Yellow tongue coating: the causes and ways of treatment

Since childhood, it is well known – to show a tongue is not appropriate. With the only exception: if so is requested by the doctor. And no matter how many years we have, we dutifully show a tongue in the hope that the people in a white robe will see and understand something important.

Modern medicine is no longer attached to this procedure as previously. It is believed that the state of a tongue depends not only on the presence of disease but on the individual characteristics of each patient. However, there are general patterns.

Criteria of tongue inspection

Anyone can assess the state of your tongue and make the primary assumption of the possible presence of any human illnesses. Inspection is preferably carried out under natural light.

When using artificial light, it is necessary to know that fluorescent, energy-saving and LED lamps distort the results of the survey due to the radiation of the blue part of the spectrum.

Normally, the tongue may have barely noticeable white plaque, which sometimes can take a little visible yellow color. Any deviations from this (if they are not caused by the use of products) indicate the presence of certain malfunctions in the body, or on the course of pathological processes.

On examination, you need to pay attention to the parameters described below:

• Thickness, density, and stability. Obviously, the thicker is the plague, the more pathological factors cause it. And the more difficult it is removed.
• Color. More intense color indicates the development of pathogenic processes.
• Localization. In some pathologies plaque is located unevenly on the tongue (in some areas), which represents an opportunity for a more accurate diagnosis.
• Consistency. This parameter also depends on the illness affecting the body.

Why it occurs for adults?

It should cause concern for the fact if the plaque which is on the tongue over a week and continuously appear after each cleaning tongue. In this case, it is better to seek medical help. By aggravating factors include the presence of an unpleasant taste in the mouth, stale breath.

Here are the main causes of yellow plaque:

• The use of some products containing natural dyes. To stain a tongue in yellow can products such as coffee, persimmons, carrots, oranges, various confectionery and carbonated beverages, spices.
• Smoking. Contained in tobacco smoke, can paint white coating in yellow.
• Lack of hygiene. Not all people remember that they need to clean not only teeth but also the tongue. Non-removed food particles serve as breeding ground for pathogens.

  In advanced conditions, this can lead to the formation of white and yellow plaque, especially in the area of the tongue as well as bad taste and bad breath (especially immediately after waking up).

• Intestinal infections. These diseases can also lead to the appearance of yellow plaque (sometimes with a brown tint), especially if they are burdened by vomiting, diarrhea, the general intoxication of the organism.
• Inflammation of the tongue (glossitis). If the pathology is contagious nature, may form plaque yellow color with a green tint.
• Diseases of the stomach and intestines. The most common plaque appears during diseases of the intestine and stomach. Pathology of these organs are generally characterized by the following symptoms:

  Intestines. Diarrhea, abdominal pain, the presence of mucus (sometimes blood clots) in the stool.

  Stomach. Heartburn, bitter taste in the mouth, nausea, pain in the stomach area.

• Pathology of the biliary system. Bile has an important role in the digestive process. When trouble with the biliary system qualitatively intestine ceases to perform its functions. In the liver, gall bladder and ducts often begin inflammation, which exacerbates the negative situation.

  Depending on the pathogenesis a whole range of symptoms is possible, including yellow plague (often with a green tint). Liver disease can have a viral nature (hepatitis). An excessive consumption of some products (smoked, spicy seasonings, fatty and fried foods, etc.), as well as alcohol, may lead to a temporary malfunction of the biliary system.

• Functional overload of the liver may be conditioned by physiological factors (pregnancy, etc.).

Why it occurs in children?

In young children, including infants, this problem occurs very rarely. The appearance of a yellow coating on the tongue indicates that there are serious problems with child’s health and that medical help is needed.

You must first make sure that the problem which arose is not a result of eating, and soon after cleaning plaque on a tongue reappears.

Here are the main causes of this symptom in children:

• Stagnation of bile ducts due to parasitic liver disease. Worms, including giardia, mechanically interfere with the normal functioning of the biliary system.
• Diseases of the stomach and intestines. Children, like adults, may have a disease of the digestive system (the main symptoms are listed above).
• Physiological jaundice in infants. There is in the first days of life. In formulating a diagnosis, the doctor eliminates the possibility of the existence of serious pathologies that have similar symptoms. Physiological jaundice in babies does not require treatment and passes itself after some time.
• Diseases of the biliary system. Causes and symptoms of these diseases are similar in both children and adults.
• Diabetes. This disease (as well as some other serious illnesses) can also have a described symptom.
• General and local infections of an organism. Diseases of the mouth (stomatitis, tooth decay, sore throat, etc.), common infections of the body have corresponded to each disease symptoms and require immediate treatment.

Treatment and prevention

First of all, it is necessary to exclude significant pathology of the digestive system.

• In the dental clinic to examine the mouth cavity for the presence of inflammatory diseases.
• Perform abdominal ultrasound.
• Complete endoscopic examination to identify abnormalities of the stomach and intestines.
• To give the vein blood sample for liver function tests.
• Give a stool sample to detect the presence of worms.
• Be examined by a gastroenterologist.

Your doctor may prescribe a number of other studies and analyzes for the purpose of accurate diagnosis.

In identifying the diseases that lead to the appearance of yellow plaque, it is necessary to proceed to their full treatment.

Regardless of the results of the examination, it is necessary to observe the rules of hygiene. Teeth and tongue cleaning should be done twice a day.

Regularly rinse the mouth after meals. For best results, you can use medicated toothpaste and lotions for rinsing, special scrapers, and brushes to clean the tongue.

To be on a diet is necessary not only in case of serious chronic diseases but also in the presence of temporary functional disorders. First of all, you need to split meals, with the exception of “heavy” foods, alcohol.

Physical exercise (in accordance with the doctor’s recommendations), the correct mode of the day also have a beneficial effect on the elimination of the causes leading to the appearance of plaque on the tongue and bad breath.

Use of folk methods

Decoctions of herbs are used in a folk medicine, which helps to eliminate inflammation and improve the functioning of the digestive system. In the case of disease, leading to the formation of a yellow plaque, formulation to improve the functioning of the affected organ pathology are applied.

• Chamomile teas, calendula, and sage (for internal use) are often used.
• Flax seeds soaked in boiling water (a tablespoon per cup). The resulting broth should be drunk in the morning before a meal. This recipe is especially useful in case of failures in the digestive system.
• Mint extracts, chamomile, sage, oak bark is used to mouthwash.
• Regular use of bee products (propolis, honey, etc.) helps a lot.
• Rinsing the mouth with a solution of baking soda (a teaspoon per cup) also brings positive results.
• Eating solid fruits and vegetables contributes to the mechanical cleaning of the oral cavity.
• Normal sunflower oil is very well suited for the removal of inflammatory processes. Rinse your mouth several times throughout the day.

Often yellow tongue coating is compounded by bad breath that brings a person significant discomfort when dealing with people. There are simple ways though temporary, but to solve the problem.

What you need to do:

• drink a cup of strong tea, then rinse your mouth with water;
• eat an apple or carrot;
• chew coffee beans and rinse your mouth;
• wipe the mouth with a walnut pulp.

If the yellow plaque produced on the tongue, is the result of serious illness, then only fully comprehensive treatment by a health professional can lead to a positive result. Self-medication can bring an effect only in the presence of temporary functional disorders.