Nutrition and diets 

Causes of plaque on the tongue in an adult and a child - diagnosis by color, consistency and localization

One of the most important human organs is the tongue, it can be used to determine the state of human health and the presence of certain diseases. Normally, its color is pink, a slight whitish coating is allowed in the morning, which disappears after brushing your teeth. In some cases, adults or children develop a white or yellow coating on the tongue, this may be the result of poor oral hygiene, an indication of the presence of certain diseases that need urgent treatment.

What is plaque on the tongue

The human tongue is a muscular organ that is covered with a mucous membrane. Its surface is heterogeneous, covered with hundreds of small papillae, on which taste buds are located. Pieces of food remain on the surface, which contributes to the multiplication of a huge number of bacteria in the oral cavity. When the body is functioning normally, the balance of bacteria is not disturbed.

It is worth alerting when a thick layer of white, yellow, in rare cases green plaque appears on the tongue. Doctors distinguish it by the following features:

  • thickness - if the color of the tongue is not visible under it, it is noticeably thicker than usual;
  • color - varies from white to gray, yellow, green, brown and even black;
  • the surface may be wet, cheesy, dry or greasy;
  • location - over the entire surface or locally (spots);
  • separation from the surface - the denser, the stronger the disease, after cleaning it quickly forms again.

Causes of the raid

A small raid is not a reason to sound the alarm. Its color may vary depending on the season: milky in summer, yellow in winter, less pronounced in autumn. It is quickly peeled off, does not appear again, you can see the natural color through it. Layering occurs with a cold or intoxication, which irritates the gastric mucosa in a child and an adult. In adolescence, it may appear due to constant hormonal surges during puberty. A brown coating appears in alcoholics, the tongue of a smoker also looks like this.

Dense loose plaque, which is difficult to clean the oral cavity and quickly forms again, should alert. There can be many reasons for this:

  • acute infections (scarlet fever, diphtheria, dysentery, cholera whooping cough, pink lichen, stomatitis);
  • fungal infections (candidiasis of the cavity, thrush)
  • chronic pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract (gastritis, gastric ulcer, enterocolitis, pancreatitis, intestinal dysbacteriosis, Crohn's disease, small intestine cancer)
  • other diseases (psoriatic plaques, kidney disease, radiation sickness, dehydration, chronic alcoholism, smoking).

Plaque in serious diseases can cause discomfort - burning, unpleasant aftertaste, dryness, the appearance of sores and foci of infection. This is typical for chronic inflammation of the oral cavity, chronic liver diseases, diseases of the stomach, endocrine system. Do not ignore these symptoms, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Normally, a white coating is observed on the tongue, especially after sleep. If it is covered with a dense layer, this may indicate a digestive disorder, for example, prolonged constipation in adults. In some diseases of the kidneys, the tongue becomes covered with a dense layer on the sides and front of the tongue. The location on the root indicates diseases of the stomach (ulcer, gastritis, accumulation of toxins in the large intestine, enterocolitis). Intoxication of the body in infectious diseases is accompanied not only by a high temperature, but also by the formation of a thick white coating.

Yellow

Normally, when examining a cavity, a yellow tongue can be observed in a person - with severe thirst, eating foods containing dyes (carrots, citrus fruits, strong tea, etc.). Some drugs (furazolidone) stain the mucous membranes and urine in a dark yellow color. Yellow plaque should alert when it is accompanied by an unpleasant odor, fur, does not peel off, does not disappear on its own and gradually acquires a brighter shade.

As a rule, a tongue with a yellow coating may indicate the following problems:

  • hepatitis - a yellow coating on the root of the tongue indicates jaundice in the early stages;
  • pancreatitis - inflammation of the pancreas;
  • gastritis, accompanied by the release of bile into the stomach;
  • poor functioning of the gallbladder - a violation of the outflow of bile;
  • enterovirus infections;
  • giardiasis;
  • glossitis infectious or bacterial;

Grey

The appearance of a gray or dark layering is formed when the white coating darkens. This is associated with an exacerbation of the disease and signals serious problems:

  • severe damage to the stomach or intestines;
  • chronic gastroenteritis;
  • severe dehydration at high temperature, acidosis;
  • excess mucus in the body;
  • liver pathology;
  • dark plaque is manifested in cholera and Crohn's disease.

Orange

An orange coating of the tongue cavity can result from excessive consumption of products with natural or artificial dyes. Otherwise, this is an accurate description of an exacerbation of gastritis, ingestion of gastric acid into the oral cavity. In this case, you should immediately contact a gastroenterologist and start symptomatic treatment.

Red

The normal color of the tongue is pale pink, but sometimes it turns red, which means signs of the following diseases:

  • Iron-deficiency anemia;
  • lack of vitamin B12 and folic acid;
  • diseases of the oral cavity (stomatitis, glossitis, erythrema);
  • sexually transmitted diseases (syphilis, gonorrhea);
  • scarlet fever, measles;
  • diseases of the endocrine system;
  • Kawasaki disease;
  • worms.

Coated tongue and bad breath

Very often, a furred tongue with a white coating is accompanied by bad breath, halitosis, as the doctors call this symptom. There may be several reasons for this:

  • poor oral hygiene, use of old toothbrushes;
  • caries, inflammation of the gums contribute to the growth of pathogenic bacteria that settle between the papillae;
  • diseases of the gallbladder and kidneys, as well as disruption of the stomach;
  • improper diet, lack of proteins and fats in the body, especially in women.

Plaque on the tongue with gastritis

The acute form of gastritis can be diagnosed, including by examining the color and consistency of plaque on the upper part of the tongue (except for the tip):

  • a gray tint, a viscous consistency indicates a chronic stage, the appearance of a reddish tint indicates a pre-ulcerative stage;
  • an orange tint is a sign of gastric acid entering the oral cavity;
  • plaque from white becomes yellowish - a sign of a worsening course of the disease;
  • with reduced acidity, the tongue becomes dry, with increased acidity, it can increase in size.

Diagnostics

If you find uncharacteristic symptoms: abundant plaque, inflammation of the mucous membrane of the tongue, you should consult a doctor for a personal examination and conduct a series of tests:

  • bacteriological culture from the mucosa to the flora;
  • general blood analysis;
  • blood for antibodies to Helicobacter of the stomach lining;
  • blood biochemistry;
  • coprogram;
  • Ultrasound of the abdominal organs;
  • Fibrogastroduodenoscopy of the digestive tract.

Treatment

If the layering is not completely removed with a special brush during morning hygiene or appears again, you should consult a doctor. Very often, dense white plaque and painful sensations appear with diseases of the oral cavity - gingivitis (inflammation of the gums) or stomatitis. It is better to go to the dentist, who will prescribe a course of treatment with antiviral or antifungal drugs and ointments for external use. It is useful to rinse the mouth with baking soda. Be sure to follow a diet, exclusion from the diet of spicy, sour, too hot or cold food.

Glossitis - manifested in inflammation of the tongue of a bacterial or viral nature. It can manifest itself as a consequence of burns and injuries, especially with a parallel decrease in immunity. In the treatment of glossitis, it is important to eliminate the original source of infection (herpes, dermatosis, inflammation). In severe cases, hormonal drugs (hydrocortisone, prednisolone), antibiotic treatment are prescribed. They help to remove unpleasant symptoms by rinsing with a solution of potassium permanganate, vitamin preparations, and treating the tongue with an antiseptic.

An unusual color and thickness of plaque (yellow, red, orange, gray or black) indicates serious diseases of the body, so when they appear, you should immediately contact a therapist who will prescribe the necessary tests and refer them to a specialized specialist (gastroenterologist, infectious disease specialist, etc.) .P.). You should not look at photos on the Internet and diagnose yourself. Brown plaque appears in heavy smokers and those who suffer from alcoholism. In this case, it is better to try to get rid of bad habits.

ethnoscience

To prevent the appearance of plaque, more attention should be paid to oral hygiene. It is recommended to use a special brush that cleans the root of the tongue, where most pathogenic bacteria accumulate. Decoctions of medicinal herbs in the form of a rinse help: oregano, plantain leaves, linden blossom. It is useful to drink flax seed tincture on an empty stomach, collection (mint, chamomile, sage, strawberries). Oak bark has a beneficial effect on the condition of the oral cavity: a tablespoon is poured with boiling water, infused for 3-5 hours and used as a rinse.

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