The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Acidophilus
Posted by Magnus (Ca) on 03/28/2014
★★★★★
I suffered from very bad halitosis for 10+ years. I could clear a small room 30 minutes after brushing my teeth. I would get a metallic taste in my mouth, and white tongue coating. I went to several doctors and dentists, ENT's, but they couldn't help.
I started searching on the internet and after years of trial and error, I found a process that keeps it at bay, and ironically I live a much healthier and happier lifestyle now because of my bad breath.
I found out it was candida that was causing the halitosis and I read up on that. There is a ton of info online about the candida diet that I wont go into here. Some people go hard core into it but I made a few changes in my diet and am also aware of things that can cause a candida outbreak. In general I stay away from sugars, alcohol, cigarettes and vinegar.
Now for the products I use. I found that toothpaste that does not have sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) works best because it does not dry my mouth. Also I stay away from alcohol based mouth washes for the same reason.
I carry a travel toothbrush (the ones that fold) and a small tube of toothpaste if I go out at night. I have one in my car and at the office, and I brush after every meal.
I use a sugar free xylitol gum after I brush my teeth to bring some moisture back into my mouth. Xylitol also makes it difficult for the candida to stick to surfaces of your mouth.
This was my system for several years and it was fairly effective but I still knew I had bad breath several times a day and had to go to the bathroom and brush my teeth, then chew xylitol gum. Even then, sometimes it would come right back, requiring 5 or more trips to the bathroom during an evening out and not feeling "kissably confident".
What really brought my confidence back was Acidophilus. At first I took pills, and they helped but the most effective product I have found is a liquid Acidophilus probitic. I think it is because it coats my tongue, and throat. It really, really helps. Probably more than anything else, but its not a cure and won't do it alone.
So now after each meal, I brush my teeth with SLS free toothpaste, use alcohol free mouth wash, then swish 2 table spoons of acidophilus yogurt in my mouth and swallow. If my mouth gets dry I use xylitol gum. I stay away from sugars, alcohol, vinegar and cigarettes, and after 10 years of embarrassment, trial and error I finally have my bad breath under control.
If I don't do the above it comes right back, but my lifestyle is much healthier, and my confidence is SO much higher! It took me many years to refine this system, I can only hope it helps someone else with this dreadful problem.
Digestive Enzymes
Posted by kjv (VT) on 04/13/2019
★★★★★
Try Digestive Enzymes! My white coated geographic tongue appears to be caused by digestive/gut issues. I have done a lot of research over the years and a lot of trial and error. I have tried many things. A strict gluten free, corn free, gmo free, dairy free, alcohol free diet helps tremendously but still there are days when I want to eat some of those things. I discovered digestive enzymes about a year ago and they have helped me the most!! I take 3 capsules with every meal and my tongue has been mostly pink for the past year. It is the only thing I have tried that has really cleared up my tongue. In addition, I drink a cup of senna tea every night to keep things moving in my intestines.
I suffer from slow gut motility and constipation as well. I brush with a natural toothpaste. And follow up with a dry mouth rinse that has glycerin. But all these other things - strict diet, nightly senna tea, natural toothpaste, dry mouth rinse - I have been doing for many years and they didn't completely help my white tongue. Even multi-strain expensive probiotics didn't help. Digestive Enzymes are the only thing that has helped - it has changed my life! I've even stopped the expensive probiotics. I think a good diet is also key -but I even splurge now and then...and with the digestive enzymes, my tongue has been ok. Or if I have a flare up it clears up within a day.
When Gut imbalance is the problem - Digestive Enzymes are the solution!
Hope this helps someone! Note: I have never had bad breath, so maybe there are other reasons for white tongue that the digestive enzymes won't help. But for a white coated geographic tongue, they will help!
Black Seed Oil
Posted by Blackseed (Akron, Ohio) on 05/31/2016
★★★★★
I used black seed oil aka black cumin oil or nigella seed oil. I actually didn't start taking the oil with the intent of curing white tongue. I had been trying to treat white tongue for the past few weeks with oregano oil, sea salt, coconut oil pulling and ACV. none of them seemed to work, except for oregano oil, but that was temporary (literally would only last for minutes after putting it directly on my tongue).
I drank ~10ml of black seed oil yesterday by the suggestion of my friend, just for general health purposes, not to target anything. today I saw DRAMATIC improvements in my tongue!!! Almost totally normal! Incredible... I drank another 10 ml today. funny enough, I've been waiting for an online order of pao d'arco tea to come in. I was hoping that would help, but I guess I already found my cure. I'm going to keep taking this stuff and rubbing it everywhere else to see what other magic it can work. just look up the case study of the man who was cured of HIV by taking black seed oil with honey and you too may be inspired by the possibilities of black seed oil.
Acidophilus
Posted by Dave (Fountain Inn, Sc) on 03/28/2014
Hello Magnus,
Re tongue coating and metallic taste;
Glad the situation is under control but to know just how much under control you might want to experiment. When you find yourself with a free weekend where you are pretty much by yourself, suspend your normal preventative formula. If the white coating and metallic taste come back quickly then the underlying cause is still very much present. Clearly, an infection is at work; likely as you said...fungus, but may be combined with a virus and/or bacteria. I've found that if I take two tablespoons of Colloidal Silver and hold in mouth allowing it to swish back into throat and barely "drain" down back of tongue, that all candida is eliminated and breath issues are resolved so long as regular hygiene is practiced. I use the CS to insure underlying oral hygiene four or five times weekly. After holding the CS in mouth for a full minute (swishing around) then spit out. Usually then I drink the same amount to kill viruses in the body. I used to have a white coating issue (never the metallic you spoke of) and after I started the CS "mouth wash" the problem was quickly eliminated.
Acidophilus
Posted by anon (Bronx, Ny) on 04/09/2012
★★★★★
This did it for me! I have had a white tongue basically my whole life. Nothing helped. After reading this, I went to a natural foods store and bought the most probiotic-filled probiotic I could find. I checked every label and got one with the most variety of probiotics (I can post the exact label and content if someone needs). It was in the refridgerated section, and came as a powder. I'm not going to lie, it was a lot more money than I felt like spending! You can just take the powder straight, or mix with water or juice. It tastes kind of like graham crackers. After the first day, I didn't see a difference, and was a little discouraged. But after maybe 4 days, while brushing, I realized that my tongue was a beautiful, healthy red-pink! It's been like that ever since. It's so frustrating having a white tongue when you know you're healthy and hygenic. I think it's just caused by a natural imbalance of oral flora, and the probiotic stabilizes the environment. I highly recommend this solution! And thank you to the OP!
Salt
Posted by Cc (Perth, Western Australia) on 10/25/2016
★★★★★
I always had problems with a furry tongue and nothing really worked to fully getting rid of it. After reading this site I tried the sea salt/warm water wash, gargled and brushed my tongue and there was an instant result! Repeated before bed and no more furry tongue!! So happy and so simple..
Acidophilus
Posted by Noodles (Houston, Tx) on 04/01/2011
★★★★★
I figured out the cure. I had years of white tongue that reeked out bad breath within 10 or 15 min of me brushing my teeth. No kidding. Now I have a semi pink tongue with only two days of me brushing with "the cure" ...........
Acidophilus
Posted by Cherryxtc (Queens, Ny) on 12/06/2011
I've had a white tongue coating for a few years now. I started taking acidophilus capsules, twice daily which improved my tongue immensely. Then I added Dr Whitakers Ear, Nose and Throat Defense which is a probiotic lozenge and my tongue coating was in check all day. It bothered me that my tongue would return to white again so I started taking a tbsp. of coconut oil a day. The coconut oil kills the fungus in your body. Since starting the coconut oil my tongue is almost ALWAYS pink. And I no longer have to brush and scrape my tongue all day. I hope you find something that works for you.
Clove Powder
Posted by Juliana (Edmonton) on 01/02/2022
★★★★★
Clove powder for tongue ulcers or pain.
Every time I have a sore on my tongue due to cold sore or bacterial sore on the tongue, I put on my tongue the powder of Clove. Usually in 2 days the issue is resolved. Hope this will help someone. Thank you
Baking Soda, Hydrogen Peroxide, Sea Salt
Posted by Neecee (Maywood, Illinois) on 12/22/2017
★★★★★
I took an empty mouthwash bottle cap, and mixed baking soda, peroxide, tooth paste, and sea salt.... When I tell you the coating was gone and so was the bitter taste and bad breath! Please please try this! I gargled with it to clean throat and palate! THIS REALLY WORKED!
Salt
Posted by Mike (Phoenix, AZ) on 06/03/2015
★★★★★
Hey guys, take my word, salt works man! I went through a lot having a white coated tongue, believe me. I went to two urgent cares they all said I had oral thrush. Then I went to a real doctor, my primary doctor, and he said NO you do not have thrush! I was excited but still nervous. I went home and used salt right away and brushed the heck out of it and guess what guys... no more white tongue. Use salt - don't give up!!!
Acidophilus
Posted by Sonya (Pittsburgh, Pa) on 04/30/2013
★★★★★
I followed the advice of David from Boston and it is truly working alongside with I began oil pulling twice a day as well as brushing my teeth with baking soda, sea salt and peroxide. The change happened over nite once I used the probiotic exactly how he explains it. THANKS A MILLION, DAVID!!!!!!
Chinese Medicine Diagnosis of the Tongue
Posted by Kevin (Vancouver, BC) on 07/22/2009
I am an acupunturist. Usually a white tongue or coating mean cold is inside.
Yellow means heat is inside. I know these terms seem a bit out there but using the idea of yin and yang is or cold and hot is more sophisticated than trying to figure out a single cause when the body is an orchestra or functions.
So for a white toungue one would suggest Hot or warming food. For example ginger or cinnamon or cayenne. I would also suggests other tonic herbs like ginseng but only if there is not thick coating. A thick coating means excess or too much and so to build that would make it worse. You need to decrease the thickness. This is done by taking herbs that help to clear dampness usually bitter ones or astringent like orange peel for example.
There is a whole study of toungue coating and colour out there that is foundational to chinese diagnosis. Your toungue is a great indicator of health.
So to recap white toungue means cold so get warm and the toungue will change. Literally and with warming food. DO not eat ice cream or drink cold drinks with a cold tongue.
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Dave (Fountain Inn, Sc) on 09/21/2017
Hello Garcia,
About the white tongue problem. Likely a thrush or virus infection. I have suggested the use of colloidal silver to many and once many years ago I had the condition. Here's how: Take a tablespoon of CS and let it slowly drain down the tongue and throat. Do that again. Twice a day do this and in three days if the white coating is better, keep up for another week or two. This condition may arise from an infection in sinuses so also consider a nasal irrigation, using the CS and "snort" the liquid into both sinus cavities. Repeat twice daily for a week.
Oh, also the infection (white tongue....if indeed an infection) could be coming from the bronchial region and via a reflux action bringing an infection into the mouth and throat. If you suspect bronchial/lung issues, see my posts on using "steamer-inhaler" and using CS to knock out bronchial infections.
Salt
Posted by Peggy (Arkansas) on 04/07/2016
★★★★★
I've had yeast on my tongue twice. A few years ago, after three months of consistent antibiotics for Lyme disease, the yeast was thick for almost a year. Drs. treated me with a purple liquid on my tongue for a month, I changed tooth brushes every brushing but it was relentless. I went to a dermatologist. He said it was acid reflux and treated me for that. It finally went away but occasionally returned lightly. After another round of antibiotics this month for bronchitis, the yeast was back. By now I knew it was the antibiotics.
One online link recommended oil of oregano and I bought it for $25.00. I'm sure it would take time, but I wanted something I could see a quick difference with. I searched online and found your site where people had used salt. I know salt is healing for sore throat, and I was desperate for anything. After the first brushing the yeast was gone. I did a second brushing and gargled with hot salt water. I was skeptical it would be back in the morning when it was always worst. But amazingly, it wasn't! I'm so thankful I came upon your article before I suffered a year again.
Thank you for your information. Peggy
Eliminate Dairy
Posted by Keith (Boulder, Co) on 01/21/2013
★★★★★
For years I stuggled with white tongue. I tried so many different therapies from this site and others with marginal effect. It appears I found the problem for me... An allergy to dairy. After about a month avoiding dairy I have a healthy pink tongue, no more phlegm in my throat, and a happy outlook. I don't know if this will help anyone, but hopefully it will... there may be nothing that you can put in your body to cure your white tongue, but maybe there's something you can stop putting in your body that will help.
Salt
Posted by Sirsmellybreath (Mentor, Oh) on 03/02/2010
★☆☆☆☆
I'm changing my vote to nea. Yes, it does work...temporarily. My coating started returning in 2 days despite cleaning the tongue twice a day. Leaving baking soda on the tongue for a few minutes then brushing also removes the coating and without the dangers of salt. Salt can burn and even permenantly damage the tongue. I'm sure you can safely use baking soda several times a week without a problem
Acidophilus
Posted by Fred (San Diego, California) on 08/21/2009
★★★★★
Remedy: Probiotics
I had a white coating on my tongue for a long time. The salt remedy didn't work for me (it made the coating orange). After doing research on the web I tried this, and it worked in ONE DAY:
I took a large spoon and filled it half full of water. I opened one of my probiotics (commonly called "acidophilus") capsules, and poured a small amount of the powder into the water. I used very little, only about half the size of a pencil eraser. I rocked the spoon back and forth to get all of the powder wet. After brushing my teeth and right before going to bed, I swallowed the contents of the spoon. That's it!
The next day my tongue coating was better, and doing it a few more nights made an incredible difference. You don't have to wait weeks or months to see if this works for you. I didn't scrape my tongue or do anything else special, though I do think that limiting your sugar intake is beneficial.
My probiotics have two bacterial strains: L acidophilus and B. lactis (also known as B. infantis), and it is quite concentrated at 15 billion organisms per capsule. I'm guessing that any good probiotic would work, but have only tried mine.
Salt
Posted by Jan (Philadelphia, PA) on 03/14/2009
★★★★★
Thank you Earth Clinic. Your information has helped another reader!!!. I suffered with white tongue for years and bad breath.I just read to try brushing my tongue with SEA-SALT and water and i flossed before i rinsed.IT WORKED! my tongue is pink again. I am home alone and can't wait to ask my family how my breath smells.my teeth feel nice and smooth as if they were polihed by a dentist.the taste in my mouth feels fresh- it never tasted this fresh before.but above all my tongue is pink. i read if your tongue is white you have bad breath and i also have tonsil stones. i also used sea-salt in my nettie pot and my sense of smell seams better.I am going to do it again before i go to bed. i have spent a fortune with the pharmacies, doctors, dentists, and herbalist and my mouth never felt this good. I was giving up hope that there was no cure and here it is right in my kitchen cabinet-something that i use every day. READERS THIS WORKS! now i am going to look up info for tonsil stones just in case.
Salt
Posted by RMercado (New York, NY) on 02/25/2009
★★★★★
I have had this coated tongue problem forever. I think I have tried it all and nothing seemed to work. I was just reading your postings and decided to take salt from my kitchen and give it a try. I took some salt in my toothbrush and brushed my tongue couple of times. VOILA...it worked. For the very first time i can see my pink tongue in the mirror. From now on i am going to leave a salt container in my bathroom. Thank you guys and God bless you all.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Matt (Magna, Utah) on 06/10/2008
★★★★★
re: white tongue. I am surprised no one has proposed using hydrogen peroxide to remove a tongue coating. Flush several times for between 30 and 60 minutes with approx. 2 or 3 percent hydrogen peroxide.. worked for me
Peppermint Oil
Posted by Angie (Sparta, Missouri) on 05/12/2008
★★★★★
re: Recurring sore on gums and white tongue... For 2-3 years I have had a recurring sore on my gum that would not go away and plus a lot of white build up on my tongue. towards the end of last year I started using 1 drop of certified organic peppermint oil on my toothbrush that I bought from ebay 1-2 times a day. since then my tongue is pink, no more white buildup and the sore is almost gone. I hope this helps someone out. I really believe the key is using organic peppermint oil.
