I have an odd white coating on my tongue...what could this be?

Question

I woke up today and checked out my tongue. I found a white coating...I do not think that it is oral thrush and if definitely wasn't just that I needed to brush my tongue, although that's what it looked like, just really badly. Normal tooth/tongue brushing did not remove the coating. I had to scrap it off with my tooth brush and fingernail. It was very resistant. my tongue started bleeding in one spot but I'm pretty sure that's just because I was scraping so hard. My tongue is soar from the scraping but is fine otherwise. My mouth has felt dry lately and my tongue was severely burning the other day when I ate salt and vinegar chips. The resistant white coating just started today though.

I do not smoke, drink alcohol or even soda. I have been on birth control pills for years. could this have an effect?

Answer 1

There are several possibilities for what causes a white coating on the tongue, or THRUSH which I see you've already ruled out.

Here are some links to information you can check out:
http://www.earthclinic.com/CURES/tongue.html
http://altmedicine.about.com/library/weekly/bl_tongue.htm
http://hivinsite.ucsf.edu/insite?page=ask-02-07
http://www.netwellness.org/question.cfm/45007.htm

Answer 2

I couldn't tell you what it is, but I sometimes get something like that when I sleep with my mouth open. You might speak to your dentist and see what they say, make sure it's not something more serious, which I doubt it is, but be on the safe side. Do you drink alot of soda or smoke.

Answer 3

it is a fungus on the tongue called thrush.....do you use inhalers for asthma by chance? if you do make sure you rinse your mouth after each use. to clear this up wash your tongue off using a mild soap such a Johnson baby soap. do not scrub gently wash....make sure you do not swallow and rinse well....use mouthwash after.....if this does not help go to the pharmacy and ask for gentian violet and put on tongue after washing with a mild soap...see a doctor if you are not comfortable with doing this....many newborns get this due to formula left in their cheeks and then fall asleep and bacteria grows in the mouth.....

Answer 4

believe it or not but you can get yeast on your tounge. Something like a yeast infection.You will have to call your dr. or ask someone what they recomend at a drug store.

Answer 5

first, are you on medications? Some medications may cause tounge coating. Otherwise, talk to your dr.

Answer 6

CANCER