Causes

White tongue is the result of an overgrowth and swelling of the fingerlike projections (papillae) on the surface of your tongue. The appearance of a white coating is caused by debris, bacteria and dead cells getting lodged between the enlarged and sometimes inflamed papillae.

Causes of papillae hypertrophy or inflammation include, for example:

• Poor oral hygiene
• Dry mouth
• Dehydration
• Smoking or other oral tobacco use
• Alcohol use (excessive)
• Mouth breathing
• Low roughage diet (eating mostly soft or mashed foods)
• Mechanical irritation from sharp tooth edges or dental appliances
• Fever

Examples of conditions associated with white patches or other discolorations of your tongue include:

• Use of certain medications, such as prolonged use of antibiotics that may bring on an oral yeast infection
• Oral thrush
• Geographic tongue
• Leukoplakia
• Oral lichen planus
• Mouth cancer
• Tongue cancer
• Syphilis
• Immunosuppression caused by such diseases as HIV/AIDS