Tongue is one of the vital sensory organ which plays an important role in everything from eating to speaking. However, tongue provides a nidus for food debris, bacteria, and contaminants. When tongue not cleaned properly it leads to problems such as bad breath, tooth decay, lesions on tongue, which in turn will affect the function of tongue.
A healthy tongue is pink in color and has nodules on it called papillae. Hence, any deviation from normal appearance of tongue or pain is a matter of concern.
White lesion on tongue described as abnormal areas that appear whiter than the surrounding tissue and are usually slightly raised, roughened or of different texture from adjacent normal tissue. However, it may appear as smooth, folded, shaggy, elevated or lacy. They can appear as solitary, multiple, focal or diffused lesions.
White lesions on tongue can present itself in various clinical forms.
Leukoplakia:
In this condition there is a white patch on tongue that cannot scrap off. It is a precancerous lesion. Advanced forms may develop red patches.
Candidiasis White Layer Over Tongue:
Candidiasis is the disease caused by infection with yeast like fungus Candida Albicans. It is also called as oral thrush. It presents as white patches resembling cottage cheese appearance; most commonly seen in infants, denture wearers and people with weak immunity , patients with diabetes and who are taking corticosteroids for lung diseases and Asthama. Two forms of Candidiasis namely Pseudomembranous candidiasis and Chronic hyperplastic candidiasis present as white patches on tongue.
Lichen Planus:
It consists of bilateral white striations , papules or plaques on the buccal mucosa , tongue and gingiva. Erythema, erosions and blisters may or may not be present. Firstly there is involvement of the oral mucous membrane .
These lesions appear as small, angular, flat topped papules only a few millimeters in diameter. However, they may isolate or can form into larger plaques each of which cover by a fine glistening scale. The surface cover by characteristics greyish white lines called wickham striae.
Classically it characterized by lesions consisting of radiating white or grey, velvety , thread like papules in a linear, annular or retiform arrangement forming typical lacy, reticular patches, rings and streaks over the buccal mucosa and to a lesser extent on the lips, tongue and palate.
Syphilis White Layer Over Tongue:
It regarded as a predisposing factor for the development of leucoplakia. In addition, white patches often seen on tongue in secondary syphilis. In addition, Spirochetes is the causative agent for syphilis and has high affinity for the actively mobile tissues of tongue. There is atrophy of filiform and fungiform papillae resulting in bald and smooth surface of tongue. However, with the protective papillae missing the dorsum of the tongue is left extremely susceptible to oral irritation and leukoplakia frequently develops on it.
White Sponge Nevus:
In other words, it is also called as white folded gingivostomatitis. It is an autosomal dominant lesion. Hence, Mucosa appears thickened and folded or corrugated with soft or spongy texture and a peculiar white opalescent line .It has rough , granular appearance. However, the lesion varies in extent from a small patch to a larger area.
Pachyonychia Congenita:
It is also called as Jadassohn-Lewandowsky syndrome. It inherited as an autosomal dominant characteristic. However, it is extremely uncommon disease. In addition, it consists of focal or generalised white opaque thickening of the mucosa. Frequent apthous ulceration seen. Above all, inflammation of the angle of mouth visible in some cases.
In this intriguing video, Dr. Chirag Chamria, Royal Dental Clinics, emphasises on how the health of your tongue is an indicator of your Oral Health and overall health. As per Dr. Chirag Chamria, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon at Royal Dental Clinics, โFor us, excellence is our constant pursuit. Patients want immediate results & are no longer ready to hold back for days to restore their smile. We strive for nothing less than the mastery of this medium in which we have chosen to craft.โ
White tongue can build up over time or it might show up suddenly if you irritate your tongue or get an infection. You can get white tongue from many different causes but it usually goes away in a few weeks. You can also use an anti-fungal mouthwash.
But if your white tongue lasts longer than a few weeks โ or if you have pain or problems eating and talking โ you should see your provider for diagnosis and treatment.
Focal Epithelial Hyperplasia:
In other words, it described as Heck Disease. It characterised by multiple papillomatous like lesion. The viral induced oral mucosal hyperplastic response. Caused by virus (PAPOVA virus group). These present as multiple nodular lesions with sessile base. Sometimes it is present as flat , slightly raised whitish plaque on a roughened surface. It may occur in clusters or isolated. It is non tender. If the mucosa stretched they become less conspicuous. After that, the lesion reveals finely granular surface texture. In addition, they are pale to normal in colour.
๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ฅ๐ญ๐ก๐ฒ ๐ญ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ฎ๐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ฉ๐ข๐ง๐ค ๐ข๐ง ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ก๐๐ฌ ๐ง๐จ๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐๐ฌ ๐จ๐ง ๐ข๐ญ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ฉ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐. ๐๐ง๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฏ๐ข๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐ง๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ๐๐ฅ ๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐จ๐ ๐ข๐ญ ๐จ๐ซ ๐ฉ๐๐ข๐ง ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐จ๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐๐ซ๐ง.
Dyskeratosis Congenita:
It described as Zinssner-Engman-Cole syndrome. Disease manifested as three typical signs: oral leucoplakia, dystrophy of nails and pigmentation of skin. Most commonly seen in males .It appears as diffuse distributed vesicles and ulcerations on tongue followed by accumulation of white patches of necrotic epithelium and sometimes superimposed monolial infection. Therefore, in the age group of 14-20 years there repeat recurrent ulceration and development of erythroplasia . In the age of 20-30 years there is development of erosive leucoplakia and carcinoma.
Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma:
In conclusion, it is most common type of oral cancer. It is a malignant epithelial neoplasm exhibiting squamous differentiation characterized by formation of keratin and or the presence of intercellular bridges.it presents as ulcerated lesion with indurated margins.
๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ฅ๐ญ๐ก๐ฒ ๐ญ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ฎ๐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ฉ๐ข๐ง๐ค ๐ข๐ง ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ก๐๐ฌ ๐ง๐จ๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐๐ฌ ๐จ๐ง ๐ข๐ญ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ฉ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐. ๐๐ง๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฏ๐ข๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐ง๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ๐๐ฅ ๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐จ๐ ๐ข๐ญ ๐จ๐ซ ๐ฉ๐๐ข๐ง ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐จ๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐๐ซ๐ง.
Tongue is one of the vital sensory organs which plays an important role from eating to speaking. It provides a nidus for food debris, bacteria, and contaminants. When tongue is not cleaned properly it can cause bad breadth, tooth decay, lesions etc. There seems to be a direct relation between your tongue and oral health.
Who is most at risk for white tongue? Is white tongue genetic?
- Having diabetes.
- Being very young or very old.
- Using antibiotics.
- Eating a diet with a shortage of fruits and vegetables (iron or vitamin B12).
- Having a fever or a weak immune system.
- Wearing dentures or damaging your tongue with sharp objects.
- Having poor oral hygiene.
- Being dehydrated.
- Smoking or chewing tobacco or consuming alcohol.
- Undergoing cancer treatments.
Dr. Chirag Chamria , Royal Dental Clinics, emphasizes on how the health of your tongue is an indicator of your Oral Health and overall health.