Brushing your tongue gently from back to front a few times with a toothbrush and toothpaste is an easy first step, since you're already in there brushing your teeth twice a day anyway. “But tongue scraping can do a better job at removing that plaque and bacteria off the tongue's surface,” Patterson advises.
Tongue scraping involves using a tool to remove a white or yellowish coating that sometimes forms on the tongue. This is the result of buildup from food debris, dead skin cells and bacteria, said Dr. Martinna Bertolini, an assistant professor of dental medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine.
Often, a white tongue means you should focus on your oral hygiene or overall health. For example, it may mean that you need to brush and floss more regularly and steer clear of tobacco and alcohol. Still, a white tongue may signal a yeast or bacterial infection.
A tongue scraper should not be applied with so much pressure that you fear your taste buds are in harm's way. Cleaning your tongue with a scraper is a gentle process and does not inflict any pain or cause damage to your tongue.
A healthy tongue is typically pink in color and covered with papillae (tiny bumps) which contain your taste buds and assist with chewing food. Indications of an unhealthy tongue include different coloration besides pink, spots or patches (such as white, brown, or black spots), open sores, etc.
Rinse the scraper with water after each pass. Repeat until you have scraped your entire tongue. Rinse your mouth with water.
White tongue is the result of an overgrowth and swelling of the fingerlike projections (papillae) on the surface of your tongue. The appearance of a white coating is caused by debris, bacteria and dead cells getting lodged between the enlarged and sometimes inflamed papillae.
A healthy (or normal) tongue is pink and covered with small bumps known as papillae. The shade of pink can vary (provided it's not red), and the bumps should cover a good majority of the upper surface. These bumps are also on the underside of a tongue, but maybe less easy to spot.
People who smoke, chew tobacco, or consume excessive amounts of alcohol are at risk of leukoplakia. In most cases, these white patches are harmless, but in rare cases, leukoplakia turns into oral cancer. See your healthcare provider or dentist if you notice white patches in the mouth that do not go away.
A white tongue can result from a buildup of debris. Common reasons include a dry mouth, tobacco use, and not cleaning the tongue. But, it can sometimes result from inflammation or a fungal infection. White tongue is a term used to describe any area of the tongue that has a grayish-white coating on it.
A thick, white coating on your tongue could be a sign of an oral yeast infection known as thrush. “Your tongue is home to many different organisms, including bacteria and yeasts,” said Dr. Linker. “If the Ph balance is disrupted by something like antibiotics, it can cause thrush.”
Yellow tongue usually occurs as a result of a harmless buildup of dead skin cells on the tiny projections (papillae) on the surface of your tongue. Most commonly this occurs when your papillae become enlarged and bacteria in your mouth produce colored pigments.
When this happens, the harsh ingredients in your toothpaste cause the cells lining the insides of your cheeks to slough off, and as they collect in your mouth, this creates the white, slimy, stringy stuff.
A white film in the mouth is typically called oral thrush—a fungal infection that develops on the tongue and roof of the mouth, but can also start in the throat and spread to other parts of the body. This condition is due to an overgrowth of the Candida fungus—a naturally occurring yeast.
Tongue Scraping Benefits
In theory, scraping your tongue could help maintain the right balance of “good” bacteria in your mouth. This good bacteria could produce more nitric oxide, which nourishes stem cells that help to repair and replace older damaged cells.
Tongue cleaning can cause discomfort. Improper use of a tongue cleaner may induce the gag reflex and/or vomiting. Overuse of a tongue cleaner may also cause damage to the taste buds. Some people have inappropriately used the tongue cleaner to scrape or brush the lingual tonsils (tongue tonsils).
Scraping your tongue generally takes no longer than two minutes. You can repeat this process throughout the day as needed. Tongue scraping can easily be added to your mouth and teeth cleaning routine. For example, scrape your tongue before brushing your teeth.
A white tongue is usually a sign of bacteria build-up. A white tongue may be a sign of thrush or oral lichen planus. Rarely, it's a sign of leukoplakia, a condition that sometimes progresses to cancer. Yellow tongue: Dead skin cells build up on your tongue, causing the surface to look yellow.
Oral Tongue Cancer
The lump often looks like an ulcer and is grayish-pink to red. The lump bleeds easily if bitten or touched.