Yellow coating in the center of the tongue. Why is there a yellow coating on the tongue in an adult

Doctors say: it is enough to look at a person's language to draw conclusions about the state of his health.

A clean, pale pink baby tongue can serve as an example of a healthy tongue. Unfortunately, few adults manage to boast of such a language. More often, the tongue of an adult is covered with a thick coating, indicating about serious malfunctions in the body.

The appearance of plaque

Normally (in the absence of violations), the language looks like this:

medium size, no growths and edema;
pale pink color;
mobility is good;
moderate expression of papillae;
no bad smell from the mouth;
there may be a pale, barely noticeable white-yellow coating (outwardly it looks like a thin film);
humidity is moderate.

A white-yellow coating appears when processes of keratinization of papillary cells are disrupted. A plaque of this color in most cases indicates problems in the digestive system.

However, when making a diagnosis, the following factors:

Thickness. Signals the severity / degree of development of the disease. So in the first stage of a cold / flu, the tongue is covered with a thin, almost imperceptible coating. In the presence of chronic ailments (in particular, infections), plaque covers the surface of the tongue with a thick, dense layer.
Localization. By the location of the plaque, the work of which body systems is impaired is determined. According to the localization area, plaque is divided into diffuse (distributed over the entire area of the tongue) and local (concentrated on specific areas).
Character. Plaque is divided into dry, wet, oily, curdled. This classification makes it easier for doctors to make a diagnosis. Often the nature of the raid changes with changes in air temperature and seasons.
Color. Light shades indicate that the disease is at an early stage.
The difficulty of separating from the language. Normally, plaque is soft and easily removed. With the defeat of systems / organs, the plaque becomes dense and thick. It cannot be completely removed, and if it is possible, then after a while it appears again.

What problems is the plaque talking about?

If the raid is mild, do not rush to sound the alarm. According to experts, a thin, barely noticeable yellow-white coating is the norm. Especially in summer, when the temperature rises above 20 degrees.

However, if the tongue is literally lined with a white-yellow coating, and the coating has dense consistency and is pronounced, you need to think about the state of your own health.

It is believed that a white-yellow coating indicates about problems in the digestive tract. When making a preliminary diagnosis, plaque density, its location, shade and other factors are taken into account.

A yellow-white coating on the tongue can be a sign of the following problems:

work-related violations biliary pathways and liver (strong white-yellow plaque);
large volume of bile in the gallbladder(weakly expressed yellowish coating);
bile stasis, diseases of the digestive system (thick yellow coating with a hint of greenery);
First stage jaundice(yellow coating in the lower region of the tongue).

See what else your language can tell you:

Causes

A white-yellow coating does not necessarily indicate the presence certain diseases. Sometimes it appears as a result of eating sweets, white foods, improper oral hygiene, drinking alcohol, smoking.

The main causes of white-yellow plaque in the tongue of physicians include:

Chronic and acute tongue diseases: infections, inflammation, drug exposure.
The reasons, not associated with disease: bad habits, the use of unsuitable hygiene products (toothpaste, rinse), the use of white foods and sweets, poor hygiene.
The reasons, disease-related: dysbacteriosis, malignant tumors, hypovitaminosis, infectious diseases, diseases of internal organs.

In children

The normal surface of the child's tongue smooth, pale pink, with velvety papillae. Therefore, when a plaque appears, the baby's parents immediately pay attention to it. To determine the cause of this phenomenon, it is advisable to visit a pediatrician.

Try to get the appointment in the first half of the day: in the late morning, with natural light, it will be easier for the doctor to examine and make a diagnosis.

Most often, a white coating is localized in the language of children, indicating stomatitis, thrush, infection, and a cold. White-yellow color of the tongue may indicate damage to the body with ailments of the gastrointestinal tract, constipation, food poisoning.

So, if a plaque of any shade and consistency is found in the child's tongue, it is recommended to take him to the pediatrician. In some cases, you will not be limited to visiting a pediatrician, and you will additionally have to visit other specialists(for example, a gastroenterologist).

In adults

Why does a white-yellow coating appear on the tongue of an adult? There is no unequivocal answer to this question, however, doctors tend to believe that it appears as a result of complex malfunctions in the functioning of the body.

To determine the exact cause, you need to pay attention to:

consistency and quantity;
time of day at which it appears;
shade.

Treatment Methods

To get rid of plaque, it is important determine the cause its occurrence. Watch your tongue for two weeks (preferably in the morning, before eating). During this time, follow some rules:

Twice a day (after waking up and before bed) brush your tongue soft toothbrush.
Take for stagnant bile medicines with a choleretic effect.
Try to avoid completely bad habits: smoking and alcohol abuse.
Give up coloring drinks - strong tea and coffee. You can not refuse coffee - dilute it with milk.
Adjust diet: include in it more cereals and fermented milk products (ryazhenka, milk, cottage cheese, yogurt). Refuse smoked meats, spicy and salty foods, fatty and fried foods.

As a rule, after such a “diet”, the color of the plaque becomes less pronounced, and its density begins to decrease. But if at the end of the experiment everything remains the same, this may indicate about the presence of a serious illness.

If the plaque not only has not disappeared, but has become denser and darker, it is urgently necessary contact a doctor.

Treatment of plaque in the tongue is not limited to the elimination of external manifestations. To get rid of it permanently, you need to install reason for its appearance and eliminate it. In other words, the treatment of plaque in the tongue implies the treatment of the disease that caused it.

If plaque is not a sign of illness, think about it about oral hygiene: it is very important to remove, treat, and also in time. Many people forget that not only the teeth, but also the tongue need daily cleaning.

Keep your tongue clean, because tiny particles of food are collected on its surface, which are a favorable environment for the reproduction of microorganisms. The result is a thick coating on the tongue and a terrible smell from the mouth.

Plaque is a suitable substance for microbial growth and hence the bad smell. To eliminate plaque, it is not enough to remove it regularly. It is important to establish the cause of its appearance and get rid of it forever. As a reward, you will receive self-confidence, freedom from complexes and amazing well-being.

Why does yellow coating on the tongue appear so often? What are the reasons for this problem? A yellowish coating on the tongue is a sign of illness or poor oral hygiene.

In fact, the language can determine the health of a person, because during a general examination, the doctor pays attention to this particular organ.

A yellow coating on the tongue may indicate a serious failure in the body's system: in order to identify one, you need to take into account the patient's complaints, analyze the amount and density of the plaque.

Toxins and slags

Why is the tongue yellow? Perhaps the body does not digest food well. With digestive disorders, we can observe a yellowish or yellow-brown coating. The plaque on the yellow tongue has different reasons: in some cases, you can see a greenish tint. Yellow coating on the tongue varies in location and density. In frequent cases, it is accompanied by an unpleasant odor. Why does the tongue cover completely with yellow plaque? The problem speaks of violations in the digestive system. The reason for the yellow tongue is a disease associated with the liver or pancreas. In some cases, the tongue turns yellow due to drugs.

Why does the yellow coating on the tongue of an adult not go away for a long time? Perhaps the reason lies in infection with a respiratory viral disease. The cause of a yellow tongue is often associated with a disease that affects the gastrointestinal tract. Gastrointestinal problems can be major or minor. Why is the yellow tongue in an adult covered with a translucent coating? The symptom indicates the slagging of the body. Patients complain that plaque appears in the morning and is difficult to remove with regular brushing. From this conclusion: the causes of yellow plaque on the tongue do not lie in hygiene procedures.

Our body digests food, in the morning it removes numerous toxins and toxins. Why does yellow coating appear on the tongue in the morning? These are the same slags, and the more of them, the more intense the yellowing. With slagging of the body, plaque can be removed, but soon it will appear again. Treatment is aimed at eliminating the root cause - the one that provoked the raid. If a person has metabolic problems, you should consult a doctor. The specialist will prescribe medications to cleanse the body. Why does the yellow coating on the tongue have a dark, grayish color? In this case, the problem is serious: make an appointment with a gastroenterologist!

Diseases of the stomach and liver

Why is the tongue yellow in an adult with strong bad breath? It speaks of stomach trouble. If it has moved to an advanced stage, the plaque has a yellow-brown color. In addition to this, a person experiences nausea, bitterness is felt in the mouth. The plaque on the tongue of yellow color has numerous reasons. You should not rule out liver or pancreatic disease, but it is best to make an appointment with a doctor and get examined as soon as possible! Diseases of the liver or pancreas require prompt treatment. Symptoms include bitterness in the mouth and a coating on the tongue with a yellowish-greenish tinge.

If a person has problems with bile, there is a feeling of bitterness in the mouth. In this case, an examination is needed to help identify the disease. It is important to adjust the diet. You should eat foods that contain fiber. Steps should be taken to cleanse the intestines (consult your doctor). A yellow tongue may appear due to taking antibiotics. If a person takes medication for a long time, his liver experiences a strong load. Antibiotics can stain the tongue white-gray and yellow.

When the digestive system malfunctions, a yellow-brown coating appears. It is also important to note that yellowing can be observed due to the intake of vitamins (this is due to dyes). The presence of respiratory viral diseases is another reason. If a person has contracted a respiratory viral disease, they develop a fever, a sore throat, and a symptom such as a yellow tongue. The symptom also indicates a sore throat, a cold, pharyngitis.

respiratory viral infection

Against the background of a cold, the body weakens and becomes vulnerable. After the multiplication of bacteria and viruses, a dense coating appears in the mouth. Mostly, it happens on the teeth, on the tongue and gums. If the tongue is covered with a very light coating, it can be removed with a toothbrush. Intense plaque is formed in diseases associated with the liver. Yellow-green plaque indicates problems with the outflow of bile. In conclusion, let's designate a common, banal reason - the frequent use of coffee and tea. Dark plaque appears due to prolonged smoking: in this case, it disappears on its own.

Personal hygiene

If plaque appears due to improper hygiene, this problem must be addressed. Again, it is important to pay attention to its intensity. To remove accumulated bacteria, hygiene procedures should be carried out regularly using a suitable toothbrush. It is advisable to adjust the diet, eliminating harmful foods (fried, spicy). If the problem is metabolism, you can include fruits, dairy products in the diet. Now we know why the tongue is yellow and what to do when such a problem is identified.

If you carefully consider the language of a person, you can get a lot of information about the state of his digestive tract. The appearance of its mucous membrane indicates the functions of all parts of the gastrointestinal tract.

If changes occur in the state of any of the organs involved in the digestion of food, this is reflected in the color and structure of the surface of the tongue. The tongue of a healthy person may also not be completely clean - sometimes a small translucent plaque forms on it. This is due to the fact that food elements are retained on the papillae of the tongue, in which they subsequently multiply rapidly. bacteria . However, if yellowness appears on the tongue or its surface turns a different color, it is likely that these are serious reasons that require a visit to a doctor.

Causes of plaque in the language of yellow

The surface of the tongue is covered with a mucous membrane with taste buds. Sometimes the epithelium of the mucous membrane grows, thickens and exfoliates, and, as a result, the tongue is coated with a coating. The following factors contribute to this process:

inflammatory processes on the surface of the tongue;
exposure to high temperatures on the surface, as well as the influence of mechanical or chemical factors;
inflammation of the lower gastrointestinal tract.

Yellow coating on the tongue: causes and treatment

Sometimes the answer to the question of why a yellow coating on the tongue suddenly appeared is as simple as possible. If the causes of a tongue with a yellow coating in adults are associated with food staining, then it is easy to understand what caused this. Yellow-brown, yellow-green or a coating of a different color appears after a person has eaten. It is easily scraped off with a brush and does not reappear if the person no longer eats staining foods.

Liver dysfunction

The most common answer to the question of why the tongue is yellow is associated with pathologies of the liver, as well as intrahepatic bile ducts. In such a situation, the exchange of bile pigments is disturbed. As a result, the soft tissues of the body, including the mucous membrane of the tongue, turn yellow. If this is the case, then it is most likely hepatic or parenchymal jaundice . The following diseases can provoke this condition:

Hepatitis - an inflammatory process of the liver, which has a toxic viral or alcoholic origin. In this state, liver cells are damaged in the body, as a result of which direct binding is disrupted. It is toxic to the body. Penetrating into the blood, the yellow pigment colors the urine in the characteristic shade of beer. Hepatitis can be suspected if the tongue turns yellow, the person has yellow pupils, skin, he is worried about weakness, weakness, pain in the right hypochondrium due to stretching of the capsule of the enlarged liver. In this state, the yellowness has a lemon tint.
When liver cells die, and nodes form in it. Restoration of the structure of the liver tissue in cirrhosis occurs incorrectly, the nodes compress the bile ducts in the liver, and as a result, both bile production and its outflow are disturbed. There is also a violation of the detoxification function of the liver. The products of protein metabolism enter directly into the blood. In this condition, the patient has an enlarged liver (in the later stages it is reduced), he is disturbed by dull pains in the right hypochondrium, itching of the skin. Memory and sleep are disturbed. Jaundice also develops. In this case, both the skin and the tongue are painted in a dark yellow hue. Therefore, if a person shows these signs and a dark yellow tongue, which disease this indicates, you need to find out immediately.
Primary liver cell cancer is relatively rare. As a rule, liver damage occurs with tumors of the pancreas, chest, rectum, and lungs.

Biliary tract lesions

The answer to the question of why a person’s tongue turns yellow may be a disease associated with gallbladder damage: this, inflammatory processes , tumors . The lumen of the bile ducts, through which it is transported, narrows, and the outflow of bile becomes less active. As a result, the mucous membranes, sclera, skin become greenish-yellow. On the tongue, the coating is also greenish-yellow. People suffering from such ailments periodically experience bitterness in the mouth, pain, vomiting and nausea. Temperature rise is possible. Severe pain and other unpleasant symptoms often appear after the consumption of fatty foods, physical exertion, strong shaking.

Prehepatic jaundice

If the tongue is yellow, what does it mean? The exact answer can be obtained from the results of the analyzes. The cause of this phenomenon may be adrenal jaundice, manifested as a result of excess bilirubin which the body is unable to excrete.

The answer to the question, what does a yellowish coating mean, may be the following conditions:

Too much breakdown in the bloodstream if a person has an acquired or congenital hemolytic anemia (also sickle cell anemia , microspherocytic thalassemia ).
Inadequate synthesis of erythrocytes (deficiency, erythropoietic uroporphyria ).
Poisoning with trinitrotoluene, hydrocarbons, hydrogen sulfide, arsenic, phosphorus.
Extensive bruising, both internal and external, heart attacks of internal organs.
Treatment with sulfonamides, their overdose.

Other reasons

Acute intestinal infections

White-yellow coating on the tongue appears if a person is sick gastroenterocolitis — yersinia , salmonella , paratyphoid , dysentery . In this case, the tongue is lined, there is pain in the epigastrium, vomiting, nausea, frequent and loose stools. The same symptoms are seen with staphylococcal toxic infection , which may also be associated with the causes of yellow plaque in the tongue in a child and in an adult. The influence of staphylococcus toxins also causes a rise in temperature. At the same time, the more often vomiting is manifested, the more pronounced dehydration of the body, and the tongue becomes drier, and the plaque thicker. How to overcome dehydration, Dr. Komarovsky and other pediatricians tell in detail. Therefore, parents should correctly determine why the child has a yellow tongue and other symptoms, and take appropriate measures.

Acute respiratory disease

At ORZ , among other symptoms, there is a yellow coating on the tongue in infants and in older children. If the baby has a sore throat, his temperature rises, he has a cough and a stuffy nose, we are talking about acute respiratory infections. At a high temperature, signs of dehydration are noted, plaque becomes thicker, appears even on the teeth of a child, becomes darker.

Diseases of the stomach

The color of the tongue changes when bile is thrown into the stomach.

In addition, patients feel sucking pain in the epigastric region, which manifests itself on an empty stomach, they are worried about nausea, periodic vomiting, sour belching, bad breath.

Hypomotor biliary dyskinesia

In this state, the bile ducts or gallbladder are sluggish and cannot evacuate bile at the required speed. Consequently, the patient's tongue turns yellow, which manifests itself most clearly if a person has violated the diet and ate the food that activates bile production. These are, first of all, very fatty foods, alcohol.

Duodeno-gastric reflux

We are talking about throwing the contents of the duodenum into the stomach due to insufficiency of the obturator muscle of the output section of the stomach. This condition, in which the tongue turns yellow, occurs with chronic duodenitis , hernias , tumors (due to mechanical compression), injuries. During reflux, it manifests itself as a result of squeezing the fetus. Also, this happens when a person takes muscle relaxants or antispasmodics that lower the tone of the obturator muscle, or after surgery, when a dissection of the pylorus was performed. In addition to the yellowness of the tongue in this condition, nausea, periodic vomiting of bile, dull pains in the right hypochondrium are noted.

Pancreatitis in acute form, exacerbation of a chronic inflammatory process of the pancreas

In this state, a reactive process in the biliary tract can start. Sometimes with such diseases there is a primary violation of the outflow of bile. The patient is concerned about pain in the epigastrium, radiating to the back, vomiting, nausea. Plaque in this state also appears.

The use of a number of drugs

Yellow or orange color may appear after drug treatment:, Akrikhin , as well as drugs that contain digitalis (cardiac glycosides). When using cardiac glycosides, the patient's perception of colors also changes.

Inflammation of the tongue

With a fungal or bacterial origin, the color of the tongue may also change. A pronounced white-yellow coating appears. In this case, the occurrence of ulcers (aphthous ), erosion, strong desquamation of the epithelium ( desquamative glossitis ).

brown tongue

Often parents are interested in why a brown coating appears on the tongue of a child, and what it is connected with. As a rule, the causes of a brown tongue are associated with too active desquamation of the epithelium of the tongue, which is colored with a variety of pigments.

Sometimes the appearance of this color is associated with the usual staining of foods or drinks. So, the causes of plaque on the brown tongue in a child can be associated with the consumption of cola, in an adult - with drinking coffee or tea. These drinks contain tannin , which gives a dark color to the epithelium of the tongue.
Dark tongue, as a rule, and those who smoke a lot. The top layer of the cover of the tongue of a smoking person is impregnated with the resins contained in cigarettes - this is the reason for the dark coating on the tongue.
Smokers often develop what is called hypertrophic glossitis , in which the taste buds on the back third of the tongue increase to the size of the villi. This condition is called hairy tongue, and it also causes a dark coating on the tongue.
With severe dehydration, as well as with pronounced manifested as a result of infectious diseases, poisoning, may develop hyperplasia filiform papillae, which is characterized by a brown and sometimes even black coating on the tongue. The reasons for the black coating on the tongue in this case may also be related to.
The answer to the question why black plaque or brown color appears may be the use of a number of medicines. The surface darkens when using preparations with iodine -,. The use of individual, potassium permanganate, malavit, and a number of cytostatics can also provoke darkening. The reason for the tongue being black may be due to reception.
Darkening may occur when pellagra , diabetic coma , as well as at Addisonian crisis - due to lack of iron and the development of hemolysis.
The causes of a black tongue in a person can be associated with chromogenic fungal infection .

If a black plaque appears on the teeth of a child, parents initially need to figure out what exactly the baby ate. After all, sometimes the causes of a black tongue in a child are associated with the consumption of products that color it - blueberries, mulberries, sweets.

Yellow tongue in a child

If the tongue and palate in the mouth are yellow in a child, the causes of this phenomenon are most likely associated with the same problems as in adults. After all, babies also develop diseases of the digestive system, metabolic disorders. But if a small child has a yellow tongue, initially parents need to exclude those reasons that are related to nutrition or everyday life.

When a baby is introduced to complementary foods from vegetables or cereals, after consuming new food for him, a layer of plaque may remain on the tongue. If there are a lot of carrots in the baby’s menu, carotene will turn yellow not only the tongue, but also the skin and sclera. In the same way, the consumption of apricots, pumpkins, persimmons, and curries can also affect.

An inquisitive baby can lick yellow paint, a felt-tip pen, which will cause staining. Of course, in this case, parents can be frightened not only by yellow, but also by green tongue, and staining in other colors.

The answer to the question why a green coating on the tongue may be the consumption of soda, chewing gum, caramels, which contain the appropriate dyes.

Therefore, it is initially necessary to exclude precisely domestic causes in the language of a green plaque or a plaque of a different color.

If we are talking about pathological causes of yellowing, then in children of the first year of life, this is most often associated with hemolytic disease of the newborn . This disease is a consequence of decay in the bloodstream of the child. It can begin even when the fetus develops in the womb, as a result of Rhesus conflict or group conflict with the mother's blood. In this case, the baby shows jaundice , increases the level of bilirubin in the blood, increases the liver.

Due to the toxicity of unbound bilirubin to the nervous system, cortical damage is likely ( kernicterus ). In this case, it is very important to make a diagnosis in a timely manner, because only a pediatrician can distinguish between hemolytic disease of the newborn and hemolytic disease.

In older children, a yellow coating may indicate hypomotor dyskinesias bile ducts. It is very important to conduct a timely examination by a gastroenterologist, to ensure that the child follows the correct diet and adheres to an adequate drinking regimen.

Normally, a person's tongue is pale pink, rough, velvety with clearly contoured papillae.

A small white coating on the tongue is allowed, the causes and treatment of which do not need to be sought, since this is a variant of the physiological norm. Most often, it appears after sleep, especially in winter, in conditions of heating and low humidity in the room.

The characteristic signs of physiological plaque, which make it possible to distinguish it from pathology, are:

the absence of any smell;
white or slightly yellowish;
transparent;
there is no inflammation of the mucous membrane of the tongue;
papillae are not changed;
easily removed.

Causes of physiological plaque in the tongue

Fluid deficiency in conditions of increased perspiration is one of the main causes of plaque formation. This explains the fact that in summer the plaque is usually thicker. That is, in hot weather, water evaporates from the body faster, which leads to mild dehydration. This does not affect the general well-being, but the saliva becomes thicker and the organic elements contained in it create a characteristic white coating.

Also, in addition to the above reasons, an important role is assigned to the saprophytic microflora living in the oral cavity. With insufficient hygiene, it can actively multiply, covering the mucous membranes with plaque.

A special place is given to microscopic fungi of the genus Candida, although, under conditions of normal immunity, their massive growth is not possible, so they, nevertheless, will be considered in the diseases section.

The question of whether it is necessary to clean the tongue from plaque remains debatable. Since, the physiological plaque that occurs in the oral cavity after sleep should be removed naturally, during the intake of solid food and liquid. If, however, it persists throughout the day, it is worth considering whether it is a symptom of any disease.

Plaque on the tongue

Why is there a white coating on the tongue:

diseases of the oral cavity;
diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
liver pathology;
kidney disease;
endocrine pathology;
infectious diseases;

Diseases of the oral cavity

Oral candidiasis is the most common opportunistic disease caused by the activation and massive growth of microscopic fungi of the genus Candida on the buccal mucosa, tongue, gums, posterior pharyngeal wall, and tonsils.

The cause of the disease are conditions accompanied by immunodeficiency:

massive antibiotic therapy;
severe somatic diseases;
seasonal immunodeficiencies.

Also, the presence of caries, periodontitis, the wearing of removable dentures predisposes to candidiasis.

There are four forms of oropharyngeal candidiasis:

Pseudomembranous.
atrophic.
Hyperplastic.
Erosive and ulcerative.

The pseudomembranous form begins with the appearance of small dot plaques, which then merge into a continuous film of a curdled appearance, resembling curdled milk. As a rule, candidal foci are easily removed with a spatula, leaving behind areas of hyperemia.

The plaque may not be continuous, but may consist of individual plaques against the background of an inflamed mucosa.

The affected areas are often painless, but when a bacterial infection is attached, erosions and superficial ulcers may appear. In these cases, the plaque changes its color from white to brown-brown, which is due to its impregnation with blood components.

It should be noted that the pseudomembranous form is one of the main causes of white tongue coating in a child.

The atrophic form can develop as a consequence of pseudomembranous candidiasis, and as an independent disease.

The tongue is most often affected, the epithelium is exfoliated from it, the mucous membrane becomes dark red, the papillae are smoothed out.

Patients are concerned about itching, burning, pain, dryness in the oral cavity. There is bleeding and slight trauma to the mucous membrane when eating.

The hyperplastic form is a common cause of white coating on the tongue in an adult, as it is typical for smokers. At the same time, foci in the form of white spots and plaques with a hyperemic corolla along the periphery are formed on the cheeks and tongue. There are no unpleasant sensations with this form of candidiasis, the disease can persist for a long time in the oral cavity, leading to malignant neoplasms in 20% of cases.

The erosive-ulcerative form is extremely rare, mainly in people with severe immunodeficiencies.

This is an inflammation of the mucous membrane of the tongue, which can occur both in the form of a separate disease, and as a symptom of various systemic pathologies, for example, pernicious anemia.

As a separate disease, glossitis occurs when the mucous membrane of the tongue is exposed to traumatic agents (for example, hot liquids) and the addition of pathogenic or opportunistic flora.

Clinically, the disease is manifested by edema, soreness, smoothness of the folds and papillae of the tongue. Depending on the type of flora that caused the disease, there may be a white, brown, brown, yellow, white-yellow coating on the tongue. Ulcers and erosions can form on the mucosa, which, upon contact, begin to bleed easily.

Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract

Esophagitis

These are various due to (gastroesophageal reflux, chemical and thermal burns of the esophageal mucosa, infectious diseases) inflammatory lesions of the esophageal mucosa.

Clinically, the disease is manifested by heartburn, belching of acidic contents and air, chest pain, and nocturnal attacks of laryngospasm. The tongue with esophagitis is lined with a thick yellow coating, due to the reflux of gastric contents into the oral cavity.

Gastritis

This is a collective term for inflammatory or dystrophic lesions of the gastric mucosa.

There are two forms of chronic gastritis:

surface;
atrophic.

Superficial chronic gastritis is characterized by:

feeling of heaviness and discomfort in the epigastric region;
intermittent nausea;
heartburn;
unpleasant taste in the mouth;
lack of appetite.

The tongue, in this case, is most often covered with a white or yellow coating. Sour breath may be present as a result of gastroesophageal reflux.

Atrophic chronic gastritis is manifested by the same symptoms as superficial, and also, unmotivated weakness and weight loss are added to the clinic.

Due to atrophy of the gastric mucosa, there is a deficiency of the Castle factor, which is responsible for the normal absorption of vitamin B12, which leads to the development of pernicious anemia.

Clinically, this is manifested by pallor of the skin, brittle hair, paresthesia in the limbs. Attention is drawn to the characteristic "lacquered" tongue - raspberry in color, with smoothed papillae and imprints of teeth on the lateral surfaces.

Colitis

These are different in etiology (autoimmune, infectious, toxic, ischemic) inflammatory processes of the colon mucosa.

Downstream, colitis is divided into:

spicy;
chronic.

Acute colitis, as a rule, is characterized by vivid symptoms with sharp pains in the abdomen, tenesmus, flatulence, diarrhea, and the presence of pathological impurities in the feces.

Against the background of the above symptoms, dehydration develops with a tongue characteristic of this condition - dry with pronounced striation, covered with a dirty yellow, hard-to-remove coating.

Chronic colitis has a less vivid clinical picture, manifested by diffuse, non-localized abdominal pain, bloating, a feeling of fullness, tenesmus, alternating diarrhea and constipation. Long-term chronic colitis, as a rule, leads to significant exhaustion, reduced immunity and vitamin deficiency.

In this case, the tongue can be covered:

white coating (candidiasis against the background of immunodeficiency);
dirty yellow (dehydration);
varnished (avitaminosis).

Also, with the course of the disease in a mild form, raids may not be at all.

Pancreatitis

This is an acute or chronic inflammation of the pancreas with the activation of digestive enzymes and the launch of self-digestion processes of pancreatic tissue.

Downstream, pancreatitis is divided into:

spicy;
chronic.

Acute pancreatitis is characterized by severe girdle pain in the upper abdomen, intoxication, nausea, vomiting, fever, and a decrease in blood pressure. In a severe course of the disease, the tongue is dry, striated, covered with a thick, hard, hard-to-remove, yellow-brown or brown coating.

The main clinical manifestation of chronic pancreatitis is the syndrome of insufficiency of digestive enzymes:

recurrent non-localized abdominal pain;
flatulence;
bloating;
stool disorders;
weakness;
weight loss.

The tongue, as a rule, is lined with white or white-yellow coating. There may be signs of atrophy of the papillae, as a consequence of a deficiency of nutrients and vitamins.

Acute surgical disease associated with inflammation of the appendix.

Acute appendicitis is characterized by the appearance of diffuse pain in the upper abdomen, which then migrate to the right iliac region and become localized.

The tongue is covered with a whitish coating in the initial stages. With the development of complications, in the form of appendicular infiltrate, delimited or diffuse peritonitis, it is covered with a dirty gray coating.

Common features that are characteristic of all liver diseases are symptoms of intoxication: weakness, lethargy, loss of appetite, aches all over the body.

There may also be pain in the right hypochondrium, from aching, unexpressed to intense, sharply worsening the condition (hepatic colic).

With damage to hepatocytes (liver cells) and a violation of the normal flow of bile through the biliary tract, yellowness of the skin may appear from lemon yellow to yellow-green or rich orange.

The tongue is covered with a white coating with a yellowish tint and a characteristic smell of raw liver from the mouth.

With jaundice, the tongue is covered with an intense yellow coating, which is due to the precipitation of bilirubin crystals on the mucous membranes, which give a characteristic color.

kidney disease

Renal failure is a violation of the filtration, excretory and secretory function of both kidneys due to the impact on the kidneys of various damaging factors (infections, poisoning, trauma, vascular thrombosis).

Distinguish between acute and chronic renal failure.

Acute renal failure has a bright and transient symptomatology with a sharp decrease in the amount of urine, weakness, nausea, vomiting, severe intoxication.

The skin becomes dry, flaky, small crystals of urea may appear.

The tongue and mucous membrane of the oral cavity are covered with a brown coating, acquire a "varnish" character. Sores and erosions may appear, which bleed easily on contact with food.

Chronic renal failure manifests itself gradually with a gradual decrease in the amount of urine and a decrease in the disinfecting function of the kidneys.

Patients are concerned about weakness, fatigue, lethargy, apathy, marked weight loss.

The skin becomes pale yellow with "hoarfrost" on the skin, as a result of the precipitation of urea crystals. Marked itching and scratching.

A frequent complication of renal failure are various kinds of inflammatory diseases of the oral cavity (stomatitis, glossitis), while the tongue is dry with small erosions, covered with a dense brown or brown coating. At the same time, dryness, bitterness and a metallic taste in the mouth are of concern.

Endocrine diseases

Diabetes

A disease associated with a deficiency in insulin secretion or a decrease in the sensitivity of insulin receptors of cells, accompanied by a violation of the normal utilization of glucose.

Clinically, diabetes manifests itself:

constant thirst and dry mouth;
increased diuresis;
weight loss
weakness;
susceptibility to infectious diseases;
the presence of acetone in the blood and urine.

Plaque on the tongue with diabetes can be due to a number of reasons:

dehydration against the background of polyuria - the tongue is dry, lined with a white-yellow coating;
activation of saprophytic flora (in particular Candid) - densely lined with white, cheesy bloom;
diabetic ketoacidosis - a dry, striated tongue with a dirty gray or brown coating and a pronounced smell of acetone from the mouth.

It should be noted that diabetes mellitus is characterized by extreme variability of clinical symptoms and variants of activation of the saprophytic flora. Which can give many other changes in the tongue and oral cavity, up to the formation of abscesses and phlegmon.

The disease is caused by acute or chronic insufficiency of the adrenal cortex.

The main manifestation of which is a violation of melanin metabolism and its excessive deposition in epithelial cells and connective tissue.

Clinically, the disease is manifested by hyperpigmentation of exposed areas of the body (face, hands), the skin acquires a bronze or brown color.

Spots and stripes of black, dark brown or bronze color appear on the mucous membrane of the tongue. They do not rise above the mucosa and are not determined by touch.

Basedow's disease

The disease is associated with hyperfunction of the thyroid gland.

Clinically, there is a burning sensation in the mouth, a violation of taste sensitivity, weight loss, general weakness, palpitations, sweating.

The mucous membrane of the oral cavity is edematous, a “geographical” tongue is characteristic - uneven plaques of white or whitish-yellow color in the form of a geographic map (manifestation of desquamative glossitis).

Infectious diseases

Most infectious diseases cause a white coating on the tongue. The reasons for an adult are:

leptotrichosis;
fusospirochetosis;
herpes;
dysentery;
cholera;
ersiniosis;

Some of them affect mainly the mucous membrane of the tongue, for example, leptotrichosis (dense white-gray coating), candidiasis (cheesy white coating), fusospirochetosis (gray-green coating with a putrid odor).

It should be noted that some childhood infections, such as scarlet fever and diphtheria, can cause white coating on the tongue of a child.

Most infectious diseases lead to the formation of plaque on the tongue indirectly, as a manifestation of dehydration and intoxication.

Poisoning with various poisons

Acid and alkali poisoning

This can occur as a result of an accidental intake, or with a suicidal intent.

The clinic, as a rule, is bright with a burning sensation in the oral cavity, sharp pains behind the sternum, signs of shock and intoxication.

When examining the oral cavity, a white coating is noted on the tongue, as a result of a chemical burn of the mucous membrane, it is quickly rejected, exposing an ulcerated bleeding wound.

Chronic alcohol intoxication

The disease is associated with long-term systematic use of alcohol and psycho-somatic dependence on it.

A characteristic change in the oral mucosa for alcoholism is:

white thick coating on the tongue;
papillary atrophy;
mucosal hyperemia;
chronic candida infection.

All these changes are associated with the constant impact of alcohol-containing drinks on the mucous membrane (chronic chemical burn), reduced immunity and, as a rule, chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

Conclusion

As can be seen from the above, the causes of white plaque on the tongue can be extremely diverse, from physiological to extremely dangerous and associated with risks of an unfavorable outcome.

It should be noted that examination of the oral mucosa alone does not give any 100% guarantee of the correctness of the diagnosis.

Only a doctor, having collected an anamnesis, after conducting a physical, laboratory and instrumental examination, will be able to determine the symptom of which pathology is a white coating on the tongue. The causes and treatment will be compared and justified.

A yellow coating on the tongue appears for various reasons and can indicate both pathology and the usual malnutrition and non-compliance with the rules of oral hygiene. When diagnosing an ailment, the doctor needs to pay attention to the color, shape and density of plaque. Most often, it is the shade of the phenomenon that indicates the presence of a particular disease.

Etiology

Often, when a symptom becomes more expressive and saturated, a person pays attention to it, but at that time the disease has already developed sufficiently and manifests itself in a number of other symptoms. In this regard, doctors have identified all sorts of factors that can provoke the appearance of a symptom. Yellow coating on the tongue in adults has the following causes:

problems with the gastrointestinal tract;
liver and pancreas disease;
prolonged or uncontrolled use of medications;
the presence of respiratory and viral ailments.

A symptom can also develop in a child's body. With the progression of the disease, a small patient also feels a number of other signs - deterioration, nausea, poor appetite, and disturbed stools.

The question of why a yellow coating appears will always be of interest to patients, since such a symptom is overcome by an increasing number of people. What causes the appearance and what does a yellow coating mean, only a doctor can tell.

Yellow coating on the tongue has other causes of appearance:

overeating, especially fatty foods;
infectious diseases;
dry mouth and tongue, the appearance of bleeding healing wounds;
intoxication;
jaundice;
inflammation in the oral cavity - tonsillitis, caries, glossitis, stomatitis;
somatic pathologies - kidney disease, diabetes, autoimmune damage.

A strongly pronounced symptom manifests itself in the inflammatory process in the liver and bile ducts. Yellowness in the lower zone of the tongue indicates the initial formation of jaundice. A characteristic yellow-green coating on the tongue informs the patient about the poor functioning of the gastrointestinal tract or stagnation of bile. Sometimes a little redness may appear along with the yellow tint. A white-yellow coating on the tongue is a sign of bacterial or fungal inflammation.

The use of certain drugs can provoke the appearance of plaque on the back of the tongue. Tablets only stain the organ in a yellow tint, but their action in the gastrointestinal tract provokes the appearance of a characteristic color. It is the yellow-brown coating on the tongue that most often occurs after taking a large number of drugs.

Orange plaque on the tongue often manifests itself when gastric acids enter the mouth, which is typical for exacerbation of gastritis.

Classification

When determining the disease, doctors pay attention to where the symptom is located. In this regard, clinicians have developed a classification of plaque by location:

at the root - indicates enterocolitis;
in the middle - characteristic of ulcers and gastritis;
over the entire surface - pathologies of the biliary tract and liver are diagnosed.

By the nature of the density, plaque on the root of the tongue or in any other localization can be normal and intense. The first type of formation is easily removed during brushing, but the second type only accumulates every day and is not eliminated during the day.

Symptoms

At this point in the formation of a yellow coating on the tongue, the patient may also show other signs of the disease. The patient may be disturbed by such manifestations:

nausea;
vomit;
broken stool;
weakness;
skin itching;
disturbed sleep.

It is characteristic that along with the plaque there is a fetid odor and belching. Other manifestations depend on the type of progressive disease.

Diagnostics

To compile a complete clinical picture, the doctor must conduct an examination. Such a diagnosis can be done independently in order to identify the characteristic symptoms of a pathology or simple irritation with products. During the inspection, you must adhere to the following criteria for assessing yellowish plaque:

dimensions;
form and structure;
the consistency of education;
humidity;
color;
density;
density;
surface topography;
language mobility.

The main criterion that will indicate pathological changes is the density and ease of removal. If the yellow coating on the tongue in adults is dense, then this indicates a serious pathology that needs to be treated.

Only a doctor can determine the exact cause of the appearance of a white-yellow coating on the tongue after a complete examination of the patient. With the manifestation of other symptoms, it will be easier for the physician to determine the pathology that has become an inflammatory factor. However, one visit will not be enough. To establish an accurate diagnosis, the patient needs to undergo an examination:

pass a general and biochemical analysis of blood and urine;
coprogram;
esophagogastroduodenoscopy;
x-ray study.

After conducting basic examinations, the doctor can establish a diagnosis or refer the patient for further examination to another specialist.

Treatment

Having found out what the yellow plaque is talking about and for what reason it has formed, the doctor can prescribe therapy. If pathology has become a factor, then treatment should be aimed at eliminating it, and not at stopping the symptom. If the disease is properly cured, then all the symptoms will pass. Therefore, doctors, when drawing up a therapy regimen, rely on the results of the diagnosis.

In order to improve the patient's condition, it is necessary to reduce alcohol consumption, quit smoking, balance nutrition (exclude fried, smoked, fatty and spicy foods).

However, how to remove plaque if it was caused by malnutrition or improper hygiene. Doctors advise cleaning the tongue when brushing your teeth. To do this, you can use the same brush, purchase a new or special nozzles. With daily cleaning and rinsing of the mouth, all unpleasant plaque will disappear.

If the tongue is covered with a yellow coating, then you can use traditional medicine for rinsing. As part of this therapy, doctors advise making solutions from natural products:

mint, sage, chamomile;
Oak bark.

Prevention

As part of the prevention of the appearance of an unpleasant plaque, the patient should always monitor oral hygiene, stop smoking and other bad habits, balance nutrition and regularly undergo a doctor's examination.