When you first look into the mirror, you may notice your smile, your teeth, your eyes, your skin, your hair and your nose, but at some point, you may find it worthy to examine something just beneath the surface -- your tongue. Your tongue not only plays a vital role in many everyday activities, it can also foretell your body's current health status. Therefore, pay close attention to any unusual discolorations, including white blotches or patches along the exterior.
Function
Your tongue is among the most important muscles in your body. It aids in the fluency of speech, the sensation of taste and the process of digestion. In addition, MayoClinic.com suggests that it can signal underlying bodily changes, including weaknesses to your immune system and the negative impact of built-up food debris, or plaque. For this reason and others, you should regularly study and care for your tongue.
Composition
The MedlinePlus website says that most of your tongue consists of muscle fibers covered in a mucous membrane. This membrane contains small bumps, or papillae, that help to break down food particles. Between these bumps lie taste buds that sense for flavor and temperature, guiding you as to whether you should be eating what you have in your mouth. If irritated, your tongue may change from its normal red state to a whiter or darker state depending on the cause of irritation.
Causes of White Blotches
Your tongue may develop white blotches for several reasons. For example, the University of Maryland Medical Center says, the occasional regurgitation of liquid food from the digestive track, known as gastroesophageal reflux disease, may cause bile and stomach acid to affect the lower part of the tongue. This inflammation can lead to ulcers and dead tongue cells producing the white blotchy appearance you may be seeing. Also, MayoClinic.com says excessive mouth breathing, alcohol use and smoking may be to blame.
Warning
In the absence of the aforementioned causes, the white appearance of cells on the tongue may be the result of an overactive immune system or infection. MayoClinic.com warns that infections, including oral thrush, or candidasis, and syphilis-related bacteria, can take over the tongue if left untreated. Specifically, if your tongue hurts or if the white blotches appear for more than two weeks, then you should consider seeing a doctor. In other instances, it may be a simple case of geographic tongue, where a patch of cells may temporarily become smooth before reappearing as normal.
Treatment
Treatment varies according to the cause of infection or inflammation. In most instances, you can scrape off excess dead cells using a tongue scraper or toothbrush and water. In addition, you should cut back on smoking and/or drinking alcoholic beverages. Even the occasional white foods may be caught on the tongue and can diminish with time. If none of these methods work, however, then consult a physician for further assistance.
