The tongue functions to help move food around in the mouth, it houses the taste buds and it helps form words when speaking. The tongue is normally pink in color with taste buds on the surface. Conditions such as bacteria, fungus and dead cells on the tongue may cause it to turn white. Some conditions that cause a white appearance to the tongue are harmless and other causes signify a serious medical condition. Changes in the color of the tongue may require medical attention for proper treatment.
Kawasaki Disease
Kawasaki disease is a condition that causes inflammation of blood vessels. The condition is rare and difficult to diagnose. In addition to symptoms such as a high fever, joint pain and swelling, Kawasaki disease may cause a white coating to appear on the tongue, according to Medline Plus. Treatment for this condition includes medication to control the inflammation of the arteries in the heart.
Infection
The most common infections that cause a white covering on the tongue include yeast and syphilis. A yeast infection in the mouth, also called thrush, develops from an overgrowth of the fungus candida in the mouth. Thrush is common in babies and in individuals with a suppressed immune system. Treatment for thrush includes using an antifungal medication to take orally as a pill or to swish around the mouth. Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease that may cause white sores on the tongue following unprotected oral sex. Treatment for this bacterial infection includes antibiotics.
Geographic Tongue
A geographic tongue is a condition that causes the tongue to appear rough or have a map-like terrain. Areas of the tongue may appear white. This condition does not normally cause pain and does not signify a serious medical condition. There is no treatment for a geographic tongue.
Dry Mouth
Having a dry mouth might cause an increase in the surface of the tongue drying out. When the tongue is dry, its surface may appear white instead of pink. Common causes of dry mouth include dehydration, breathing through the mouth, alcohol consumption and medications such as antihistamines. Decreasing the causes for the dry mouth helps treat the white appearance on the tongue. Some helpful treatments for dry mouth include increasing fluid intake, chewing sugarless gum and limiting caffeine intake.
Leukoplakia
Leukoplakia is a medical condition that causes white patches to form on the tongue and on the inside of the mouth. Using tobacco is the main cause for developing the condition. Some treatments for leukoplakia include stopping the use of tobacco products or surgical removal of the patches. The condition increases the risk of developing oral cancer.
Oral Lichen Planus
An autoimmune disease, called oral lichen planus, causes lacy white patches to form inside the mouth and sometimes on the tongue. There is no known cause or cure for this painful condition, but medications such as corticosteroids may help control the symptoms.
