suppressed immune system due an illness, taking chemotherapy drugs, wearing dentures, having diabetes or simply being in bad health.
Taking antibiotics also increases the chances of getting thrush by destroying the mouth bacteria that normally keep Candida in check. People who are very young or very old are more likely to get oral thrush, because their immune systems are weakened. The only symptom of oral thrush may be a white tongue coating, but it can also cause white patches to appear elsewhere in the mouth or even the throat.
How Do You Know if Your White Tongue Coating is Due to Thrush?
If you run a tongue scraper over the area, and it leaves a red spot that bleeds a little, it's likely thrush. This isn't a foolproof test though. To make a definitive diagnosis, your doctor can take a sample of the white tongue coating, and send it to the lab to see if they see Candida under the microscope.
How Do You Treat a White Tongue Coating Due to Oral Thrush?
Your doctor can give you a mouthwash or lozenges that contain an anti-fungal medication to kill the fungus. Clearing the infection isn't the only issue though. It's important to find out what caused Candida fungi to overgrow in the first place. If you're taking antibiotics, prednisone or drugs that suppress the immune system that could be the cause. If not, your doctor will probably want to get blood work to see if you have signs of immune deficiency or a weakened immune system. They'll also want to check a blood sugar level to make sure oral thrush isn't coming from undiagnosed diabetes.
Can You Prevent Oral Thrush?
If you use antibiotics, taking a probiotic supplement or eating yogurt with active cultures may help. Doing this replaces the good bacteria that help keep Candida in check. Otherwise, eating a nutritious diet and getting enough sleep helps your immune system fight off Candida infections.
The Bottom Line?
Take care of yourself by eating a nutritious diet and getting enough sleep, but if you develop a white tongue coating that won't go away, see your doctor. It could be a sign of other health problems.
Kristie Leong M.D. is a family physician and medical writer. If you want to find out more about what causes a white tongue coating and other tongue problems, visit her website at [http://www.whitetonguecoating.com]http://www.whitetonguecoating.com.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?White-Tongue-Coating?-It-Could-Be-Oral-Thrush&id=6654926] White Tongue Coating? It Could Be Oral Thrush