A coated tongue may indicate any number of health conditions whose symptoms appear in the mouth. Thrush, a form of candida, is a common cause for a coated tongue. Stomach upsets, autoimmune diseases or an unhealthy lifestyle complete with smoking cigarettes or heavy alcohol consumption may also be the cause of your tongue discoloration. A variety of herbal and other natural treatments may be used to clean the tongue and prevent additional problems.
Step 1
Make changes in your lifestyle. Stop smoking cigarettes and using other tobacco products that are known to coat and discolor the tongue and create bad breath.
Step 2
Discontinue or reduce the consumption of milk, cheese and other dairy products. These foods create mucus and may leave a sticky white coating on the tongue.
Step 3
Rinse the mouth with neem tea. Neem is an herb from India also called Adirachta indica, purported to be an effective substance for treating and clearing a coated tongue, explains Depak Chopra. Neem acts as a blood purifier. It can be purchased online or in some Indian and Middle Eastern stores. Combine 1 tbsp. neem leaves with 1 cup of boiling water. Reduce the mixture to about half a cup and cool. Gargle with the mixture. Do not sweeten this rinse if using to clean the tongue.
Step 4
Swish with aloe vera juice, suggests Chopra. Place 1 tbsp. of aloe vera juice in your mouth and gargle with it. Spit it out. Take another tablespoonful and swish again and then swallow the second spoonful. Repeat daily two weeks to clear out your mouth from any toxins.
Step 5
Eat fresh garlic to prevent or cure thrush, a candida infection that thrives in the mouth. The Nutrition Reporter website explains that garlic's ability to act on fungus and and bacteria effectively destroys candida throughout the body. The Yeast Infection Advisor website describes thrush as a white, curd-like deposit that forms on the tongue. Trying to remove thrush by scraping it off may be painful and lead to infection.
Step 6
Scrape the tongue with a tongue scraper to keep it clean and prevent the coating. Do this twice daily after brushing your teeth.
Tips and Warnings
- If the above suggestions still leave you with a coated tongue or bad breath, seek medical assistance to help find the reason.
- The information offered here is for educational purposes and is not meant to replace medical advice.
Things You'll Need
- Neem leaves
- Aloe vera juice
- Raw garlic
- Tongue scraper
