White tongue: What causes it?

A couple of days ago, I noticed a white coating on my tongue. Brushing it doesn't seem to help. What causes a white tongue?

- No name / No state given

Mayo Clinic dental care specialist Alan Carr, D.M.D., and colleagues answer select questions from readers.

Answer

Although unsightly, a white tongue is usually a temporary, harmless condition. It is due to inflammation of the finger-like projections (papillae) on the surface of your tongue. Debris, bacteria and dead cells get lodged between the inflamed papillae — creating the appearance of a white coating.

Many things can cause inflammation of the papillae, including smoking, mild dehydration and excessive mouth breathing. To prevent or improve the appearance of a white tongue:

Brush your tongue on a regular basis.
Quit smoking, if you're a smoker.
Drink plenty of water.
Increase fiber in your diet. Crunchy foods — such as apples, broccoli and popcorn — help scrape debris from your tongue.

If you're concerned about color changes in your tongue, consult your doctor or dentist.