Plaque On The Tongue In Adults

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 21:43

Plaque on the tongue in adults

Content:

• What is plaque?
• Causes of the appearance of white bloom
• Why does yellow plaque form?
• What is the evidence of the dark shade of the plaque?
• How to deal with plaque in the tongue?

Why does a plaque appear on the tongue?

Many people perceive plaque in the language as the norm. In reality, a healthy tongue should be pink, free of any deposits and spots. A light whitish plaque is allowed, which forms during sleep and is removed without problems when cleaning the oral cavity. A white or yellow coating on the tongue in adults can appear for various reasons. But in any case, plaque is a sign of disturbances in the functioning of the body. Therefore, in addition to fighting the plaque itself, it is necessary to find out the reason for its formation.

What is plaque?

Plaque on the tongue differs in color, layer thickness, localization and shape of deposits. Healthy plaque can change its structure depending on the season. In late autumn, it becomes almost invisible, and by summer it becomes denser.

The shade of plaque can vary from white and yellow to dark gray and almost black. The deeper and darker the color, the more serious the cause of the plaque can be. Thickness is also an indication of the severity of the disease. A thin layer of plaque may indicate the initial stage of the disease, when the infection has not yet spread throughout the body. With acute respiratory infections or acute respiratory viral infections, a thin layer of plaque may also appear.

A thick plaque, through which the surface of the tongue is not visible, may indicate a severe infection in the body or the presence of certain chronic diseases. Usually, this plaque is accompanied by a number of other symptoms. For example, infection is likely to result in a significant rise in temperature.

The form distinguishes between dry, wet, oily and curdled bloom. By the structure of deposits on the tongue, it is also possible to determine which disease caused the formation of plaque. They also distinguish between diffuse plaque, which evenly covers the entire surface of the tongue, and local plaque, which is located in one or more small spots.

Causes of the appearance of white bloom

There are a number of diseases, the symptom of which is the formation of white plaque on the tongue. Also, deposits on the tongue can occur due to insufficient oral hygiene. The shape and thickness of such plaque can tell about certain problems in the body.

A thick and fairly dense layer of white plaque indicates intestinal problems that lead to constipation. When toxins accumulate in the large intestine, a large deposit of deposits can appear at the root of the tongue. Dense plaque, accompanied by an elevated temperature, indicates the development of an infectious disease.

If the organs of the gastrointestinal tract (hereinafter referred to as the gastrointestinal tract) malfunction, a loose layer of slippery plaque may appear on the tongue. It can also be observed with various disorders of the liver and gallbladder. If such a plaque becomes denser at the root of the tongue, then there may be an inflammatory process in the gastrointestinal tract. Often, a dysfunction of the lungs is accompanied by a whitish coating on the front and outer parts of the tongue. Poor kidney function may be indicated by the appearance of a plaque spot closer to the root of the tongue.

Oral thrush (candidiasis) is a common condition in children, but often occurs in adults. Candidiasis is caused by a fungus and is often accompanied by sore throat and stomatitis. One of the symptoms of the disease is a cheesy white coating, which can cover the entire tongue or be localized with spots.

A symptom of dehydration is a dry, whitish coating on a pale tongue. Such a character of deposits can also occur when the spleen is malfunctioning. The presence of an infection in the liver or gallbladder may be indicated by a slippery white coating that is localized on the left side of the pink tongue.

Why does yellow plaque form?

Plaque with a yellow tint is most often formed in the language of those who have certain problems with the functioning of the digestive tract. The rule also applies here: the darker and denser the plaque, the more serious the problem.

Loose plaque, which is easily removed during hygiene procedures, may be evidence of the accumulation of toxins in the body. In this case, yellow plaque will appear again and again, if all harmful accumulations are not removed from the body. You also need to monitor your diet, since toxins in large quantities enter the body along with food that does not differ in a healthy way of cooking.

Yellow plaque combined with bad breath can be a sign of stomach problems. With the development of the disease, nausea and bitterness in the mouth may also be added to them. Such symptoms should alert and be a reason for going to a gastroenterologist. Often the tongue turns yellow with certain medications, usually antibiotics. This is due to the increased load on the liver and the release of toxins into the body. The drugs themselves do not cause the appearance of a yellow plaque, but they can provoke malfunctions in the functioning of the digestive tract, which leads to the formation of plaque.

With angina and acute respiratory diseases, the appearance of a yellow plaque is also often observed. This symptom is accompanied by a rise in temperature. Viral infections weaken the body's defenses, as a result of which various pathogens actively multiply in the oral cavity, which, settling on the tongue, teeth and gums, form a dense layer of yellowish deposits.

What is the evidence of the dark shade of the plaque?

Gray plaque can form as a result of darkening of the white plaque, which occurs with an exacerbation of the disease or its transition to a chronic stage. The black color of plaque indicates a critical stage in the development of the disease.

Dry plaque with a gray tinge can form when the body is dehydrated, which occurs under the influence of a very high temperature. A wet, gray coating indicates that there is an excess amount of mucus in the body.

Black plaque often forms in severe febrile diseases of an epidemic nature. May also be a symptom of Crohn's disease or cholera.

An unusual shade of plaque on the tongue may indicate the development of serious diseases. For example, with typhoid and dysentery, deposits on the tongue with a bluish tinge may appear. The purple color of the plaque located on the tongue with spots can be a symptom of blood stagnation. Greenish-brown deposits on the surface of the tongue can occur when an excess amount of bile accumulates in the body against the background of malfunctioning of the gallbladder or liver.

How to deal with plaque in the tongue?

It must be remembered that plaque can be a symptom of a dangerous disease and should not be delayed with a visit to the doctor if the formation is dense, has a dark tint, or is accompanied by the appearance of bad breath. If the plaque on the tongue is easily peeled off and does not return within three hours, then it is worth revising your diet. Lifestyle adjustments can completely eliminate the problem.

If a white or yellowish bloom appears in the morning, then it may be necessary to carefully carry out hygiene procedures. Be sure to also clean your mouth before going to bed, rinse your mouth with water after each meal, and use dental floss if necessary. Eliminating food debris will eliminate bacterial growth and plaque.

Some bad habits can also cause plaque formation. Nicotine and tar contained in cigarettes color healthy whitish plaque in a yellow tint. Alcohol can cause a yellow coating to form on the root of the tongue. Drinking coffee in large quantities also causes the tongue and teeth to become yellowish. The easiest way to get rid of plaque of this nature is to give up bad habits and over time, the tongue will acquire a healthy pink tint.

The appearance of a slight plaque is normal. It can be caused by certain foods or medications. But if deposits in the tongue tend to thicken, change their shade to a darker one, then this is a reason for contacting a specialist. It is recommended to observe the state of your tongue for a week or two. And if careful hygiene and diet have not brought results, then you need to contact a dentist first of all, who will carry out the initial diagnosis and, if necessary, refer you to the appropriate specialist.

Treatment of plaque in the tongue should be aimed at eliminating the cause of its appearance. If the plaque appeared due to contamination of the body with toxins, then it is necessary to cleanse the body. If you have certain problems with the gastrointestinal tract, it is worth visiting a gastroenterologist who will prescribe the appropriate treatment after the disease is diagnosed.

The author of the article: Gorshenina Elena Ivanovna | Gastroenterologist

Education: Diploma in the specialty "General Medicine" received at the Russian State Medical University named after N. I. Pirogova (2005). Postgraduate studies in the specialty "Gastroenterology" - educational and scientific medical center.