white coating on back of tongue

[souschef]

Have had a persistent white coating on back of tongue for a few months now.  Developed after a cold.  Also, have never noticed large papillae in back so large before.  Tongue coating doesn't want to leave.  Have pretty bad allergies (dust, mold, seasonal). Also, wisdom tooth that has grown in sideways, occassionally infected. Wondering if white coating is thrush? (32 year old male).  Have seen many images of thrush but it doesn't look like this.  This seems to be a persistent plaque that doesn't want to go away.  No bad breath, no pain when scraped.  What could be possible causes?

[Frank B]

Hi,
I have had a white coating on the back of my tongue for over a year now. It is all over the tongue but worst at the back. I brush it away every day but it alwatys comes back and causes bad breath. I also have what look like ulcers on the back of my tongue. Can you sugget what it might be and how to treat it?

Thanks.

[AmyChan]

A related discussion, white coating on back of tongue was started.

[Mike609]

I've had a thick white coating on the back of my tongue for just over a year now.  I also believe I have geographic tongue because I get those small white circles in various parts of my tongue day-to-day.  My tongue is fissured with a large groove down the middle. Spicy and hot (temp) foods irritate it but I've managed.  My tongue always seems inflammed, red, and warmer than usual to the touch.  The front half of my tongue is not really coated.  The back, however, looks like someone layed a white puzzle piece on it, meaning that the line that seperates the white coating is very jagged and prominent.  I've seen my physician for a complete physical since this was bothering me and it felt like the glands in my neck were tender.  He treated me for thrush (oral med that I swished for a couple minutes) but that did not help.  I was worried this might be related to HIV since I had an anonymous female partner a few months prior, partially unprotected. I was tested for HIV (by two different clinics) around the 3 month mark and both came back negative. My saliva is also sticky.  It tends to collect on the roof of my mouth.  Should this oral condition be anything I should be really concerned with?  I brush 2-3 times a day and rinse with a non-alcohol rinse, and that's the best my mouth feels all day.  I'm self conscious of my mouth and it makes me not even want to talk.  During the day it's either very dry or very moist as if I'm going to spit when I speak.  Please advise.  Thank you.

[Mike609]

I've had a thick white coating on the back of my tongue for just over a year now.  I also believe I have geographic tongue because I get those small white circles in various parts of my tongue day-to-day.  My tongue is fissured with a large groove down the middle. Spicy and hot (temp) foods irritate it but I've managed.  My tongue always seems inflammed, red, and warmer than usual to the touch.  The front half of my tongue is not really coated.  The back, however, looks like someone layed a white puzzle piece on it, meaning that the line that seperates the white coating is very jagged and prominent.  I've seen my physician for a complete physical since this was bothering me and it felt like the glands in my neck were tender.  He treated me for thrush (oral med that I swished for a couple minutes) but that did not help.  I was worried this might be related to HIV since I had an anonymous female partner a few months prior, partially unprotected. I was tested for HIV (by two different clinics) around the 3 month mark and both came back negative. My saliva is also sticky.  It tends to collect on the roof of my mouth.  Should this oral condition be anything I should be really concerned with?  I brush 2-3 times a day and rinse with a non-alcohol rinse, and that's the best my mouth feels all day.  I'm self conscious of my mouth and it makes me not even want to talk.  During the day it's either very dry or very moist as if I'm going to spit when I speak.  Please advise.  Thank you.

[Mike609]

I've had a thick white coating on the back of my tongue for just over a year now.  I also believe I have geographic tongue because I get those small white circles in various parts of my tongue day-to-day.  My tongue is fissured with a large groove down the middle. Spicy and hot (temp) foods irritate it but I've managed.  My tongue always seems inflammed, red, and warmer than usual to the touch.  The front half of my tongue is not really coated.  The back, however, looks like someone layed a white puzzle piece on it, meaning that the line that seperates the white coating is very jagged and prominent.  I've seen my physician for a complete physical since this was bothering me and it felt like the glands in my neck were tender.  He treated me for thrush (oral med that I swished for a couple minutes) but that did not help.  I was worried this might be related to HIV since I had an anonymous female partner a few months prior, partially unprotected. I was tested for HIV (by two different clinics) around the 3 month mark and both came back negative. My saliva is also sticky.  It tends to collect on the roof of my mouth.  Should this oral condition be anything I should be really concerned with?  I brush 2-3 times a day and rinse with a non-alcohol rinse, and that's the best my mouth feels all day.  I'm self conscious of my mouth and it makes me not even want to talk.  During the day it's either very dry or very moist as if I'm going to spit when I speak.  Please advise.  Thank you.

[Mike609]

I've had a thick white coating on the back of my tongue for just over a year now.  I also believe I have geographic tongue because I get those small white circles in various parts of my tongue day-to-day.  My tongue is fissured with a large groove down the middle. Spicy and hot (temp) foods irritate it but I've managed.  My tongue always seems inflammed, red, and warmer than usual to the touch.  The front half of my tongue is not really coated.  The back, however, looks like someone layed a white puzzle piece on it, meaning that the line that seperates the white coating is very jagged and prominent.  I've seen my physician for a complete physical since this was bothering me and it felt like the glands in my neck were tender.  He treated me for thrush (oral med that I swished for a couple minutes) but that did not help.  I was worried this might be related to HIV since I had an anonymous female partner a few months prior, partially unprotected. I was tested for HIV (by two different clinics) around the 3 month mark and both came back negative. My saliva is also sticky.  It tends to collect on the roof of my mouth.  Should this oral condition be anything I should be really concerned with?  I brush 2-3 times a day and rinse with a non-alcohol rinse, and that's the best my mouth feels all day.  I'm self conscious of my mouth and it makes me not even want to talk.  During the day it's either very dry or very moist as if I'm going to spit when I speak.  Please advise.  Thank you.

[Elf2]

Don't laugh, this is a serious answer and not a joke.  Take a laxative. You'll notice your tongue will clear right up within a day.  Take some fiber supplement (like Metamucil) every now and then.

[ConcernedInTX]

I have the same symptoms currently.  I went to my allergist becasue I suffer from them as well.  I asked them to take a look at it and he said that it was a normal coating and to just brush it.  I also went to my dentist who did not really seem to care that I was concerned.  She said that is was nothing and that a slight coating on the back of the tongue is normal.  I dont ask to see the back of tongue's especially on other people so I would not know if it is or not.  I am concerned about this as well.  When I brush it seems to go away but at the end of the day it is right back.  It seems like stuff just sticks to my tongue throughout the day.  At times however it almost seems to go away completely.  Should I have some tests done?  In addition to the coated tongue at times I experience some lightheadedness and a bit of an achy throat.  Again my allergist did not see anything when he looked at my ears or throat.  I take aciphex and allegra.  Could either of these contribute to any of these symptoms.  Thanks.

[Jerome Bogin, D.D.S.]

There is a possibility that it is thrush. Obviously i can't diagnosis it without seeing it. It is possible that it related to your allergies. I know this seems vague but it is not possible to diagnosis it this way. See an oral surgeon for a definitive diagnosis.