What Causes Cream Colored Coating On Tongue?

Posted on Fri, 25 Dec 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Fri, 25 Dec 2015 Answered on

Mon, 11 Jan 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : Hi,

I'm a 32 year old male. For the last 8-10 years when I get up in the morning, there's a cream colored coating on the tongue (on the back side of the tongue and no where else).

I have been using a tongue cleaner to scrape it off. It comes off easily and the tongue is clean.

If I don't clean it, my mouth is smelly.

I have attached pictures of my coated morning tongue and also the picture where you can see on the cleaner how much coating has got cleaned.

I want to know if this a problem. And how do I avoid it.

Just FYI, my sugar levels are normal and I drink sufficient water and sleep pretty alright with my mouth closed.

Answered by Dr. Pavan Kumar Gupta (2 hours later)

Brief answer....seems to be normal
Detailed answer....
Hello,
Thanks for the query.
I have read your query and understand your concern.
Although there is no photograph attached with your query but the way you have described about your tongue coating,it appears normal to me.
Normally dead cells get trapped in between the nodules at the back of tongue giving rise to a white coating on tongue.
In case of fungal infection and bacterial infection also the dead cells become trapped there but in such cases,specially fungal infection,this coating doesn't come off easily on scrapping and when you remove it there may be bleeding and it may be painful also.
Since you are able to clean it easily without any problem,it appears normal to me.
Smelly feeling is normal with white coating.
I think everything is normal and nothing to be worried about,however you can send me the picture so that I can have a look at it. Moreover such a long history of 10 years and without any complications also point towards a normal tongue.
I hope it helps,however you are most welcome to revert to me for any further query.
Best of luck
Thanks

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D

Follow up: Dr. Pavan Kumar Gupta (25 minutes later)

Thank you doctor for your answer... it's complete and clearly demonstrates that due attention had been paid to my question :-)

Have attached pictures. Hope they further help in assessing the condition. Does the scraped cost quantity look normal?

The thing that suddenly got me concerned is that there's virtually no one that I know faces this condition and also that I have been having this practically everyday for the last 10 years. So got/gets me thinking, why just me...

Thanks.

Answered by Dr. Pavan Kumar Gupta (9 minutes later)

Hello,
I have seen the photographs.
You see every body gets some or other quantity of coating on their tongue.
You seem to be the person having it just a little more than usual,however I won't think about it too much.In my opinion it is normal.
Thanks

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D

Follow up: Dr. Pavan Kumar Gupta (18 minutes later)

OK. Is there something that I can do to ensure this is reduced or eliminated? Without the tongue cleaner, I face issues like smelly mouth and lack of a fresh feeling. I have even sometimes seen that the remnant coat gets accumulated and forms a semi hard pellet sized (smelly) formation on the upper palette and which comes off after a few days on its own when I cough/sneeze hard.

Answered by Dr. Pavan Kumar Gupta (5 minutes later)

Hello,
Brush well before going to sleep and do betadine gargles after your dinner.
Thanks

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D