Is your tongue not supposed to be white?

Healthy tongues are light pink with some white on the surface.

How do you get rid of a coated tongue?

Treatment options This symptom often clears up on its own. You may be able to remove the white coating from your tongue by gently brushing it with a soft toothbrush. Or softly run a tongue scraper across your tongue. Drinking lots of water can also help flush bacteria and debris out of your mouth.

What does whiteness on the tongue mean?

By Mayo Clinic Staff. 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.

What causes a white coating on the tongue?

Causes. 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.

Is it normal to have white spots on your tongue?

Your whole tongue might be white, or you could just have white spots or patches on your tongue. A white tongue is usually nothing to worry about. But on rare occasions, this symptom can warn of a more serious condition like an infection or early cancer.

What to do if you have a white line on your tongue?

HIV testing should be considered if hairy leukoplakia appears without a known immune-compromising condition. Antiviral medications such as acyclovir ( Zovirax) may be used. Recurrence of hairy leukoplakia is common. Linea alba is a benign condition that is characterized by a thin white line at the lateral (side) borders of the tongue.

How long does it take for white tongue to go away?

White tongue can build up over time or it might show up suddenly if you irritate your tongue or get an infection. You can get white tongue from many different causes but it usually goes away in a few weeks.