Yes, your tongue can change color (often appearing white or coated) when you have a cold due to dehydration, mouth breathing, and a buildup of germs, dead cells, and mucus, which usually clears up as you recover, though sometimes more serious infections can cause other colors like yellow or red. A thick white coating is common with colds, but other colors or persistent changes might signal other issues like oral thrush, strep throat, or even COVID-19, so see a doctor if it's severe or accompanied by other concerning symptoms.
Whitish tongue coating
Symptoms include white patches on the tongue that can often be wiped off easily. This leaves behind a red mucous membrane that may bleed slightly. Oral thrush can usually be treated successfully with anti-fungal medicines. A common cold can also cause your tongue to be thickly coated.
A bright red tongue can indicate that you have a vitamin B12 deficiency or an infection called scarlet fever — a Streptococcus bacteria infection in the throat (strep throat) accompanied by a red body rash.
A white film may appear on your tongue when bacteria and food get caught between the tiny bumps on your tongue's surface, called papillae. Your papillae are raised, creating a large surface area for debris to collect inside your mouth. The papillae may swell and become inflamed.
Inflammation of your stomach lining can lead to yellow tongue — particularly if the bacteria Helicobacter pylori caused the inflammation.
Respiratory problems: dry mouth causes a greater accumulation of bacteria, so if you have a cold, sinusitis or any pathology that leads you to breathe through your mouth, this will also facilitate the yellowing of the tongue.
Strep tongue, a sign of scarlet fever, typically starts with a white coating on a red tongue (white strawberry tongue), which then peels to reveal a bright red, bumpy tongue with swollen papillae (red strawberry tongue). This is accompanied by a sandpaper-like rash on the body, flushed cheeks, and sometimes tiny red spots (petechiae) on the roof of the mouth.
Common tongue diseases and problems include canker sores, thrush, oral lichen planus, and tongue trauma. Other problems or conditions that can impact the tongue include tongue cancer, transient lingual papillitis, geographic tongue, vitamin B12 deficiency, Sjögren's disease, neuralgia, and allergic reactions.
Q: Can I have a white tongue with COVID? A: White plaques on the tongue are a possible symptom of a “COVID tongue.” It's usually a sign of an overgrowth of one of the normal bacteria of the mouth. This overgrowth can emerge due to the immune system's reaction to the coronavirus.
Liquid diets can also cause a white-coated tongue, as can the common cold and drug-related dry mouth. Coating of the tongue can also often be traced back to the consumption of alcohol and tobacco.
When your body doesn't have enough water, your tongue appears dry and typically has a white or white-to-yellowish coating. In some cases, the tongue can appear patchy or splotchy. If your tongue commonly sticks to the roof of your mouth, you are dehydrated.
Tongue warning signs include changes in color (white patches for thrush/leukoplakia, pale for anemia, purple for poor circulation, bright red for infections/deficiencies), texture (smooth for glossitis/B12 lack, bumpy for infections/stress, black hairy for buildup), or presence of sores/lumps (ulcers, oral cancer signs if persistent), with signs like swelling, pain, or persistent changes signaling potential dehydration, allergies, vitamin issues, or serious infections/cancers that need a doctor's attention, especially if with other symptoms like breathing issues or difficulty swallowing.
A healthy tongue is pink in color. If your tongue color is white, yellow, orange, red, black, purple, gray, green or blue, it could mean you have an underlying health condition. If you have tongue discoloration that doesn't go away, tell your healthcare provider. They can help determine the best course of action.
Vitamin deficiencies, such as a lack of folic acid and vitamin B-12, can also give the tongue a red appearance. If a red tongue is accompanied by a high fever, this could be a result of Kawasaki disease.
Herpetic stomatitis is an infection caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV), or oral herpes. Young children commonly get it when they are first exposed to HSV. The first outbreak is usually the most severe.
As mentioned before, our research teams also saw patients diagnosed with COVID-19 with dry mouth, loss of taste, and oral ulcers, which are signs that a virus or bacteria may be affecting them.
Common New COVID Variant Symptoms in 2025
Symptom check: Is it COVID-19 or a cold? COVID-19 symptoms usually start 2 to 14 days after exposure to SARS-CoV-2. But symptoms of a common cold usually appear 1 to 3 days after exposure to a cold-causing virus. There's no cure for the common cold.
The COVID virus has more success surviving on hard surfaces, such as glass and plastic, than on porous ones like bedding. Once the virus lands on a porous material like a fabric, the droplets evaporate much quicker than they do on a hard surface.
For example, a bright red tongue might indicate an infection or conditions like anxiety or insomnia, a tongue with a bluish tint could suggest poor circulation, and a very pale tongue can be a sign of nutrient deficiency. Size. Although there is no standard size for a tongue, it should rest comfortably in your mouth.
If your health care team is concerned that you may have tongue cancer, you may be referred to: A doctor who treats problems of the face, jaw and mouth, called an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. A doctor who treats problems in the ears, nose and throat, called an ENT specialist.
If you have any concerns regarding a change in your tongue, make an appointment with your doctor. Some types of grooves or cracks are normal, and so is an occasional canker sore, but anything that does not go away or causes soreness beyond four weeks is cause for seeking professional advice.
The first signs of scarlet fever can be flu-like symptoms, including a high temperature, a sore throat and swollen neck glands (a large lump on the side of your neck). A rash appears 12 to 48 hours later. It looks like small, raised bumps and starts on the chest and tummy, then spreads.
A child with Kawasaki disease has a high temperature that lasts for 5 days or longer, and possibly 1 or more of the following symptoms: a rash. swollen glands in the neck. dry, red cracked lips.
Nutritional Deficiencies
Nutritional deficiencies may also contribute to your symptoms. Deficiencies of vitamin B and minerals, such as iron and zinc, can contribute to a burnt tongue sensation.