What it means when your tongue is white
A white coated tongue – oral thrush or oral candidiasis – can be caused by many factors from yeast and bacterial imbalances, dehydration and fever, to alcohol and congenital heart disease.
Here are two key causes
Oral Thrush is a fungal infection caused by Candida albicans and occurs when the balance of bacteria and yeast in the mouth is disrupted due to e.g. antibiotics, low immunity, diabetes, or poor oral hygiene. It can spread to other parts of the mouth, plus Candida often lives in other organs
Resolving gut dysbiosis or imbalance is key. What happens in the gut impacts the mouth, and vice versa. This can be done with diet (fibre and antioxidants from veggies and fruit), nutrigenomics or food-based supplementation that talks to the genes, and targeted probiotics. Eradication protocols of any kind can cause healthy microbes to die off, which can lead to Candida’s return and further problemsDehydration can lead to reduced saliva production. Saliva cleans the mouth, and removes debris and bacteria. When dehydrated, there may be insufficient saliva to maintain oral health, leading to a build up of bacteria and debris on the tongue
To resolve, increase your fluid intake, mainly with clean water and ideally throughout the day. In general, adult females need 8 cups or 2.1 litres daily, and males need 10 cups or 2.6 litres
For general oral health
Scrape your tongue using a scraper or spoon
Oil pull using coconut oil, a natural antifungal
Restore a healthy oral pH by brushing with bicarb soda mixed with lemon juice
Use antibacterial sea salt mixed with water as a mouthwash, and brush your teeth with it
Eat raw garlic, an anti-candidal
Rinse with aloe vera as it’s antibacterial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory
If your tongue doesn’t improve within a few days, speak to your health provider about the root cause and best resolution. Candida is an inflammatory condition symptomatic of gut imbalances that are best resolved for better health