What Causes Yellowish Coating On The Middle To Back Of Tongue?

Posted on Fri, 1 Aug 2014

Question: Hello, I've had a yellowish coating on the middle to back of my tongue for a few months now. It changes color based on what I've eaten recently, brown with coffee, blue after a Gatorade. etc. The degree of the coating changes daily. I also have some red bumps near the tip of my tongue. No pain associated with the problem.

Answered by Dr. Rajkishori Godhi (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Answered

Detailed Answer:
Hi and thanks for contacting healthcaremagic

The coating on the tongue is usually due to hypertrophic (excess) papilla - a finger like structure normally responsible for the furry appearance of the tongue. Food eaten gets entrapped among this papilla and produces the various colors.

The hypertrophy of the papilla occurs in various illness and in some deficiency disorders. In some cases it is because of accumulation of shed papilla and clears of once the underlying illness recovers.

Hope this clarifies your query
Regards
Dr Rajkishori

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj

Follow up: Dr. Rajkishori Godhi (18 minutes later)

what illnesses or deficiency disorders could cause this, and can I rule out this being thrush?
and anything to worry about concerning the red dots near the tip of my tongue?
Thank you!

Answered by Dr. Rajkishori Godhi (31 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Answered

Detailed Answer:
Hi again
An illness with fever or that associated with malabsorption and those associated with poor oral hygeine can cause it as is defeciency of B complex vitamins. The red spots are the areas of absent papilla
Regards
Dr Rajkishori

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj