Understanding and Managing Coated Tongue: Causes, Symptoms, and Remedies

Our tongue is essential for speaking, tasting and swallowing. However, the tongue also shows whether our body is healthy: if the tongue is coated, burns, hurts, or is swollen, this can indicate a physical illness. We explain what a wholesome tongue should look like, what’s behind a white, yellow or brown coating and what you can do if your tongue hurts or is swollen.

functions of the tongue

The tongue has several vital functions for us humans. First, it plays an essential role in eating: it causes the food to move in the mouth. This allows the food to be broken up and salivated. When swallowing, the tongue ensures that the crushed food is pushed down the throat.

But the tongue is crucial for processing the food and tasting it. Five different types of taste are distinguished: sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and umami – which means something hearty and tasty. Today, we know that there are no fixed taste zones. However, the different types of taste are perceived particularly strongly in specific areas:

• Sweet on the tip of the tongue
• Sour and salty on the edges of the tongue
• Bitter in the back of the tongue
• Umami in the middle of the tongue

In addition to tasting and swallowing, the tongue is also essential for speaking. For many, sounds could not be formed without the help of the tongue. For example, in Parkinson’s patients, whose tongue mobility often decreases over time, pronunciation quality decreases.

tongue and health

Our tongue reflects the state of health of our body: If there is an illness, this can often be seen on the tongue. Therefore, you must check your tongue regularly – standing in front of a mirror in daylight is best.

Ideally, check the condition of your tongue as soon as you get up in the morning before brushing your teeth or drinking coffee . See if you notice any changes in colour or shape. If you discover anything that gives you cause for concern, seek medical advice – preferably from a general practitioner or dentist.

When the tongue is coated

When healthy, our tongue is pale red, smooth and moist. It is covered with a thin whitish coating of germs, food debris and old cells. However, this plaque is usually rubbed off when eating or through careful oral hygiene.

 

colour of the tongue coating

If the tongue is heavily coated, this usually indicates an illness in the body. Depending on the color of the tongue coating, different diseases come into question:

• White coating on the tongue:  A thick, white coating on the tongue often indicates gastrointestinal problems. But it can also occur as part of a  cold  . If the white coating is only on the right and left of the central gutter, a  pancreatic disorder could also  be the cause.
• Yellow tongue:  If the tongue has a slightly yellowish coating, it is probably caused by a fungal infection. There is also often a furry feeling in the mouth. Slightly stronger yellow tones, on the other hand, can indicate a bile or liver disorder. These can also be caused by poisoning. If poisoning, for example from plants or medication, is possible, medical advice should always be sought.
• Red tongue coating  (raspberry tongue): A red tongue often occurs in infectious diseases such as  scarlet fever  . The tongue typically also has small thickenings. A reddish tongue with a yellow coating can also  indicate heart failure  . If the tongue is red and also burns, this indicates a tongue infection. It is also conceivable that the red tongue is caused by a vitamin B-12 deficiency.
• Brown tongue:  A brown coating on the tongue is usually caused by disorders in the intestinal area. If the tongue is also swollen, kidney weakness can also be the cause. However, a brownish coating on the tongue can also be caused by certain foods or recreational poisons.
• Gray tongue coating:  If the tongue is grayish in color, this can indicate an iron deficiency or  anemia  . A  stomach ulcer  or the lack of hydrochloric acid in the gastric juice can also result in a gray coating on the tongue.
• Black tongue coating:  A black tongue coating is also known as “hairy tongue” because the tongue looks hairy due to a change in the tongue papillae. Such a plaque can occur as a side effect of antibiotic treatment. In addition, a hairy tongue can also indicate serious illnesses that are associated with a significant weakening of the immune system. In rare cases , an infection with  fungi  or bacteria can also cause a black tongue.

Other troubles of the tongue

In addition to tongue coating, other tongue complaints can also occur. For example, the tongue may burn, become inflamed, or swollen, or pimples and blisters may form on the tongue. You can read what that means and how to clean your tongue on the following page.