Why has my tongue turned white? Dr. Mallika Marshall answers your questions

BOSTON - Dr. Mallika Marshall is answering your medical questions. If you have a question, email her or message her on Facebook or Twitter.  

Shiela asks, "My tongue has turned white and I have problems tasting. I've been treated for thrush but that hasn't helped.  What could it be?"

Thrush is a yeast infection that often causes a white coating on the tongue and is treated with antifungal medications.

But your tongue can develop a white film when bacteria or food gets trapped between the little bumps or papillae on the surface. 

This can happen if you have poor oral hygiene, if you smoke, vape, or chew tobacco, if you wear dentures, if you're not getting enough fruits and veggies in your diet, if you're a mouth breathing, or if you have dry mouth and are dehydrated. So make sure you drink plenty of fluids.

Make an appointment with your dentist or an ear, nose, and throat specialist to make sure you don't have something more serious and to discuss ways to treat it.

Otherwise, white tongue usually goes away on its own.

Dr. Mallika is offering her best advice, but as always, consult your personal doctor before making any decisions about your personal health.

Mallika Marshall, MD

Mallika Marshall, MD is an Emmy-award-winning journalist and physician who has served as the HealthWatch Reporter for CBS Boston/WBZ-TV for over 20 years. A practicing physician Board Certified in both Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Dr. Marshall serves on staff at Harvard Medical School and practices at Massachusetts General Hospital at the MGH Chelsea Urgent Care and the MGH Revere Health Center, where she is currently working on the frontlines caring for patients with COVID-19. She is also a host and contributing editor for Harvard Health Publications (HHP), the publishing division of Harvard Medical School.

Twitter Facebook