White stuff in mouth

[Worried702]

I was wondering when people develop white stuff on their tounge, what is that a result of. I have been having bad phobia of thinking I was contracted with HIV. even though I tested negative twice after 5 1/2 weeks and again at 5 months, I can't seem to stop looking for "symptoms". So, I have always had white stuff on my tounge time to time, but now I am associating it with HIV because of that possibility of contracting HIV. So, what can be a cause of white stuff in the mouth, other then HIV. Could it be poor hygeine? Even when I brush my tounge, it come right back. Thank you in advance for your time.

[Jerome Tsang, DDS]

Ya, that's definitely a possibility too.  Some people's tongues tend to be whiter than others as well due to the thickness of the skin on the tongue so to speak but since yours brushes off, I wasn't leaning that way.  

[Worried702]

I have an appt schedule, I was just wondering, isn't it normal to sometimes have a little white on your tounge? It not slighty risen or anything like how you might be picturing. It dosen''t look like cottage cheese or anything like that. I thought that when we brush our teeth, sometimes the germs leave that behind.

[Jerome Tsang, DDS]

Thrush is a fungal infection which grows in the mouth.  Its possible that you may have a fungal infection as the clinical sign of thrush is usually a white paste that can be wiped off.  Again, going to see a dentist would be the ideal situation.  A fungal infection can be due to anything, even taking antibiotics could possibly cause it due to killing of the bacteria and allowing fungus (which antibiotics don't work on) grow in its place.

[Worried702]

I mean it brushes off eaasily or dosen't bledd or anything, but it comes back after brushing my teeth

[Jerome Tsang, DDS]

Does the white stuff brush off easily?  You may want to see a dentist about it if you're concerned about it.  A possibility may be thrush (a fungal infection).