The human body, like a car, has its “spies” that signal anything that goes on. One of these is the tongue, which can change colour and become white when there is a health problem present. “The tongue is a remarkable organ, the most innervated human organ, which ensures tactile and taste capacity. That is why when the body sends “SOS” signals the tongue is affected and one of its consequences is the white colour on its surface” – explains Professor Marcello Monti, consultant of Dermatology at Humanitas and Professor at the University of Milan.
Gastrointestinal disorders, gastroesophageal reflux, stress …
“A white tongue does not always indicate a serious medical condition in progress – says Dr. Monti – although in most cases it is related to transient diseases or illnesses that affect the digestive tract: gastrointestinal disorders, gastroesophageal reflux, stress, seasonal fatigue, change of season, a transient fever; however, an ordinary indigestion problem may also change the tongue’s colour from a beautiful “healthy” pink in a white uniform.”
“Although we must not forget the phenomena that affects people suffering from allergies, the so-called “geographic tongue”, a tongue covered with patches unevenly” – explains Monti.
Why does the tongue become white and what does the white coating that appears consist?
“A white tongue – explains specialist – coincides with the growth of the villi covering the tongue: when they are low, the tongue appears pink, but when they grow, stimulated by some emergency signal to grow, they display the “lawn” of tongue mucosa – white.”
White tongue: myths and remedies
Often, especially after a heavy dinner, the whiteness that covers the tongue is considered to be the cause of halitosis. “This cannot be more wrong – says Monti. It is unlikely that the tongue is the home of the bacteria, which prefer other areas of the mouth to hide, such as the gum pockets. Halitosis is usually generated by intestinal gas, so it is useless to use accessories to clean up the back of the tongue risking to create lesions on the mucosa.”
It is even worse to resort to drugs, especially antifungals. “In some instances, we use a treatment with a derivative vitamin A, isotretinoin, which is applied directly to one or two times per week on the tongue and it is able to regulate the growth of the villi and to recover a healthy colour.”
