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What Causes White Coating On Tongue?
Question: what is wrong when a persons tongue is coated white on both sides?my husband says his tongue is swollen and tender to touch, when he eats
anything hard, like toast , it hurts and it alters his speech
anything hard, like toast , it hurts and it alters his speech
Brief Answer:
It might be oral thrush.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
I read carefully your query and understand your concern.
From the symptoms you describe I think it is Oral thrush.
Oral thrush is a condition in which the fungus Candida albicans accumulates on the lining of your mouth.
Thrush is characterized by a white coating or white patches on the mouth, inner cheeks, tongue, and the back of the throat. The tissue under the white patches is often red, raw, and sore. The lesions can be painful and even bleed when scraped
Anyone can develop oral thrush, but the infection is more common in some conditions including Diabetes Mellitus.It is more common when the diabetes is not under control because the saliva may contain large amounts of sugar, which encourages the growth of candida.
Oral thrush can usually be diagnosed simply by looking at the lesions, but sometimes a small sample is examined under a microscope to confirm the diagnosis.
I suggest to consult your doctor to confirm the diagnosis and give you the right treatment.
The doctor may prescribe :
-an antifungal mouthwash (nystatin) or lozenges (clotrimazole [Mycelex]) for short-term use
-or systemic medications, such as fluconazole (Diflucan) or itraconazole (Sporanox).
Meanwhile a few tips can help:
-Practice good oral hygiene. Brush at least twice a day and floss at least once daily. Replace your toothbrush frequently until your infection clears up.
-Try warm saltwater rinses. Dissolve 1/2 teaspoon of salt in 1 cup of warm water. Swish the rinse and then spit it out, but don't swallow.
I also suggest to run some blood tests to see if your Diabetes is well controlled.
-Blood sugar level
-Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) test.
Hope my answer has helped.
Let me know if you have further questions.
Take care.
Dr.Rovena Murati
It might be oral thrush.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
I read carefully your query and understand your concern.
From the symptoms you describe I think it is Oral thrush.
Oral thrush is a condition in which the fungus Candida albicans accumulates on the lining of your mouth.
Thrush is characterized by a white coating or white patches on the mouth, inner cheeks, tongue, and the back of the throat. The tissue under the white patches is often red, raw, and sore. The lesions can be painful and even bleed when scraped
Anyone can develop oral thrush, but the infection is more common in some conditions including Diabetes Mellitus.It is more common when the diabetes is not under control because the saliva may contain large amounts of sugar, which encourages the growth of candida.
Oral thrush can usually be diagnosed simply by looking at the lesions, but sometimes a small sample is examined under a microscope to confirm the diagnosis.
I suggest to consult your doctor to confirm the diagnosis and give you the right treatment.
The doctor may prescribe :
-an antifungal mouthwash (nystatin) or lozenges (clotrimazole [Mycelex]) for short-term use
-or systemic medications, such as fluconazole (Diflucan) or itraconazole (Sporanox).
Meanwhile a few tips can help:
-Practice good oral hygiene. Brush at least twice a day and floss at least once daily. Replace your toothbrush frequently until your infection clears up.
-Try warm saltwater rinses. Dissolve 1/2 teaspoon of salt in 1 cup of warm water. Swish the rinse and then spit it out, but don't swallow.
I also suggest to run some blood tests to see if your Diabetes is well controlled.
-Blood sugar level
-Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) test.
Hope my answer has helped.
Let me know if you have further questions.
Take care.
Dr.Rovena Murati
Note: Consult an experienced Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist online for further follow up on ear, nose, and throat issues - Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Answered by
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